X10 ActiveHome Pro USB Transceiver Module - CM15A

If you are committed to X10 for your home, this is a must have. Works great, extremely reliable. One key capability is to remap any X10 signal to a different signal, which is very helpful with multi-switches and remotes, or with having a single X10 switch control multiple items with different codes. You can also easily program complex if-then scenarios, even using variables to manage states. (For example, if I send code O9, set a flag to keep outside lights from being turned off automatically at midnight, but clear the flag at midnight so the lights get turned off automatically the next day. Useful, for example, to override auto settings if you are having a party...) However, X!0 is dying, and zwave and zigbee are so much more reliable, so I would recommend this only to someone who already has a major investment in X10 automation.

I have a large complicated home (600 amp service, 11 electrical panels.) I have most of the X10 signals working using multiple transceivers (several each on house codes A, B, C - I also have bridges and amplifiers on each of 3 main services). One switch could not be activated easily, so this 2nd CM15A is being used on house code P to send a macro for A and B codes. I just set up a separate file on AHP and plug the USB into this one, program it and just plug it in AC outlet near the difficult switch on the same phase of that electrical panel. So far not problems using multiple CM15As.

I purchased this as a backup to my one working CM15A. The first unit worked but macros did not reliably run. The second unit was completely inoperable. I loaded the same program, but neither manual or macros worked. This must be a bad batch. I got my money back and will order a used one on Ebay.

This is the perfect replacement part. My original part was not responding to the program. I was told the only option was to purchase a new system, that would have been very expensive. I am so glad this saved me.

DIdn't work. I returned it.

This "negative" review relates ONLY to my recent order of a CM15A because previously purchased CM15A's have worked fairly well. The main problem with those earlier units was long-term reliability: The CM15A's work fine for a few years, but then develop some form or other of partial failure. Unfortunately, my recent attempt to order a replacement for a partially-failed CM15A was a total SNAFU: The first unit I received was partially inoperative right out of the box. So, I requested a replacement, received it, but when I tried the replacement unit, not even its basic functionality worked AND it overheated severely. So much so that in seems likely that it would have burned up if I had left it plugged in for more than the few minutes that it took to test it. Instead of sending a second replacement, Amazon opted to give a refund - and I've been unable to locate the CM15A from any other source, so I haven't been able to get a working unit. Rumor is that the CM15A has been discontinued so I suspect the vendors are just selling-off remaining stock, which seems to include semi-working or defective units. It's really too bad because, except for its long-term reliability problems, the CM15A provides a lot of useful functions, due to its customizable programming - and over the years I have not found anything that's functionally comparable. Without this type of stand-alone programmable controller, the usefulness of the X10 "system" is greatly reduced.

So glad the CM15A is still being made. This new unit has a date code on the back of 21E20, which is May 20, 2021. It works just as expected and the metal telescoping antenna definitely improves the range over my previous units. This is my 3rd CM15A since 2007 The reason for replacement is that the RF failed in 2012 and again now in 2022.

This is a very good product to use with venerable X-10 lighting control devices, but at the present time you will have to do a bit of a stretch to get the software used to program it. The X-10 company went belly up July, 2013 and installing the ActiveHome Pro software needed to program the CM15A required access to their servers, which of course no longer exist. How do I know all of this? I purchased a new machine and my attempt to re-install ActiveHome Pro led me to search out the back story of what was going on. The new owner of X-10 product line has promised to fix this, but it hasn't happened yet, I'm sure in part because the programmers already familiar with the software have scattered to the 4 winds. In the meantime, you can easily acquire the European version of the software, and it works fine with this unit. Google "marmitek cm15pro", which will lead you to a download link for the European version of ActiveHome Pro (no activation required!). The only difference in the software that I've experienced is that the modules as pictured are for European sockets, but a lamp module is still a lamp module, and an appliance module is still an appliance module, which are the ones I have deployed. If you've used this software before, the stuff like dimmer controls and macros all work fine. As for the CM15A, if you have a computer and the ActiveHome Pro software, once programmed it works as well as (actually better) than the physical controllers you can get for controlling X-10 modules. Dimming even works for my 30 year old X-10 lamp modules, so you can see those basic modules apparently are the same as when conceived many years ago. I won't comment on the X-10 system itself, which has a number of shortcomings, but if that is what you are using, I can recommend this controller as a step up from the physical controllers for X-10 devices (incidentally, the physical controllers can be used in conjunction with the CM15A if you wish).