Connecting INSTEON and X10 Interfaces

Install the Correct Drivers

The PowerLinc 2414U/1132CU/1132U and CM15A interfaces can be plugged directly into your computer. The Indigo installer automatically installed the drivers for these interfaces. Make sure you have restarted after the installation process. If you reinstall your OS, then you will need to rerun the Indigo installer for the driver.

The PowerLinc 2412U interface can be plugged directly into your computer as well but requires the FTDI Virtual COM Port driver to be installed. You can get the driver installer at FTDI's web site - be sure to get the installer that's appropriate for the architecture of your machine (Intel or PowerPC). If you select PowerLinc 2412U/2412S from the Interface type popup menu in the Preferences dialog (see below), then Indigo will alert you if the driver is not installed on your Mac. If you're using a PowerLinc 2412S with a separate USB to serial adapter, you can ignore that warning alert.

The other supported interfaces (PowerLinc 2412S, CM11 / HD11, LynX-PLC) are serial based, and will require a USB serial port adapter. If you are using one of the serial based interfaces, then make sure that the latest drivers for the USB serial adapter are installed on your system. Look on the adapter manufacturer's website for the latest driver downloads.

See the choosing hardware section for details on the supported INSTEON and X10 interfaces and the supported control modules.

Connecting the Interface

Plug the interface directly into an outlet. Do not plug the interface into your computer's power strip because many power strips contain filters that will severely degrade the INSTEON / X10 signal quality being received and transmitted by the interface. Additionally, uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) can cause signal quality problems. If at all possible plug the interface into a different outlet than used by power strips and UPSs. Signal filters are available to isolate computer power strips and UPSs as well.

If you are using the CM11 / HD11 or CM15A interface, then do not install the battery into the interface. Indigo does not support uploading macros to these interfaces so the battery should not be used.

Configuring Indigo to use Your Interface

Indigo is pre-configured to recognize and use the PowerLinc 2414U/1132CU/1132U interfaces but not the other PowerLinc models. If you are using the PowerLinc 2414U/1132CU/1132U, then you can skip to the Enabling and Disabling Communication section below by choosing the Interface->Connect menu item. Depending on the PowerLinc, Indigo may have to upload information and synchronize with it, which can take a couple of minutes. If you receive an error or are using a different interface model, then manually configure the interface.

  1. Choose Preferences... from the Indigo 4 menu, then make sure the Interface panel is selected.
  2. Select the Interface communication online checkbox and the Enable main interface checkbox.
  3. Choose your Interface type in the popup menu.
  4. If you are using the PowerLinc 2414U/1132CU/1132U or the CM15 interface, then the Serial port popup menu will be disabled because these interfaces do not use a virtual serial port driver.

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    If you are using the PowerLinc 2412U interface, then the FTDI driver (see Install the Correct Drivers above) will create a new Serial port popup menu item that looks like usbserial-XXXXXXXX. Select that item.

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    If you are using one of the serial based interfaces (PowerLinc 2412S, CM11 / HD11, LynX-PLC), then choose which serial port adapter name the interface is connected to in the Serial port popup menu.

    Note: if no names are listed in the serial port popup menu, then you probably do not have the proper driver installed for your USB serial adapter. Download your adapter's driver from the driver manufacturer's website.
  5. Optionally select the Group addresses on transmission checkbox to combine like-command transmissions together. For example A1-On, A3-On, A4-On, would be transmitted as A1, A3, A4, On.
  6. Some interfaces, such as the PowerLinc V2 and LynX-PLC, have additional settings that can be accessed from the Interface Options... button. Generally, these options don't need to be changed unless you're troubleshooting a problem.

Enabling and Disabling Communication

Choose Connect from the Interface menu to establish communication with all enabled interfaces.

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Choose Disconnect from the Interface menu to work in an offline mode.

If you are using an Interface that can run schedules and control logic independently, such as the PowerLinc 2414U or 1132CU, then see uploading actions section for more details about how to use your interface without leaving your Mac running.