scubaguyjohn

I hear you... On Smarthome, if they had taken care of my keypad linc failures better, I would likely have a different opinion because they are, in general, very good. However, I believe they knew the parts had a high failure rate due to a design flaw and they didn't step up and support their customers (who have no other choice). In the long run, I do believe that one or more of the big boys must get involved as the average consumer can't deal with setting up isy, homeseer, etc...I'm constantly amazed at how much i have to rely on my tech background to get this stuff working properly....I feel like i'm still programming in machine language sometimes!

Zwave products come from multiple suppliers, for example. Open platforms tend to be better supported, offer greater choices at lower price points. Same reasoning I don't buy Apple PC's....typically, substantially higher prices for less performance on a closed platform. I've used zwave fairly extensively so I'm not looking at it from a distance. As you say, however, i'm sure there are detractors on both sides.

Thanks, that works perfectly.

I'm not sure if my issue is related to the above toggle issue but I'm trying to accomplish similar activities. I have a keypad link with the D button in toggle mode. In a program "IF" statement, I test to see if the button status is 100%, and if so run the Action. This works. Then, after running the desired Action, I want to reset the button by turning off the backlight and setting the status to 0%. To accomplish this I use "On 0/Off 0 (backlight level)" as an Action for the D button but that doesn't appear to set button D status to 0% (or less than 100%) as the activity keeps running. However, the D button does turn off but apparently the D button status is still 100%. What am i missing? thanks, john.

Yes, select html as the type of email under "customized content" and then use standard html commands to change font, style, etc. For example, <font face="verdana" color="black size="10"> would set the font as verdana, black type, and size 10 font. John.

In customizing emails, I referred to the following wiki page: http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY-99i_Series_INSTEON:Custom_Email_Substitution_Variables However, it's not complete. For example, CLITEMP is missing (which i found through trial and error). Is there a complete up to date list available? thanks, John.

Smarthome (for me) is very good for sales and technical questions (but still not as good as UDI!) and most products are reliable. However, I've been burned on buying insteon keypad lincs...I now have about 10 that have all failed in 3-4 years...that's $800 out the window and no alternative solution, and no real offer to replace them by smarthome other than a discount on new units. If i could start over, I wouldn't use Insteon as I'm locked into a sole supplier and I strongly dislike the lack of flexibility. My insteon/homeseer (homeseer, a very expensive disaster) decision 2-3 years ago would not be the same today. With the recent advances in isy and zwave, that would be the route I'd take. John

thanks Lee, on to the next tests.

let me focus on just the AP in the garage - I triple checked the circuits: the garage light switch (dual band), the garage lamplinc (dual band), the AP (dual band), and the io lincs are all on the same garage electrical panel leg. I understand the the legs alternate. When i press the AP in the garage 4 times, the garage light switch blinks red and the garage lamp linc blinks red. Isn't this the opposite of what they should do when on the same leg? Heck, the lamplinc is plugged into an outlet right next to the AP...removing the AP from the extension cord doesn't change the behavior. Do I understand the blinking red color meaning correctly? Lee, I'm maintaining vertical orientation on the AP's correctly, they are not lying on their sides. thanks John.

would appreciate some feedback on my long post above...thanks.

I guess I have a comm problem as the only time the sensor state changes upon query, is if it's in the incorrect state (on ISY panel). Running a query when the sensor state is correct (regardless if this is on or off) doesn't result in a sensor state change.

thanks Lee, the objective of the garage AP is to simply relay the message via RF.

For one day, after rechecking the reverse trigger box, the sensor system worked as it should. However, overnight, it stopped. Ran more tests: 1. Pressing garage AP 4 times results in garage light switch blinking green and garage lamplinc blinking green. The IO Lincs don't blink regardless of how close the AP is located to them or even if on the same circuit. Should the IOlincs blink? The house AP starts to blink green when the garage AP is moved within 100' of it (via an extension cord). Only one house switch blinks red. 2. Pressing the house AP 4 times results in some house switches blinking green. The number of switches is fairly limited and appears to be only those that are in close physical proximity to the house AP. I have 75 or so switches and perhaps only 5-6 blink depending on which outlet the AP is plugged into. I have 3 electrical panels in the house. 3. Pressing the house AP 4 times results in the garage AP blinking green. While the garage AP is blinking green and on the same panel leg as the garage light switch, the garage light switch is now blinking red indicating its receiving a RF signal. The lamplinc which is further from the AP is not blinking indicating it is out of RF range. This is not the same behaviour as #1 above. Also, if I unplug the garage AP, the switch red light keeps blinking indicating that it's receiving the RF signal from the house AP! 4. The house AP and garage AP lose contact if I move them apart more than 100' despite clear, direct outdoor line of sight between them. Specs rating is 200'. I don't understand this. Without naming names (yet!),I should note that the AP's were purchased from an ebay home automation reseller...I'm wondering if these are reduced quality AP's even though they are new and rev. 2. I've had a lot of problems with keypadlinc's purchased from the same company but attributed that to lower rev./older units. Did the AP's have distance issues at one time with prior rev's? John.

as a last resort, i unchecked the trigger reverse box, now ISY is reporting the sensor status accurately and in real-time.... and it works with the AP unplugged.

ok - pressed AP button 4 times and I'm getting blinking red on the garage AP and blinking red on the garage dual band dimmer. Does that mean both AP's are on the same phase (bad)? or does it mean they are communicating via RF (good). I can tell you I'm only getting about 80' open air, direct line of site communications between the two AP's which is a concern. I will post the trace afterwards. Gotcha Lee on the sensor flip due to query. I have tested and retested but the sensor won't change value without a query.