CPrince

What am I missing? Insteon Hubs going for $300 plus? I figured they were almost useless. Maybe some people have not received the memo yet?

@MrBill Thank you. I actually found an easy way after repeatably beating my head against the wall. Using the Alexa App, I put my 3 switches in a Group. Done. Now I will make a "Lights" Group, so I can turn off all the lights on the way out the door. I will finish reading your reply in a bit. It has a lot of good info in it.

We all know about the Insteon Hub. I started a discussion on this a while back; running the hub and ISY. The consensus was ditch the hub and and let ISY do it all. What is relay weird here is that my hub failed the day before the SmartHome pulled the plug! So I am porting all my stuff over to ISY and have Alexa integration working. Software is 5.3. I have a few things that baffle me. I have 4 dimmer modules in the living room and one no dimming wall switch. Their names are, Living room Left, Living Room Right, Living Room Corner, Living Room Reading and Living Room Fan. Then I have dimming switch Dining Room. Very seldom do I call the lights out individually. But I do. These all work right now with ISY. I know it is suggested not to name things this way. With the hub I used to say Living Room 50, Living Room 40, Living Room Off/On, etc. I don't remember how I did it. In turn Living Room Left, Right and Dining Room would do their thing. Ling Room Reading, Fan and Corner would not change. How can I do this with ISY? I also have a similar setup in the bedroom which I want to apply the solution too. Why didn't they just sell the servers to some 3rd party that could charge a subscription for usage?

Has anybody implemented a Z-Wave controlled window shade? I am looking to make a shade go down at sunset and up at sunrise. If not I am thinking I might just integrate with Alexa in a routine. Has anybody done that? Not looking for anything fancy. Doesn't it always start out that way? Nothing fancy?

Okay I think I figured this out. The wife finally left the house so I can test. Sucks to be a dog or a cat. Looking at the Status Icon for the Smoke Bridge Battery (seems the battery is tested during the test, but resets) and Test values, I noticed that they had a green bar. So I start poking around why? All others had red bars. It has probably been green for months, since I last did a test. So I queried it and it turned to a red bar. Did the Smoke Bridge test and presto, it worked. I added a wait and a query to my last lines to "reset" the Smoke Bridge. I also tested with with esl "Smoke! in a Can" and everything worked. This time I received a smoke alert instead of a test alert. I didn't seem to need the query here as it reset itself almost instantly. This is also proof that the wireless SCO500 works. So this is what I came up with. Smoke Detector Test - [ID 0058][Parent 0001] If 'Bedroom / Smoke Bridge-Test' Status is On Then Send Notification to 'Chris email' content 'Smoke Detector Test' Wait 2 seconds Set 'Bedroom / Bedroom Ceiling-Light' On Wait 2 seconds Set 'Bedroom / Bedroom Nightstand' On Wait 2 seconds Set 'Living Room / Living Room Right' On Wait 2 seconds Set 'Kitchen / Kitchen Light' On Wait 5 minutes Set 'Bedroom / Smoke Bridge-Test' Query Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')

@lilyoyo1yes, there are about 6 options or more. Test, Smoke, CO, Unknown, All Clear, Low Battery, Malfunction. I was just trying to get one of them to work. I just did not know what logic to use. @xlurkrhttps://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Insteon-Compatibility this document states that First Alert SCO501CN-3ST is compatable. You can get it on Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/s?k=sco501cn-3st&i=tools&crid=3I3CHO4GRXJO8&sprefix=sco501%2Ctools%2C95&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-doa-p_3_6 , for about $43. First Alert's list does not seem complete as my SCO500 wireless used to work and @Bumbershoot says he has used SA521cn-3st which is wired with battery backup. The SA521cn-3st is also on Amazon for about $40.

@Bumbershootthanks. So my code is good. Smoke Detector Smoke Detected - [ID 0053][Parent 0001] If 'Bedroom / Smoke Bridge-Smoke' Status is On Then Send Notification to 'Chris email' content 'Smoke Detector Smoke Detected' Else - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action') I need to test some more. I need people to leave the house so i can test. Then try new detectors.

@Bumbershoot, Oh I see that is is not battery, but battery backup.

@Bumbershoot, that unit is not on the approved list! LOL! https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Insteon-Compatibility Amazon says it is battery? Battery is OK and preferred. Would you mind sharing some code?

@xlurkr, yes I went down that road too. I could not marry the First Alert to the Smoke Bridge. I spent hours and days on line. On the First Alert web site I found a document listing the only smoke detector compatible. https://support.firstalert.com/s/article/Insteon-Compatibility Mine, the SCO500,was not on it. There was a SCO500c or something which is no longer on the list. So I went to buy one and found that this is a wired smoke detector. Then I did more looking around and found that this SCO500c (or something, which is no longer on the list.) is the same as the SCO500. One is batteries and one is wired. So then I looked back through my documentation from 2013 and found that my old detectors were in fact SCO500's and they worked. I was using Insteon HouseLink software at that time. I went through my junk box full of Insteon stuff and dug up another Smoke Bridge. I did a factory reset on it, and linked it to the First Alert on the first try, no pun intended. Now when I throw the First Alert in test mode and look at the Smoke Bridge the green light flashes on the Smoke Bridge. The book says this means data is being sent. By the way the SCO501CN-3ST is approved and is available at Amazon for $43. I was hoping someone had Smoke Bridge up and running and could check my code before I drop $100 on more detectors.

I don't believe I ever configured my Smoke Bridge in ISY. I put it on the back burner for a while. I have a monitored alarm if there is a problem. In the mean time my First Alert detectors reached end of life. Yes, they lasted about 8 years and started throwing a code every few hours that they needed to be replace. So I replace them. I married the smoke detectors with each other and then married the last one to the Smoke Bridge. I set the Smoke Bridge up in ISY. All LOOKS good. The other day while the wife was cooking dinner she set of the smoke detector and nothing happened. This is my code. Is it correct? Under the 2 status drop downs there are lots of options. Maybe I should do this?

@MrBill Launcher fixed Thanks!

@MrBillGood to know about the USB/Serial PLM's. I am good for the rest of my life or 3 good lightening strikes, which ever comes first. Java is 8 update 321. Using Windows 7. Firmware and UI match in Admin console at 5.3.0. So that leaves us with the Launcher. After I flush the Java cache, files and shortcut to ISY Admin Console, I used to go to http://x.x.x.x/admin.jnlp. This downloads admin.jnlp. I run the admin.jnlp which repopulates the short cut and opens the console. Now I just click on admin.jnlp in my download folder after I have cleared the cashe and files. I am not sure what the Launcher is. . Is this the Launcher; it doesn't work since I did a Java update? I get some sort of certificate error. I used to always click on that with no issues until the Java update. This is what I get now....

@Mikes Yes it is getting scary that our systems rely on a single PLM. I wonder if there is a way to convert the USB PLM to serial PLM? I have 2 of them. I haven't doven in to the Z-Wave side too much. I have the Hubitat detected as several repeaters and a gateway. My next move is to attache a z-wave device to the Hubitat and see if it gets pushed over to the ISY. Funds are lacking. I have too much invested in Insteon at this time. Insteon actually has so many great features. As for the Java. It didn't used to bother me until I did a Java update. Now it is all messed up. I have to flush the Java in the control panel before I lunch the admin console every single time. It is beyond annoying. Then the Admin Console locks up with a "system busy". You have to bring up Task Manager to kill it. Busy doing what? Flush the Java reload the console and we go on for a while.

Anybody have a recommendation for a freezer failure sensor? My Smarthome Minotaur Engineering IFF1 Precision Freezer Failure Sensor failed and sent my about 2000 emails in a few hours. At first I thought it the IO Link. I swapped out the IO Link and it went crazy again.

@lilyoyo1you are killing me. Would you point me in the direction of making the ISY a secondary controller? I can't figure it out. While it is not the solution, I would like to play it out.

No, I did mean hubs. My Hubitat hub can look for other Z-wave hubs and incorporate their devices. Primary/Secondary. I am nor sure how this works. I can't build this mess as ISY does not have the option or I have not found it. Been doing a lot of reading. I thought ISY used to have a primary/secondary until I upgraded to 500 series. I am not a subject mater specialist on this. I wish I was.

Well this topic took a fork in the road. It could have ended almost as fast as it started. I did say I would come back with my findings for integrating Z-Wave devices with ISY and a Z-Wave hub. Somebody may be interested in the outcome. You can't do it. Z-Wave protocol states devices can not connect to more than one hub. However Z-wave protocol encourages the use of multiple hubs in a Z-Wave network. Doing this you creates a Z-Wave mesh and all devices are visible as if connected to one hub. ISY does not support a Z-Wave mesh. I think it used to in an older version? So if I want to talk to my new devices, I am going to have to ditch the Insteon Hub and move everything to ISY and do a full portal integration.

@oberkcI do use the ISY mobile app. As per @Javi I am going to look at dumbing it down today for the wife. She is unintentionally good at messing stuff up. The one thing I really like about the app besides all its functionality is that it is on line 99% of the time. I don't have to constantly log in. ISY can do it all, no doubt about it. I am using UD Mobile ver .121. I did not know there are others. Yes, you might say I am creating a complicated setup. My main intent is for a little redundancy plus run Alexa. Since Alexa is already set up on the hub why move it? @lilyoyo1says I am inviting potential issues. I have been warned. I had redundancy until Insteon devices became hard to find and I started looking at Z-Wave. Used Insteon appliance modules going for $150 on eBay. If Insteon pulls the plug on the hub, then all of this is going to be a mute point and I will have to hand it off to ISY. I am not trying to pig headed or indifferent. I live on the bleeding edge. Thanks for all you support and help. ?

Okay, I get the point. Not sure thought. I love a challenge. I have run Insteon hub and Insteon House link for 10 years. Insteon hub and Isy for 9 months. All is good. Let's up the anti. Hold my beer. I just ordered Hubitat for the morning. Win lose or draw, no guts no glory. I will get back with results. All hinging on Z-Wave being linked to 2 hubs.

@oberkcno problems with the Insteon Hub running with ISY. When I added a new device to my system I add it to one and then the other. No problems. Unless it is Z-Wave, it can only be added to ISY. I don't let the Insteon hub do any programs. It simply just controls Insteon devices with the app and interact with them with Alexa. If something happens to ISY I can manually control from the Insteon hub app or Alexa or vise versa. Insteon hub does not talk to ISY. Neither know the other exists. @Javiidea will eliminate redundancy. I do have portal access and have loaded the ISY phone app. The app is way to complicated for the wife and kids. Plus I don't want them to access to all that it does. Insteon app while poorly written works well for simple things. It is useless for any advanced stuff. I also have more explicit device names in ISY. There would be a whole lot of reprogramming; basically renaming and yes Alexa will have to be dumped and started from scratch. I am looking at the Hubitat hub for the Z-Wave devices. I only have 5 Z-Wave devices and I can always dump the Z-Wave device from ISY and start over if I mess stuff up. The Insteon will stay in tack. I am hoping Z-Wave devices can be linked to 2 hubs. I don't know too much about Z-Wave. I guess it will be a learning experience. Then if Insteon pulls the plug on the hub, I will be forced to use the portal a, put the Hubitat on eBay and put my hub in the trash.

Before I heard of ISY, I used the Insteon Hub and Insteon HouseLink software. Insteon HouseLink ran all the everyday routines/programs and the Insteon Hub was integrated with Alexa for voice control and Android App to control devices. It all worked as it should. I have upgrade from Insteon HouseLink to ISY. ISY runs all the everyday routines/programs and the Insteon Hub is still integrated with Alexa for voice control and Android App to control devices. It is all working. So now with what appears to be the end of Insteon I have started using Z-wave devices. I have several Z-wave devices configured on the ISY and they work fine. The problem is Alexa doesn't see them. Obviously, different animals. So I am thinking of throwing in a Z-Wave hub, then running a skill on Alexa to to integrate the Z-Wave modules. My question is I need a Z-Wave hub recommendation. I think the ISY can do it but I do not want to put all my eggs in one basket. I like a little redundancy. So with that being said, the Insteon hub I am using is reliant on an Insteon server somewhere. I wonder when SmartHome will pull the plug? What if the hub burns out; won't be the first time. I have a replacement but without a help-desk it is of little use.

With the shortage of Insteon products I figured I would try out Z-Wave. I broke down and upgraded to Isy ver 5.3, bought the new Z-Wave 500 board ver. 6.82.01 and set it up. Seems to work. I purchase a Fibaro Motion Sensor per @lilyoyo1suggestion. So now I am trying to configure it. note: "Query" and "Write Changes" appear under the settings. I just moved up in picture above to save space. So for configuration I have a "Set Configuration", "Parameter Number", "Parameter Vales", "Write Changes. I want to write 900 to parameter 64. The manual says 2 bytes. It doesn't say "unsigned" or "signed" which is a option. Being battery operated I have to open communication by pressing button B once. So now what order do I click on the buttons to write to the device. How can I verify this change was successful? Is there an App or something I can use to program this or read the configuration? I am not using a Z-Wave hub just the Isy. Next I want to put 300 in parameter 42.

@lilyoyo1Thanks for the reply. All three of my new (2844) motions sensors are configured outside of ISY. Two are reporting membership. Isy added these, not me. But not a problem as ISY does not run them except for battery low. More of a cosmetic problem. I am a detail guy. Now for the battery low problem. It looks like the 2844 does not have a battery low like the 2842 did. My previous programs for the low battery are all yellow flagged . So I need to recode them for the new sensor. However, you say that the 2844's need to be plugged in to report the light level, battery level, luminance, battery power etc. data. Then I would not need a battery low if they were plugged in. lol. All is good. I did not have it before and it looks like I will not have it now. I will set something up in the odd case the sensor does send out a low battery level on day.

I have four motion sensors. 1 2842-222 and 3 2844-222. I am at Isy 5.3. I added the motion senors back at version 4.9 before upgrades. All my sensors show up as 2842-222. The new sensors show up as old sensors. Okay I figured that issues out. I deleted them and re added the new sensors and now they show up as they should. During the process they showed light level, battery level, luminance, battery power etc. All looked good. So I saved my config and rebooted. Now they only show status (on/off). All the other good info is not reporting. This is not really a problem, but one of the things that bugs me and keeps me up at night. The sensors are all directly linked to the corresponding light (outside of Isy in case Isy fails). Ie bath sensor turns on bath light, closet sensor turns on closet light and office light turns on office light. All works. What really bugs me is that bath and office show the correct memberships (far right on the Isy display. However closet shows nothing. No memberships. No scenes. I blew away closet light and sensor and re added to no prevail. I really wanted to tap the luminace vales of the sensors but that seems not possible at this time as they are not reporting.