Posted: November 18 2002 at 15:21 | IP Logged

I have a CM11A (Power Line Interface), a MR26A (RF receiver), and a CM17A (RF Transmitter).  Is there a configuration were these three (3) things can share two (2) Comm Ports?  As you probably already know the CM17A is setup to "pass thru".  I haven't been able the get all three (3) working.  PH reropts that it "can't find" the third item in the setup list.

Bob

Posted: November 18 2002 at 15:41 | IP Logged

Bob,

Another user had posted a similar question just recently so Im copying and pasting a portion of the reply as most of it applies to your situation:

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The first problem you'll have is that PowerHome only allows a single controller per COM port.  This means that the pass thru port on the CM17A cannot be used.  This is in a large part due to the Microsoft COM control being used does not allow the same COM port to be used across multiple instances of the control.  At this point, Im assuming this will create problems for you as you probably only have two COM ports and the mouse is plugged into COM1. 

Working around the first problem...The next problem is that the MR26A will pick up and respond to any commands that are sent by the CM17A.  This will most likely produce results which are not desired as PowerHome cannot differentiate between RF commands sent by the CM17A and commands sent by a palm pad.  You can work around this problem by defining different housecodes for sending via the firecracker and sending via some other type of remote such as a palm pad.  The good news...the next version of PowerHome will include an option to have the MR26A not respond to commands recently sent via a CM17A.

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Basically, to use all three devices, you would have to get a third COM port as the pass-through on the CM17A cannot be easily supported.  Also, the current version does not readily support the CM17A and the MR26A together.  The next version will resolve this problem but your biggest obstacle at this point will be the COM port.

I am investigating a work-around to the pass-through issue but have not come up with any workable solutions yet.  I'll keep you posted though.

Dave.