CP290
Director X

Version 2.0
November 24, 2007

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Macintosh Requirements

How To Connect a CP290

Version History

Purchasing CP290 Director X

$16

CP290 Director X is MacOS X software that controls the original X10 home automation computer controlled interface, model number CP290. It completely replaces the Macintosh software that comes with the CP290, and has unique features not found in other Macintosh-based CP290 controllers.

CP290 Director X supports the standard CP290 features including:

Turning on and off modules immediately, including turning them on dimmed;
Defining "turn on" and "turn off" events to be stored in the CP290 and executed by the CP290 even if the Macintosh is shut down. Such events include:
- Turning a module on or off once at the specified time today;
- Turning a module on or off once at the specified time tomorrow;
- Turning a module on or off every week at the specified time and day(s) of the week;
- Turning a module on or off every week within an hour of the specified time and day(s) of the week; (security mode);
Displaying the events currently stored in the CP290;
Setting the base house code of the CP290, which is the house code it uses when its 8 on/off buttons are pressed;
Setting the clock in the CP290 to the clock in the Macintosh;
Displaying the clock in the CP290, and
Performing a self test function.

In addition to the above, the CP290 Director X supports the following additional features:

The ability to specify that an event is to occur at sunrise or sunset (plus or minus a specified time interval);
The ability to specify a specific date on which an event is to occur, and optionally the interval in days thereafter that the event should be repeated;
The ability to specify that the event should occur only on even days or on odd days.

X10 systems usually work reasonably reliably, turning on or off the selected module when the CP290 commands it. However, occasionally noise or interference in your wiring can cut reliability whereby a module is not turned on or off at the requested time. The best solution to this problem, if acute, is to install noise filters, signal bridges, or amplifiers. However, you may find that CP290 Director X solves the problem for you. CP290 Director X allows you to optionally specify that each "on" event should be sent more than once to the module, and/or that each "off" event should be sent more than once. Thus, if the first command to turn off doesn't work, the second or third one might. If you specify that an event should be sent more than once, it will be sent the specified number of times (two to four) at one minute intervals.

CP290 Director X has the same basic functionality as CP290 Director (a MacOS 9/Classic program), but has been rewritten for MacOS X. However, it is backwards-compatible with CP290 Director in that it reads and processes CP290 Director files.

Macintosh Requirements

CP290 Director X is a Cocoa (MacOS X only) application. It runs on 10.2.8 through 10.4.x, but not on 10.5.

Connecting a CP290 To A Macintosh Without a Serial Port

To connect a CP290 to a modern Mac without a serial port, you can use one of many USB-To-Serial adaptors. Keyspan makes several. The one I use is the Keyspan PDA adaptor (USA-19). These were originally made to connect early Palms to Macs, and many are still available on ebay, though they are not made anymore. This has a DB 9 connector, so it will not connect to the cable that came with a Macintosh CP290, but you might be able to buy a PC CP290 cable. Alternatively, you can get a Keyspan USB Twin Serial Adaptor (USA-28X), which has two traditional Macintosh serial ports, though this is likely more expensive than the PDA adaptor + cable.

Version History

2.0 - Upgraded the Purchase command.

1.9 - Fixed a glitch in CP290 clock display of 12 noon to 12:59 PM.

1.8 - Fixed a startup crash when your system has no login items.

1.7 - Enhancements and bug fixes:

Changed the time that the helper application sends events to 3AM, to improve support for daylight savings time changeover.
Fixed the Paypal Purchase URL.
Fixed the Module window user interface to reflect that the All Lights and All Modules specifications cannot be used for immediate module changes...just in events.

1.6 - Fixed a problem with Helper application not always running.

1.5 Updated Paypal Purchase URL.

1.4 - Fixed bug in Helper Application whereby it forgot you had registered.

1.3 - Enhancement and bug fixes:

When starting, CP290 Director X now opens the last file closed instead of the last file opened.
Fixed a crash that sometimes occurred when quitting.
Fixed incorrect brightness levels when displaying events from CP290.

1.2 - Several enhancements:

Added the ability to directly edit the English event description.
Improved reliability of communicating with CP290.
Improved warning messages when CP290 cannot be found.

1.1 - Initial general release.

1.0 - Not widely released.

Purchasing CP290 Director X

CP290 Director X is shareware. You can try it out for 30 days, but if you still use it thereafter, you must register it. The price is very reasonable--$16. After 30 days, CP290 Director X will no longer communicate with your CP290 unless you have registered it. If you are a registered user of CP290 Director, the companion product for MacOS 9/Classic, you can upgrade for $6. To upgrade, please contact the .

To purchase CP290 Director X, click here, or start the application and select Purchase CP290 Director X Registration Code... under the CP290 Director X menu.

You may distribute CP290 Director X unmodified via any media, as long as you keep it together with its documentation.

CP290 Director X