Everything posted by peterathans
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Grouping Z-wave devices into Scenes
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Grouping Z-wave devices into Scenes
I finally assembled a test setup to try this out. Bought two new Zooz Zen71 switches. The included documentation states "This on/off switch supports Group 1 with up to 1 devices for lifeline communication and Group 2 with up to 5 devices. You can set direct association to have the switch control another Z-wave device independently of the hub by using Group 2.". I had asked their tech support about this and got the same answer: "Z-Wave devices can be connected to each other via direct association and there are different groups depending on the device. Group 1 is where a device communicates directly with the hub, this it the main room if you will, where all of the devices meet. Other groups, like group 2 and group 3, are ways to link Z-Wave devices independently of the hub, they are like separate rooms where the hub doesn't come in but where the devices meet to exchange information directly. This allows for a quicker and more reliable communication between devices. Both the ZEN71 and the ZEN76 support direct association.". I wired the two switches in a 2-gang box with a pigtail and plugged them in. Added both to my Polisy (5.4.1), talking to them with a Zooz 700 stick. Polisy created five nodes for each switch: - On-Off Power Switch - Basic Scene Ctl 2 - Basic Scene Ctl 3 - Scene Button 1 - Scene Button 2 I created a new scene called Zwave Test Scene. I tried adding each of the above-mentioned nodes to the scene, but when in the scene the dropdown box for each node never shows more than "Command / Default / Ignore". According to what I understand from earlier posts, there should be additional options for Association (or similar). @Michel Kohanim, am I understanding correctly? I'm trying to figure out why the devices don't appear as their documents and tech rep report they should - I can only assume it's an issue on the Polisy side (and no complaints if this is an upcoming feature - I'm just trying to understand everything).
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Grouping Z-wave devices into Scenes
Good find @brians. Something interesting in that support page is they make a distinction between a Source device and a Destination device, and they specifically say the Source is "the device that does not have the “load” (or light) attached to it" and the Destination "is the switch or dimmer that has a “load” (light) attached to it". This makes me wonder if this association is a true controller-responder connection like the Insteon products have, where each on/off toggle switch both controls and responds to the other(s). This is exactly my situation, where I have two different circuits and I want them to follow each other. I'm getting worried I won't be able to keep this functionality if I move from Insteon to Zwave. I'm hoping to buy a couple Zooz ZEN71 switches and see what I can do.
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Grouping Z-wave devices into Scenes
I am starting to use some Zooz products and emailed their tech support about this issue (in relation to their Zen71/76 products) - maybe this will shed some light on the subject: "Z-Wave devices can be connected to each other via direct association and there are different groups depending on the device. Group 1 is where a device communicates directly with the hub, this it the main room if you will, where all of the devices meet.Other groups, like group 2 and group 3, are ways to link Z-Wave devices independently of the hub, they are like separate rooms where the hub doesn't come in but where the devices meet to exchange information directly. This allows for a quicker and more reliable communication between devices. Both the ZEN71 and the ZEN76 support direct association."
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Migration to ISY on Polisy: An attempt to collect, organize and share Simplified Directions.
Great guide! I just followed it to migrate from my old ISY99 to Polisy and everything went great - it helps that I have a simple system with no zwave devices (but will be adding those soon). Strangely, I updated the network settings in Mobilinc and UDMobile, but only UDMobile can talk to Polisy (local network, haven't tried global yet). I did notice the Gateway and DNS on Polisy are 0.0.0.0 and can't be edited in the Admin Console, should these be updated to what my old ISY had, and if so, how?
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Creating the ZWave mesh network..Having issues
Something I thought I read elsewhere on this forum - when Z-wave devices are added, the other devices in the mesh network add the new device to their routing tables, including preferred routes/paths to get to this new device. So for example if device A is within range of device B, and then you add device C that is out of range of A but close to B, then A and B know that any future comms with C must go through B. What this implies to me is that if you add a new device C near A, but then move it to its final location (away from A but near B), the "learned" routes will not work as well because A will try to communicate directly with C. Basically, the lesson being you should learn a new device while it's in its final location. Am I misunderstanding? I'm a long time Insteon user but am just getting into Z-wave (and am trying to learn things myself).
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Grouping Z-wave devices into Scenes
Curious about the statement "You also won't have synchronized lighting control with Z-Wave like you will with Insteon...". I currently have 3 Insteon on/off switches controlling 2 circuits, and they are all linked in a scene (any one of the buttons pressed will switch both circuits together). Are you saying z-wave doesn't support this functionality (yet)?
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Grouping Z-wave devices into Scenes
So if I interpret the last two posts correctly, different Zwave toggle switches can (and probably will?) have different features? Is there an easy way to tell if a product has the feature I'm looking for? And what's the difference between the two features mentioned above (Z-Wave Scene and Z-Wave Association)?
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Grouping Z-wave devices into Scenes
That does not sound encouraging. So have you been emulating the Scene behavior by using a program? How has it been working? Much noticeable delay? I'm actually quite amazed at how well the Insteon Scenes work, when I click one switch the other follows almost instantly. Like you, I can't ask my wife or kids to "remember to double-click the switch when turning off"...
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Grouping Z-wave devices into Scenes
Been an Insteon user for years and am starting a migration to Z-wave, but something I haven't seen in the forums yet - can Z-wave devices (say, two toggle switches) be grouped together into a Scene (to use Insteon terminology)? I think this is one powerful feature of Insteon, and one that I am using (I have a virtual 3-way lighting circuit with multiple switches that follow each other). It's really nice that this feature is also integrated into the switches themselves and will work in the complete absence of any other programming or computer control. Would hate to lose it....
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Changing SSH password
Just got my shiny new Polisy yesterday and am having fun getting it set up, but am confused by something - I've changed my user/password in the Dashboard and the ISY application, but for some reason when I SSH into it, it still needs the default admin user and password. Are the general Polisy dashboard account and SSH account separate? If so, how can I create a new SSH account? I've restarted the Polisy several times, with no change...
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UD Mobile overview?
I'm currently a MobiLinc user (with an ISY) but am looking at upgrading to a Polisy, and understand that UD Mobile is the way of the future (for mobile apps). However I can't find a general overview of what this app looks like, what its features are, etc. Even the iOS App store just has a few screenshots. I'm mostly interested in seeing how it compares to Mobilinc so I know what kind of changes I'll have to make -- for example, can I set up a simple screen with a few links to programs I can trigger manually, as well as individual devices? Also, does UD Mobile have a geofence feature to set/reset a variable as my phone enters/leaves an area?
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Does Polisy need internet access? Or a paid membership account?
So for example I currently use MobiLinc to talk with my ISY for remote access (directly connected at the WAN address) -- is this the same remote access mentioned above in "If you want remote access via the internet then you would need a Portal membership account."?
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Does Polisy need internet access? Or a paid membership account?
Been an Insteon/ISY user for many years and love it, but am looking to migrate to a Polisy/z-wave system (getting worried about availability of Insteon products, as well as lifespan of critical components like the PLM). Still a Polisy newbie, but one question I haven't seen answered - does Polisy act like my old ISY, meaning I can program and run it locally, without the need for things like cloud servers or accounts that have monthly membership costs? Of course I'm assuming internet access (for things like sending email alerts) but I just don't want to get locked into paying a monthly membership fee for the next 10+ years.
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Looking to upgrade but mot sure what I'm looking for
Curious about the comment "Get a polisy with zwave or add a zwave board to your ISY and start building a new side system as needed" -- does this imply that Polisy with z-wave and an ISY with a serial PLM can work side by side, and then slowly I can change my Insteon devices over to z-wave? What about using a Polisy to control my old Insteon devices as well as new z-wave devices by itself, getting rid of the ISY? (The idea being I'd like to move away from Insteon entirely and change everything over to z-wave). I've been happy with Insteon over the years but am getting worried about availability and longevity.
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Are there z-wave equivalents of these Insteon products?
My Insteon system has been running for over 10 years now with no issues, but it's looking more and more like z-wave might be in my future. However after some quick searches I'm wondering if I can find all the products I need. For example, are there any z-wave versions of a duplex receptacle where both top and bottom outlets are controlled? The only ones I can find show one controlled outlet and one always-on outlet. Also, are there any z-wave equivalents of the Insteon I/O Linc? Or a similar version of generic I/O points (relay outputs, 5v triggered inputs)?
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Insteon Alternative?
I'm curious about the comment above that "Although I preferred Leviton's aesthetics they didn't work well" -- how about some specifics? Do the switches not communicate reliably with the zwave network? Does manual operation not always work reliably? Are the switches physically deficient (plastic cracks, etc)? I'm in the same boat in looking at new z-wave products to upgrade my system from Insteon.