lilyoyo1

I actually prefer the start linking method vs typing in the address. Start linking>factory reset> linking mode>linked at 1 time

Deleting existing links is not the same as a factory reset. A factory reset is the only way to guarantee no additional links are stored in the device. There is no way to tag a device. Even if there was, the insteon hub and Isy are 2 different controllers made by different companies. The Isy would not be aware of what that controller is doing. I recommend reading the Isy wiki and Isy cookbook prior to getting started. There's a lot of great information in both which will help you with your Isy setup. A quick Google search or Isy wiki and/or Isy cookbook will give you the links. In answer to your multi way switch question, simply add all devices as controllers and configure them for what you want them to do.

In addition to what mrbill said, bringing in old links will cause you more work than simply adding devices 1 at a time. This forum is littered with people who looked for the short cuts only to spend more time than they saved having to clean up the mess the quick way made. If you think about it, with 150 devices, if it were possible to bulk add, all you'll have are a bunch of numbers showing up in the system. How will you know what they are? Now you'll need to go around 1 at a time to test and figure out what each and every device is in order to rename them. By starting with 1 room at a time, you can factory reset to clear any potential bad links, add your devices from that room, rename it, and add it to the corresponding scenes (if already set up).

5.0.16c is the highest firmware that supports the 300 board. Support for the 500 series came in 5.0.13

Techman's answer is still the correct answer. Make sure you read the entire upgrade page to ensure its done properly.

I do the same thing with some variations. For non critical items, I'll just make responder scenes and use programs to turn them off vs having them hard linked to the controller. For example, each room has an all off/goodnight button. Each device is in the scene as a responder and I use programs to turn them off based on the button press (or voice). My away button will also trigger the program which turns each room's scene off as well vs having a separate away scene. Keypads are your biggest enemy when it comes to device count as each button counts as one. I use programs with mine as well. Since I use a lot of presets, i don't want double taps to always turn stuff full blast so this is also where i will create a responder scene and trigger it with a program. The double tap causes the reverse. For example, early evening, the light are full blast. A double tap dims the lights. Late evening, they are dim. A double tap turns them full blast.

Insteon has not discontinued the PLM. It will be out of stock for some time due to the global chip shortage but they will start making them again. At this point, I do not have a time frame on when that will happen. They are working on a replacement PLM but that will not be available for quite some time. If i had to hazard a guess I'd say late 2022 to 2023.

Communication issues with 1 device but not 149 others, I doubt your PLM or access points is the problem. With 150 devices, if the PLM or access points were the issue, you'd have much more problems than you do right now.

I'd contact ge to see what the difference is. With zwave, not all devices can be controllers.

I'm assuming the 3005 is not a zwave plus device. Does it show status immediately when you operate it manually? If it doesn't that may be why it cannot be a controller

Do you have the pro version or regular Isy? How many devices would you guesstimate you have- including keypads

Does the switch appear after you hold the set button in?

That's not step by step for your process. First you hit the start linking button. What's your next step after that? Then after that step what do you do next?

What steps did you take when trying to add? We need your process step by step. The more detail you have the better we can help

What's your UI? What device are you trying to link and steps taken

2424u or 2414u? The 2414u will not work as it is a controller itself.

I agree with @MrBill. I highly doubt the switches are bad. Going off what you've said, i suspect noise issues

I think people just want to see new features added in general since they are continually paying $100.00+ a year for the app via the subscription model. Even for the direct method, 75.00 is still a lot to many people not to see any upgrades in over a year. I think the op mentioned what he was looking for in the first post.

One thing I learned and kept with me from my days in the military was the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid)! Why? Because the more complicated you make something, invariably something will go wrong at the worse moment. For what the op wants, @MrBillexample can and will work without issues. Just like yours. The only thing I do different is separate my on programs from my off. That way I can easily test either state, and write other stuff in the future that will not impact the program. If he ever needs to troubleshoot, he knows exactly where to go. Your method requires a multitude of programs so when something goes wrong, where does he start? Not only do you have to create each variable, but you then have to create the program to trigger each variable, then you have to have each of the programs that actually need. Add those to all the other variables created for other stuff over the years and now a person is sitting on potentially hundred of variables and programs that the need to remember. Trying to use the amount of variables you use unnecessarily complicates things. It reminds me of those marble traps we built in physics, where the marble causes a chain reaction to pour a cup of water. Yeah, it worked but it was much simpler to simply pour the water yourself. WWith @MrBillmethod, double tap the away button and it triggers a single variable to start his vacation programs. When he comes home, he turns it off (or maybe door lock triggers it off) and it resets the variable stopping those programs from running. In, out, and over. Personally I've gotten away from worrying about a vacation mode. If the house is empty, everything triggers as if we're home for the dogs anyway. The only thing my vacation program adds is turning the TV's on and off, which if that doesn't happen so what. The less i have to remember to do when I'm leaving, the better.

Sometimes, the inelegant solutions are the best solutions

I don't think it's someone being lazy with their programming. I think for some people they recognize there is more than 1 way to accomplish something. Sometimes the simple solutions can work just as well (if not better) as the complex ones. It's about knowing when and where to use them. One way on here is easy to understand and troubleshoot by anyone while another is time consuming and easily forgotten about so when it is time to troubleshoot, you've wasted time just figuring out where to start... I just don't see how that's helpful to most people

No. The Isy doesn't support ZigBee ha. Another thing is if it's not available in the us, there may be compatibility issues

I wouldn't accuse a long time member of being a scammer. Scammers typically don't hang around a forum interacting with members long term.

The poster Ed Ventura. Sounds like a scammer

Sounds like someone about to start scamming