HCA Admin
Sep 01, 2009, 01:22 PM
Before you can use the CM15 with HCA, you have to install a new driver replacing the ActiveHome driver if previously installed. This note describes how to do that.
The CM15 is connected to your computer using a USB interface and that connection is managed by a proprietary driver shipped with the ActiveHome software. Just as a note, the SmartHome PowerLinc also connects to the computer using a USB interface but it uses the standard built-in Windows HID (Human Interface) driver.
Before you can use the CM15 with HCA you have to install a new driver replacing the ActiveHome driver if installed. This document describes how to do that.
Before you begin, there are two important things to consider when using the CM15 and HCA.
First, this HCA CM15 driver can only be installed on Windows Vista, Windows XP – service pack 2 or higher - or Windows Server 2008. Since the driver can’t be installed on other Windows versions, HCA can’t support the CM15 if you are using HCA on another Windows version.
Second, while HCA can use the CM15 to send and receive powerline signals and receive wireless signals, HCA does not support downloading to the CM15. To use the CM15 in your automation solution, HCA must be active 24/7 and the CM15 is only used as an interface to the powerline.
Step 1 - Download the driver
The HCA CM15 driver can be downloaded from here (http://www.hcatech.com/download/CM15/winusbinf.zip). Unzip this into some temporary folder. It will create a folder called “inf” and some sub-folders and files within it.
Step 2a – If the CM15 was never connected to the computer and ActiveHome not installed
For Vista
On Vista as soon as you plug in the CM15 windows displays a dialog that says “Windows need to install driver software for your USB ActiveHome interface”. Follow this procedure to install the HCA CM15 driver.
Choose “Locate and install driver software” option
Windows displays a dialog with the message: “Insert the disk that came with your USB ActiveHome interface”
Choose “I don’t have the disk show me other options” option
Choose “Browse my computer for driver software”
In the dialog press the “Browse” button and locate the folder that you unzipped the HCA CM15 driver into. You want to select the “inf” folder.
If a message appears about Windows being unable to verify the publisher of the driver choose the “Install the driver anyway” option
Windows now installs the HCA CM15 driver. This may take a few minutes
For XP
On XP as soon as you plug in the CM15 Windows displays a dialog that says “Found USB device” and starts the “Found New Hardware Wizard”. Follow this procedure to install the HCA CM15 driver.
The 1st step of the Wizard asks to connect to Windows Update. Select “No, not this time” option and press the Next button.
Choose the “Install from a list or specific location” option and press the Next button.
In the dialog press the “Browse” button and locate the folder that you unzipped the HCA CM15 driver into. You want to select the “inf” folder. Press the Next button.
If a message appears about the driver not having passed Windows Logo testing press the “Continue anyway” button. We have tested this driver with XP.
Windows now installs the HCA CM15 driver. This may take a few minutes
Step 2b – If ActiveHome was previously installed
For Vista
Open the Control panel and start the Control Panel applet called “Device Manager.
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” branch of the tree.
Right click on “X10 USB ActiveHome” and select “Update Driver from the popup menu
Select “Browse my computer for driver software” and locate the “inf” folder in the folder where you unzipped the downloaded file back in step 1.
Press the Next button.
Vista now installs the HCA CM15 driver. This may take a few minutes.
Note: Once this is complete, the HCA CM15 driver is installed and if you start ActiveHome it will say that the CM15 isn’t connected.
For XP
Open the Control panel and start the “System” applet then choose the select the “Hardware” tab, and then push the “Device Manager” button.
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” branch of the tree.
Right click on “X10 USB ActiveHome” and select “Update Driver” from the popup menu.
The first step of the Hardware Update Wizard may ask if it can connect to Windows Update to search for the driver. If it does ask this, select “No, not at this time” and click the Next button.
Select the “Install from a list or specific location” option and then press the Next button.
Select the “Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install” option then press the Next button.
Press the “Have Disk” button.
Press the “Browse” button and browse into the folder that you unzipped the download into. You want to find the file “HCAforCM15A.inf” and then press the Open button.
Press the OK button in the “Install from Disk” dialog.
Press the Next button in the “Hardware Update Wizard” dialog. The HCA driver is not digitally signed so you may see a warning about this. Press the “Continue” button if any popup appears about Windows Compatibility. We have tested this driver with XP.
Windows now installs the HCA CM15 driver. This may take a few minutes.
Note: Once this is complete, the HCA CM15 driver is installed and if you start ActiveHome it will say that the CM15 isn’t connected.
Step 3
Once the driver is installed you can now start HCA and select from the menu HCA – Hardware – Setup and chose CM15 from the interface dropdown and then press Connect to have HCA use it.
How to go back to the ActiveHome driver should you decide not to continue with HCA.
For XP
Open the Control panel and start the “System” applet then choose the select the “Hardware” tab, and then push the “Device Manager” button.
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” branch of the tree.
Right click on “X10 USB ActiveHome” and select “Update Driver from the popup menu.
The first step of the Hardware Update Wizard may ask if it can connect to Windows Update to search for the driver. If it does ask this, select “Yes, this time only” and click the Next button.
On the next step select “Install the software automatically” and then press the Next button.
Windows now reinstalls the ActiveHome driver.
For Vista
Open the Control panel and start the Control Panel applet called “Device Manager.z
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” branch of the tree.
Right click on “X10 USB ActiveHome” and select “Update Driver from the popup menu.
Select “Browse my computer for driver software”. Choose the “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer” option.
Chose the “X10 USB ActiveHome” driver and press Next.
Vista now reinstalls the ActiveHome driver. This should only take a moment.
The CM15 is connected to your computer using a USB interface and that connection is managed by a proprietary driver shipped with the ActiveHome software. Just as a note, the SmartHome PowerLinc also connects to the computer using a USB interface but it uses the standard built-in Windows HID (Human Interface) driver.
Before you can use the CM15 with HCA you have to install a new driver replacing the ActiveHome driver if installed. This document describes how to do that.
Before you begin, there are two important things to consider when using the CM15 and HCA.
First, this HCA CM15 driver can only be installed on Windows Vista, Windows XP – service pack 2 or higher - or Windows Server 2008. Since the driver can’t be installed on other Windows versions, HCA can’t support the CM15 if you are using HCA on another Windows version.
Second, while HCA can use the CM15 to send and receive powerline signals and receive wireless signals, HCA does not support downloading to the CM15. To use the CM15 in your automation solution, HCA must be active 24/7 and the CM15 is only used as an interface to the powerline.
Step 1 - Download the driver
The HCA CM15 driver can be downloaded from here (http://www.hcatech.com/download/CM15/winusbinf.zip). Unzip this into some temporary folder. It will create a folder called “inf” and some sub-folders and files within it.
Step 2a – If the CM15 was never connected to the computer and ActiveHome not installed
For Vista
On Vista as soon as you plug in the CM15 windows displays a dialog that says “Windows need to install driver software for your USB ActiveHome interface”. Follow this procedure to install the HCA CM15 driver.
Choose “Locate and install driver software” option
Windows displays a dialog with the message: “Insert the disk that came with your USB ActiveHome interface”
Choose “I don’t have the disk show me other options” option
Choose “Browse my computer for driver software”
In the dialog press the “Browse” button and locate the folder that you unzipped the HCA CM15 driver into. You want to select the “inf” folder.
If a message appears about Windows being unable to verify the publisher of the driver choose the “Install the driver anyway” option
Windows now installs the HCA CM15 driver. This may take a few minutes
For XP
On XP as soon as you plug in the CM15 Windows displays a dialog that says “Found USB device” and starts the “Found New Hardware Wizard”. Follow this procedure to install the HCA CM15 driver.
The 1st step of the Wizard asks to connect to Windows Update. Select “No, not this time” option and press the Next button.
Choose the “Install from a list or specific location” option and press the Next button.
In the dialog press the “Browse” button and locate the folder that you unzipped the HCA CM15 driver into. You want to select the “inf” folder. Press the Next button.
If a message appears about the driver not having passed Windows Logo testing press the “Continue anyway” button. We have tested this driver with XP.
Windows now installs the HCA CM15 driver. This may take a few minutes
Step 2b – If ActiveHome was previously installed
For Vista
Open the Control panel and start the Control Panel applet called “Device Manager.
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” branch of the tree.
Right click on “X10 USB ActiveHome” and select “Update Driver from the popup menu
Select “Browse my computer for driver software” and locate the “inf” folder in the folder where you unzipped the downloaded file back in step 1.
Press the Next button.
Vista now installs the HCA CM15 driver. This may take a few minutes.
Note: Once this is complete, the HCA CM15 driver is installed and if you start ActiveHome it will say that the CM15 isn’t connected.
For XP
Open the Control panel and start the “System” applet then choose the select the “Hardware” tab, and then push the “Device Manager” button.
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” branch of the tree.
Right click on “X10 USB ActiveHome” and select “Update Driver” from the popup menu.
The first step of the Hardware Update Wizard may ask if it can connect to Windows Update to search for the driver. If it does ask this, select “No, not at this time” and click the Next button.
Select the “Install from a list or specific location” option and then press the Next button.
Select the “Don’t search. I will choose the driver to install” option then press the Next button.
Press the “Have Disk” button.
Press the “Browse” button and browse into the folder that you unzipped the download into. You want to find the file “HCAforCM15A.inf” and then press the Open button.
Press the OK button in the “Install from Disk” dialog.
Press the Next button in the “Hardware Update Wizard” dialog. The HCA driver is not digitally signed so you may see a warning about this. Press the “Continue” button if any popup appears about Windows Compatibility. We have tested this driver with XP.
Windows now installs the HCA CM15 driver. This may take a few minutes.
Note: Once this is complete, the HCA CM15 driver is installed and if you start ActiveHome it will say that the CM15 isn’t connected.
Step 3
Once the driver is installed you can now start HCA and select from the menu HCA – Hardware – Setup and chose CM15 from the interface dropdown and then press Connect to have HCA use it.
How to go back to the ActiveHome driver should you decide not to continue with HCA.
For XP
Open the Control panel and start the “System” applet then choose the select the “Hardware” tab, and then push the “Device Manager” button.
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” branch of the tree.
Right click on “X10 USB ActiveHome” and select “Update Driver from the popup menu.
The first step of the Hardware Update Wizard may ask if it can connect to Windows Update to search for the driver. If it does ask this, select “Yes, this time only” and click the Next button.
On the next step select “Install the software automatically” and then press the Next button.
Windows now reinstalls the ActiveHome driver.
For Vista
Open the Control panel and start the Control Panel applet called “Device Manager.z
Expand the “Universal Serial Bus controllers” branch of the tree.
Right click on “X10 USB ActiveHome” and select “Update Driver from the popup menu.
Select “Browse my computer for driver software”. Choose the “Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer” option.
Chose the “X10 USB ActiveHome” driver and press Next.
Vista now reinstalls the ActiveHome driver. This should only take a moment.