Jay M

Thanks guys! You helped me figure it out. For some reason, I had a program that said: if button is pressed Or IR is pressed, turn movie scene On. I just removed the button press line. I haven't tested it yet, but I'll be that was the problem. Do you need to program for IR to work, or can IR directly control a scene? I use the IR built into the ISY. thanks, ~Jay

I have a 6-button keypadlinc on the wall, and button C used to be for a scene call "movie" that would turn off any lights in or near the living room. I never used that button, so I re-purposed it. To activate that scene, I always use an IR remote. I created a new scene called "Away". That scene turns off any non-essential lights when I'm away. I never like to leave the house totally dark. When I assigned the Keypadlink button C to the Away scene, it still triggers the "Movie" scene. What could cause this situation? thanks, ~Jay

Thanks for the replies. The security system I bought was pretty inexpensive. The house is in an area where it isn't really needed, but the house will be vacant for a few months so I want to keep an eye on it. If security were a real concern, I think I would just have a real name brand professionally installed and monitored system. There are many ip wifi camera options. The Amcrest were inexpensive, feature rich, and have great reviews. The model I bought has a built in recorder, but I can also pay for cloud storage, or buy dvr for them. It's pretty cool to have options like that on a $100 camera. I do like the idea of having door sensors attached to lighting. Can the elk sensors trigger lighting? With a 6 month battery life, that Insteon sensors seem like too much work. A secondary reason for a security system is to keep an eye on my aging mother. She's in the early stages of Altzhiemers. It will be nice to get a notification on my phone if a door opens at an odd time so I'll know to check on her. The cameras may need to go away when she moves in, but I'll try to talk her into having some on the outside of the house. ~Jay

Yes, sorry, I should have been more specific. I know there are now Insteon cameras, leak sensors, and even thermostats. But I don't understand what those functions have to do with lighting. Is there a specific advantage to having all of those types of devices in the same family? Or am I better off just buying the best in class. My opinion: - Insteon - best do it yourself lighting - Nest - Best smart thermostat (according to my friends, I don't see the need for a smart thermostat) - Amcreast - best wifi camera, (according to amazon and other reviews). - Skylinknet - best self monitored security (specifically for MY needs) Super easy to set up, no monthly fees, fairly inexpensive. Just to be clear, because sometimes I'm not a good written communicator, I'm not trying to argue a position or viewpoint, I just want to know what other peoples opinions and thoughts are on having Insteon communicate with everything. Thanks, ~Jay

I did install a self monitored security system called skylinknet. I also installed a few cameras by Amcrest. What is the advantage of using Insteon leak and door sensors? ~Jay

Thanks, that's good to know, and with a wireless laptop it should go fairly quickly. ~Jay

Thanks Jon. With all of the devices being dual band, is an access point, or range extender still needed? What exactly is the portal? I do like the idea of remote access even though she'll be living near by. ~Jay

I my home I have dozens of Insteon devices, at least one X-10, and I'm on my second ISY unit. My house has evolved into something that works, but I suspect that If I were to start over again, it would work better. I feel like I know just enough to be dangerous! But there are some luxuries in life that once you have experienced, are hard to live without - automated lighting is one of them. I can't imagine coming home to a dark house, or sitting in my living room and then needing to get up to adjust 4 different dimmers every single night just to make the room look right. Today, I just purchased a bunch of stuff for my Mom's new house. The goal is for every switch to be Insteon, and have only lighting being controlled by the ISY 994 ir Pro. Ideally, she shouldn't even know it all exists except for a few keypdlincs that do things like turn on back yard lights, turn off all lights, and maybe a few presets. A few things I'd like it to do: -turn on landscape lights at dark, then off late at night -turn on the living room lights before dark. -create an all lights ON, and all lights OFF button. -create back yard flood lights ON and OFF buttons in various locations. I'll tell you what I think, and you tell me if I'm correct: 1. Plug in the ISY and PLM, make sure I can get into it on the computer. 2. Install the 15 or so Insteon switches one at a time, and add them one at a time to the ISY. Question - Is that really necessary, or can I install them all at once? 3. install keypadlincs 4. create scenes. 5. create programs. Do you have any tips? An important goal is to keep it as simple as possible if that will improve reliability. What will I lose if the PLM dies, or the ISY dies? Thanks in advance for your help! I could never get all this stuff working without your help. ~Jay

Good news! I've now added it back to the scene and it appeared to work. Can someone tell me why a brand new out-of-the-box Switchlink inherited the same problem as the old Switchlink? ~Jay

I deleted the china cabinet switch from MyLighting and added it back. I'll attach the device report. thanks for the help! ~Jay

I deleted it from the scene, then did a factory reset. When I went to tools, diagnostics, device links table - I got an error. failed reading device link. Today, I noticed another switch link in the house with the same problem. It was part of a 3-way switch, and it never worked quite right. I assumed that I just couldn't figure out how to do a 3-way. After messing with it, I discovered that I can control it locally, with the PC, and in a program, but NOT as part of a scene. Could there be a wiring issue? thanks, ~Jay

I tried deleting and adding it back. Didn't help. I'll attach a screen shot of the scene. I noticed that the "current state" is wrong, it says that the china cabinet light is on. It's not on, it's off. ~Jay

I just created a simple timer that turns the china cabinet light on at a particular time, and it worked. I'll now try to once again remove the device from the scene and add it back. ~Jay

I've attached screenshot of the Device links table. Does it mean anything to you? thanks, ~Jay

Hopefully tonight I'll have time to mess around with it. I think I have covered the items above, let me know if I missed one... Not using a power strip delete and add back, swapping out hardware did that. always of mode? not sure about that. Where do I find that setting? And why would that setting only be in a scene? long ramp time, no, and even if it was, after 9 minutes i'd have noticed the light on. the controller is a the ceiling switchlink. I created a new scene with this switchlink and it doesn't respond. Next, I'll see if it will respond to a program. ~Jay

When I get home tonight, I'll try to answer these questions more precisely. The scene controller is the Switchlink that controls the ceiling lights. So when I tap that paddle ON, all the lights in the scene go on. (except the china cabinet.) The new china cabinet switch is a dual-band. It is connected to an outlet on the top of the china cabinet. The china cabinet uses puck lights that are plugged directly into the outlet. When I directly control the china cabinet switchlink on the laptop, it peforms flawlessly. When the scene last worked, it was with the old ISY99ir and the V2 Switchlink. At some point it stopped working. Since then I have replaced bith the ISY with a newer model, and just last night the Switchlink with the newest dual-band model. The only thing unique about the china cabinet switch is its name - it's named "China Cabinet Lights 10.BE.87" That address is just an example, not the actual address. Because the name is so long, the name it got truncated in the ISY software to "China Cabinet Lights 10.BE.8" My assumption is that the name I give it has nothing to do with scenes or programming. Is that true? Could a long name mess things up? thanks, ~Jay

It did before, and I thought was what killed the switch, so I replaced the lamps from low voltage that used a transformer to 120v halogen. It's basically the same as most of the lights in the house now.

This one is very strange... I have a Kitchen scene on individual switches- ceiling lights under cabinet lights over the sink light bar area light china cabinet light the switchlink that the ceiling lights are on is the controller. When I turn that switch on, all the lights BUT the china cabinet on on. When I turn it off, they all go off, except the china cabinet. When I dim or brighten, all dim and brighten except the china cabinet. On the ISY software, I have full control of the china cabinet light. My assumption was that the china cabinet switch was defective. I replaced it with a new one and have the exact same problem. I created a new scene called china cabinet test that only includes the china cabinet. Some problem. It won't respond when I turn the scene on and off from the the ISY software, but the witch can be controlled with the software. Do you have any ideas? thanks ~Jay

Thanks for the help! Erick, So I need to include the button in the scene? Do I need two scenes, an on scene and an off scene? Shannon, Thanks for that link, it's very helpful! ~Jay

I can always get things to work, but not always as well as I'd like. I upgraded to the 994ir pro. When I restored my backup, all the devices were there, but not the programs. That's ok because I want to have a bit of a fresh start. What I can't seem to wrap my head around is how all the Insteon devices relate to one another. For instance, a keypad button can control a switch, and I assume that the switch can also control the led on the button. How does that relationship relate to the isy? If I want a timer to turn on that switch, I assume that requires the isy, or something like it. So specifically, here's one little thing I want to do: Have a relay switch on and off the Malibu lights in the front yard in a number of ways... 1. At dark, have them turn on every day 2. At 2am have them turn off 3. If I press an all lights off button, I want them to turn off 4. I also want them to have their own on/off button. That on/off button's led should always reflect the on/off state of the lights no matter how they have been turned on and off. What scenes and programs will I need to accomplish this? Thanks, ~Jay

I got a quick email response from UDI. I have already placed an order for an upgrade. Time flies when you are having fun. I bought my ISY99ir way back in 2008! I have no idea it had been that long. Except for the inability to update the firmware, it has been nearly flawless in operation all these years. That is why I didn't hesitate to remain loyal to UDI. The fact that there was a generous upgrade discount, was just icing on the cake. ~Jay

Thanks, I just put in a request. Would it be possible to answer the question here? Can you give me more details on the Upgrades section of this page: http://www.universal-devices.com/sales/products/ I have a 99ir Pro I want a 994ir Pro + a new dual band PLM. Is there an upgrade option for that? I paid $314 for the 994ir Pro + PLM. Would an upgrade be significantly cheaper? thanks, ~Jay

I just sent in a support request. I'm looking forward to getting my new hardware working. I have $700 worth of Insteon devices in a box that can't be used until I get the new ISY installed, or the old one updated. ~Jay

Before I realized there was an upgrade option, I already bought a new 994ir Pro from Smart home. They have a 30 day return policy, so I want to know if I can save a significant amount of money by upgrading. Last week I tried to call Universal Devices, but that was unsuccessful. I called, left a message, they called back the next day while I was at lunch, I called them again, left a message again, they called back again the following day at lunch time and I missed the call, I called a third time, and still haven't heard back. Maybe the phone is too old fashioned. I have a 99ir Pro with a 3 or so year old PLM, that I don't think is dual band. I would like to move up to a 994ir pro with a new Dual band PLM. What are my options? thanks, ~Jay

Ever since they day I've owned it, I've never been able to update the firmware. It wasn't a problem when it was new, but now there are too many devices that the old firmware doesn't support. I decided to purchase a new 994ir Pro, but as I understand it, the backup of version 2 of the 99i can't be imported to the new controller. What are my options? I'm assuming that the 99i is defective because I have tried, over the course of many years, using different computers and different operating systems. I always get the same problem, it just locks up while it tries to update. Thankfully it never killed the 99i, it just can't be updated. Should I just start from scratch? How many hours of screwing around with the 99i should I invest, only to move to a 994? Would those hours be better spent with a clean slate on the 994? thanks, ~Jay