gadgetfreak

Makes sense. The clock is ticking waiting for my PLM to get back. It is only set to arrive tomorrow and he said he takes up to 10 days. I guess there is nothing more to do now but wait. Thank you all for the advice and psychological support :). I will keep you posted.

I did a factory reset which I can confirm worked since it asked me to agree to terms (again). Seems like it kept the Firmware though so there is nothing to upgrade: I am still getting an error when I switch to the Programs tab :(:

I used to have those errors before but they never seemed to affect anything so I wasn't too worried. But, if there is a way to remove them (esp now that I am waiting for my PLM to be repaired) I am happy to try. Thx. And yes - I am using start.jnlp to access the admin console.

I upgraded to 5.3.4 (needed to upgrade the admin console too). Logged in, safe-mode prompt, then went to programs and got this error: Keep in mind, I didn't restore my backup yet so there are no devices, scenes or programs in the ISY. Here is my About screen: And here is status: I am not sure if there is anything else for "System Configuration". Thanks.

I did a hard reset on my second ISY Pro. As expected, I connected it to both PLMs and they both have errors with the two blue lights and the ISY boots into safe-mode. One PLM is en route to Binghamton for repairs. While I wait, I can at least control scenes with existing switches that were already programmed. I just have no timer or Alexa functionality - nor remote control of devices. As I wait, I am also going through the spare (wiped) ISY to make sure it is ready for when the repaired PLM comes back. It boots to safe mode. There is a recent (enough) firmware: When I go to Programs, I get an error: When I click OK, it goes away. I have also gotten a different error under the programs screen sometimes: I am not sure if that is something I need to address. When the PLM comes back, I will hope that I have a good connection. If so, I will restore my last backup.

@lilyoyo1I have two more ISYs. But everyone swears it can't be the ISY that caused both PLMs to die. Can you imagine if I get the repaired PLM back and it works for an hour and dies again?

Thanks for all the replies. To try to answer all of your questions: The bootup sequence for the lights on the ISY seems OK. What remains are two bright blue left lights including the RX one. The wiki clearly says this is a problem with the communication to the PLM. I have already opened a ticket with Support and Michel is standing by his opinion that both PLMs are bad (as rare as that may be). I even hypothesized that maybe the original ISY caused some sort of short to the first PLM and then did the same to the second PLM. But both he, and this forum, said it was impossible. Don't forget, I have also tried different cables, different outlets and even different ISYs with both the PLMs. In every combination, I am getting the two solid lights. Next step is to send the PLM to the person from Binghampton on ebay for a repair. I already paid the $92 and will ship it out this week. Of course, my fear is that if, in fact, the ISY caused a short, then it could happen again immediately. I have a recent backup of my ISY if need be. I do not believe this is the issue but I will throw it out there anyway - if I did a hard reset of the PLM and then plugged it back into an ISY, I shouldn't get the two blue lights on the ISY, correct? If that is expected behavior after a PLM reset, then I have hope. But I don't think it is. Any other ideas? PS - after further research, I don't think I can go with Caseta. I don't like the way the switches look, they are capped at 75 devices (including Picos) and the Pico is not really a good substitute for a keypadlink. Since I love the IFTT of ISY, if I can't get this fixed, I may need to go with a Polisy and Zwave. But that really worries me too.

OK. I appreciate the advice but I think I end up in the exact same place. I may have sounded frazzled (and was) but I did basically go through all the steps. I went back to the original PLM, CAT5. ISY and Power Supply. I plugged in the PLM, saw a solid green light on the right side, waited 2 minutes and then put the final plug (the power) into the ISY. All 3 blue lights came on for a few seconds and then just the first two stayed lit as solid blue lights. I then launched the admin console, for the safe-mode pop-up which I had to clear and then went to help/about and see this: Matches perfectly. But I also see this when getting PLM status (which makes sense): And, of course, I can't control any devices through the admin console. One of the steps was to try to restore modem but that failed too: I haven't made any changes to my network. What about doing a factory reset of my ISY and then restoring a backup?

LOL. Thx. At this point, my only hope (without starting from scratch) is waiting for the ebay repair or waiting for Universal Devices to create a PLM. Sadly, I won't hold my breath. First world problems

You have been very helpful. I am still hyperventilating about this whole situation but, even if I do get my PLMs repaired, it seems I need to move on - likely to Polisy/Z-Wave. I will get to use the same programming functionality that I have with ISY and use affordable switches that form a mesh network. Right? You mentioned no keypads. What about this? Zooz 700 Series Z-Wave Plus Scene Controller Switch ZEN32 - The Smartest House. Also, must I upgrade to a Polisy? What is wrong with the ISY and Z-Wave PLUS Module - Universal Devices (universal-devices.com)? Assuming it comes back in stock?

So, for someone like me who is already used to ISY, you would recommend going with Z-Wave? For the controller: either keeping the ISY and adding the $70 Z-Wave or getting the Polisy with Z-Wave capability? And then start replacing switches with ZOOZ and/or AeoTec (which seem to be really affordable and have keypads)? Still not ideal when this whole system can be fixed with just one small PLM.

So the standing belief is that, just randomly, the second PLM broke right after the first one did? What a coincidence. But I have tried every combination with different outlets, CAT5 wires, ISYs and both PLMs. Just my luck :(. I placed a $92 ebay order with nilachidatasystems in upstate NY. I am waiting for them to send me their address to ship one back. If that works, I would definitely do the same with the second one. I already started my research for alternatives (keeping ISY or getting a Polisy because I love all the IFTT stuff): Lutron Caseta - capped at 75 devices. I am not a fan of their wall switches. No keypads with 6-8 buttons. And their programming is not as good - I can't set variables to control folders (though if I connect to Polisy, it won't be an issue). And even that will cost me around $50/switch. Lutron RA2 Select - Much more expensive. Still not sure about keypads. Lutron Radio RA2 or 3 - What I would get if money was no object. Leviton Z-Wave - I don't know enough about this. I believe it should work with a Z-wave module on ISY or Polisy. Not sure about keypads either. I REALLY want to stick with Insteon. I am hoping for a miracle.

@Geddy Thank you so much for your detailed response. I am usually not that aloof but I am really freaking out by this and the prospect of needing to change my whole house. To answer some of your comments: Both of the PLMs I have in my possession are 2413S v2.1. One says 1505 and the other 1530, the other says There was a time in within the last 12 months where my ISY completely broke and I ordered an entirely new one when it turned out it was only the power supply that had broken. I ended up keeping the second ISY as a "spare". That is what I mean when I said that this would be the second power supply - but it was unrelated to this current incident. I just would have never thought it was the power supply since I had power this whole time. Luckily, the friend that gave me the spare PLM also had a spare ISY and power supply. But, unfortunately, I still have bad news. I plugged in the PLM (1530 one as I assume that is newer) - which I had factory reset, waited one minute, then plugged in my original ISY with the new power supply. It booted up but got stuck on those two steady blue lights again. And, as before, when I log into the admin console, it immediately says safe mode. I am SO appreciative of all your help. But I continue to "freak out" that I am going to have to replace all my switches. I didn't do anything else with the ISY after the above because I assume the connection to the PLM is still bad. Any further help would be MOST appreciated.

Even if I could get power to the ISY and access the admin console, you still think it could be the power supply? If so, this would be my second failed power supply. But what a relief if true. What are the requirements for a new power supply? Maybe I can get one locally?

I think I did everything correctly but which wiki are you referring to? I just factory reset the PLM again, waited 1 minute, plugged in the original ISY, say the two steady blue lights, logged into the admin console anyway, and got safe mode. What do you think I should do now? Also, is it possible there was some sort of "short" in the original ISY that could have broken the first PLM and then the second one an hour after it was installed?

My whole house (over 75 devices) has Insteon switches with an ISY 994IR Pro and a PLM 2413S. Starting yesterday, I could access the ISY but couldn’t control anything, and my programs didn’t run. I found two blue lights on the front and when I logged into the admin console, it said it was in safe mode. This indicates a problem with the PLM connection. Luckily, I had a friend with an unused PLM (since you can't get them anymore). I installed it, restored the PLM in the admin console, and could control all but two devices for around an hour. Then that one also stopped working, and I am back to two blue lights and safe mode. I am using Firmware 5.3.0 on the ISY. What else should I be doing to fix this? I can’t get ahold of another PLM, but that is too much of a coincidence for both to be broken. Even worse, I had a spare ISY to try and, as soon as I connected that with either of the PLMs, same two lights. Please oh please - I hope someone has a good solution. If not, I am going to have to redo my entire house. Thanks in advance.

So when I pushed it back in, it beeped and stopped beeping right away. I just kept it pressed in for another 10 seconds just to "make sure" it was reset. And, again, it seems to have worked for my dual-band devices but I am getting serious failures on my older switches. I could use some more help please.

Your advice worked really well with my two Den lights (the dual-band ones). I did a reset on them by pulling out the pin for 10 seconds and then pushing them back in for 10 seconds. However, I am still getting the green flag on my kitchen light which is a 2876SB v.39. Since it responds when I send it a command directly from the ISY, I can't believe it is dead. But it has the green flag and won't respond to any scenes for which it is a part of. Any other advice? Thx for everything.

Thanks for the advice. I tried a restore and now I am stuck with a green flag next to the device. I can't get rid of it. Also, I noticed that I have three dual-band devices in the den. Den1 and Den2 are part of this problem and Den3 is working fine. Interestingly, Den1 is 2477DH v.39, Den2 is 2477D v.38 and Den3 is 2477D v.41.

Our power went out for a few minutes on Friday night and then the generator kicked in. All was back to normal 10 minutes later. Although the ISY is on a battery backup, the whole house isn't and the switches may have been affected. Now, I have around 10 switches that will respond at the switch and even with directly controlling that one switch from the ISY but they will NOT do anything as part of a scene (neither running the scene through the ISY or via another switch in a 3-way config). I have tried rebooting the ISY, taking the switch out of, and then putting it back into, the scene. Neither worked. They properly show status when controlling the single device but do not accurately show their status when running the scene. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for the input. Is it true that dual-band systems don't need phase couplers since the signals are amplified over RF and can "jump" to the other phase that way? I guess these dual-band 2443s can't hurt but I am curious. Thx.

Now that I did a Google search, I found this: http://www.smarthome.com/access-point-insteon-2443-range-extender-dual-band.html. I guess that means it is dual band and it can only help?

Sorry. Access Point #2443.

I started out with an X10 system including a phase coupler. I slowly upgraded to original Insteon using 5+ boosters (one set specifically at my dryer as a phase-coupler). I then converted around 40 of my 50 or so switches to dual-band with the remaining switches single-band. There are no more x10. I am not having a problem now but I am wondering if I should leave all the boosters plugged in. Do you think it helps or hurts (if there is any sort of failure in the device) my network? I could probably unplug a few and run some tests but I am curious as to the general consensus on this. Thx.

OK, here is the update. Took about an hour + and two tries but the restore completed. I was left with around 20% of the devices with either red exclamations or green flags. I went through each of those and did a "write updates". All but one device cleared. Under diagnostics, it looks like I have V9E. Is that good? And the big test is when I launch the admin console. I always hold my breath to find out how many devices will have problems on startup that I will need to manually fix. I tested twice and there were no errors on startup. This is a good sign but, when I unplugged the old one on Sunday and rebooted it, I also was OK for a while so only time will tell. As I wrote this, a final write update on that last device was successful and I am now free of all flags. I logged out and back in and still have no errors. I will stay cautiously optimistic that my issue was solved. I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your help. I have certainly tried to provide information to help others but clearly received more help than I gave. And you are all so patient and kind (unlike other boards I have seen). I look forward to continuing to be a member here and appreciate all of you.