ctviggen1

I have read through this thread: http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/12824-how-to-program-an-insteon-motion-sensor/ And I don't think it answers my questions. So, I'll ask my questions here. My situation is as follows. I have an Insteon motion sensor controlled by my ISY 994i, and to only work at night and to report ons but not offs. I want to use it to control my garage lights. However, I want my garage lights (on/off switch, Insteon) to be on certain days of the week. Here's the programming currently (in pseudo-code). Program Garage Lights: If { it's the weekend from sunset to 10:30pm or it's during the week from sunset to 9 pm } then Set the garage lights on else Set the garage lights off Now, I want the garage lights to come on for 5 minutes if the motion sensor comes on, but I don't want the lights to turn off if it's in the time ranges above. So, I created a second program to ignore motion sensor on events occurring within those times above, but to turn on the lights for five minutes if it's outside that time (I'm assuming the programming of the sensor to night means that the lights only come at night, so I ignored this time period). Program Garage Lights if Lights On: If { Control 'Garage-sensor" is switched on And (the time periods from above, separated by "or") } then no actions else { Set the garage lights on Wait 5 minutes Set the garage lights off } Next, I wanted to ensure that if I manually turned off the lights (using Alexa) during the above time periods, the lights would still come on. So I set up a third program: Program Garage Lights if Lights Off: If { Control 'Garage-sensor" is switched on And status of 'garage lights' is off And (the time periods from above, separated by "or") } then Set the garage lights on Wait 5 minutes Set the garage lights off else { no actions } Do these seem reasonable? Is there any way to condense this, particularly for the time periods (if I change the time periods, it would be nice to change them in one place instead of three). Thank you.

I just set up a scene for a 4-way circuit. The local controller is a keypad (on/off); there is another on/off switch and a dimmer switch in the circuit. They're currently all linked together as controllers. Is it possible for me to use the dimmer switch to apply a level, then have the dimmer switch, keypad, and on/off switch apply this level the next time the light is on? Say, I want 50% power normally. Can I do this using switches only? Or do I have to use the ISY interface? (I would like also to be able to make the lamp brighter using the dimmer switch, without having to turn on my computer; or use Alexa I guess to modify the level.) If this is possible, is the dimmer switch the controller and the on/off switch and keypad the responders? Or what other configuration do I need? Is there a detriment to this configuration? Thank you.

I'm not sure. I put the MS into linking mode by pressing the button on the MS for about 5 seconds, until the light flashes on the MS. Those are the instructions I have to put the MS in linking mode. I don't know how to tell if an MS is in unlinking mode (I honestly don't know what that means). I have not tried linking the MS to a responder as of yet. I had my "old" MS linked to a responder for a long time, but I had to completely rebuild the entire system and lost the linking. (Or at least I think I did -- the light certainly never came on even though I could see the MS's red light indicating movement.) The problem with the MS being linked to a responder is that it also turns off the light. I would like to have an outside light be on during a certain time period (say, dusk to 9:30pm), and during this period it should ignore the MS. However, after this period, the light should light when the MS senses motion and turn off sometime later (when the MS no longer senses motion). The problem I had is that if the light was on during the time period I want it on, the MS would turn it off. The only way I can figure out how to do this is to use programming and not linking.

Ok, I remember why I hate these things. They're difficult to work with. First problem: factory reset does not work. I've tried an old MS and a new one (cut the box open, removed the MS, followed the procedure below). Neither MS beeps at all. Here is the procedure I used: RETURN UNIT TO FACTORY SETTINGS 1. If possible, unlink from all Responders before proceeding. 2.Remove battery. 3.Wait 15 seconds. 4. While pressing and holding the Set button, reinstall the battery. Do not let go of the Set button. 5. Motion Sensor will emit a long beep. Continue pressing and holding the Set button until beep stops, then release. Is the above procedure the correct one? If so, are there any tricks to this procedure? Problem 2: I can't get the old or new MS to be found by the ISY. I hit "link management", then "start linking" and follow the normal linking procedure (which worked today outstandingly well for a light module). Even putting either the old or new MS right by the PLM, the ISY never finds the MS. Are there tricks to this, too?

Thank you. I have tried to add them by finding them, but that did not work, even putting them next to the PLM. I'll factory reset and try again and see what happens. I'll report back (won't have time to do this until the weekend).

I'm trying to set several insteon motion sensors, #2842-222, with my ISY 994i Pro. Is there a FAQ or other info source for how to do this? I have too many questions to ask, so it would be easier for a FAQ/installation guide. For instance, it appears to me that I have to manually add each insteon motion sensor by going to the Universal Devices Admin Console, then Link Management, Add a Sensor, Motion Sensor, then typing in the address. Problem #1: Two of the sensors I have have been outside a while and the address sticker on the outside is not readable. I do not know the address. Is it possible to add these without an address? Or do I need to buy more sensors? (I used to have these sensors set to turn on/off specific lights, without going through software; but now I want to use software for various reasons, one of which that I want the lights to be on at certain times regardless of the sensor and the sensor breaks that and turns them off.) Problem #2: Once you add a sensor, how do you test it to see if it works? Problem #3: How do you configure the sensor using software (the Universal Devices Admin Console)? (Assuming no jumpers other than Remote Software Management are enabled.) Thank you.

Right now my ISY is at a location where the network, cable, phone, etc., all terminate in our basement. The electrical boxes are also at the same location, and I have battery backups and a network driver there too. I could move the ISY and PLM, but that would take at least a day's work. I'd have to run both network cable and electrical to a new location (there are very few outlets in the basement), and that would take a ton of drilling through joists, studs, etc., and maybe even putting up a wall as most of the basement does not have a wall. It would also take time to map out where I want it and buy the parts. This is a good idea, but it would take me a weekend to do. I'll think about this. I have wireless Insteon extenders on different phases of my house (not to mention the switches themselves are on different phases). Does that suffice or do I need to use a passive coupler too?

I get the exclamation point.

My ISY 994i has periodic problems with talking to my Insteon switches. I replaced the PLM in April of this year due to this problem. However, my ISY still will periodically lose contact with switches. This has happened several times after installation of the new PLM. The ISY cannot contact certain switches (it does not seem like all of them, but it's hard to tell). If I leave the ISY alone and come back the next day, even if the switch had an error message over it, if I clicked on the switch, the error message went away and I could turn on and off the switches with no problems. Again, not all switches were marked as not being connected, and all of them that were marked as such were able to be contacted and work once I clicked on the switch. Currently, my ISY is working fine. The next time the ISY cannot connect to switches, how do I debug whether it's the ISY or the switch (or both?)? Also, if it is the PLM, this is the second PLM I've had in not much time. I don't think 5 months is that long for a PLM to fail. Is the Zwave (or another system) more reliable? I currently have 15 Insteon switches, but I want to have many more. However, I only want to buy them if the system itself is going to be reliable. If there is a better, more reliable system such as Zwave, perhaps I buy those instead? Thank you.

Ok, I've just started deleting everything and I'll just reinstall one at a time.

I followed that procedure and only the motion sensors did not work (since I did not go outside and hit there buttons) and two devices did not work. I did not have time last night to figure that out. However, today, there are many devices (not just two) with exclamation points on them. I then tried the restored devices, and that also did not work. I only have 15 devices (not including the motion sensors), and 10 of them have the exclamation point. Is there a way to start from scratch and rebuild everything again?

I did not know I had to do this procedure. So, I'll try this tonight or this weekend. I'll report back.

About a week ago, my ISY 994i started throwing error messages about not being able to communicate with insteon devices. At one point, it said it could not communicate with any device. I thought it was the Insteon 2413S PowerLinc Modem INSTEON Dual-Band Serial Interface, so I ordered a new one and installed it. However, the ISY still cannot communicate with most devices. When I open the admin console, it has no exclamation point for most devices, but as soon as I attempt to communicate with a device (such as by hitting the "on" button), it says it cannot communicate with that device. I have been using the same exact configuration and location for years. I've not changed anything. I've rebooted the ISY multiple times, using both the interface and unplugging. It hasn't helped. Is my ISY bad?

I tried clearing the cache (did not work), uninstalling then reinstalling Java (did not work). However, in accordance with Michel's instructions, I renamed the link to ISY from my network address to https://networkaddress, and this worked. However, I've lost the link on my desktop that allowed me to go directly to the control panel. How do I get that back?

Well, I misspoke. It worked great...once. Now, when I go back in, it does the same thing -- opens and immediately closes. Darn. I have to go to work and likely will not be able to get back to this until this weekend. I'll try the tips above.

Thank you both. What is the java application? (I've always used the interface on a browser to get in.) Well, this morning I did what an engineer (I have an EE degree) should do: I rebooted the ISY. I tried again and it worked! The admin console is working. However, if I did not have to go through a browser, that would be great. When I upgraded to the latest software and followed the instructions, I noticed there is now a shortcut on my desktop to the ISY Admin Console. Is this the java application? This seems to go straight to the console without using a browser. (You'll have to excuse me: I never put anything on the desktop and in fact have a completely clean desktop. So I don't look at the desktop for programs, since I assume none are there. If this is the java application, I'll put it on my taskbar.)

I have an ISY 994i and when I access the admin console, it opens then immediately closes. I've done this for both Firefox and Internet Explorer. Both have the exact same problem. I'm using Windows 7. About the only change I've made is I started integrating Amazon's Echo with the ISY (which works well, by the way). Otherwise, I've made no changes. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I can do? Thank you.

I searced for the answer to this question, but I couldn't find my exact situation. If I missed a post that answers my questions, please let me know. I have two lights near my garage. I have two motion sensors linked to the light switch for those lights. I can't remember how I originally programmed the sensors; perhaps to not be programmed and to send on and off commands to the switch. Anyway, I want the garage door lights to be on during a certain time period each day. If there is motion during those times, the system is to ignore the motion. Outside that time period, I want motion to turn on the lights for some on-time (say, 5 or 10 minutes). What happens now is that motion during the time the lights are programmed to be on causes the lights to go off. Is this what I have to do? 1) Check programming of sensors and set to remote software management (jumper 5). Can I also use Jumper 2 (disable LED) and Jumper 3 (night only mode)? If I'm going to program the sensors, do they need to be brought inside, closer to my ISY? 2) Is the easiest way to do the programming to do two programs? Program 1: If it's between X time and Y time per night, turn on the garage door lights, else turn off the garage door lights Program 2: If it's between X time and Y times per night, and the status of the driveway motion sensor is on, wait, else turn on the garage door lights for Z time (I can't see that there's a time period allowed for an "else" statement, unless I'm missing something. So, I'm not sure how to do "else turn on the garage door lights for Z time") Thank you for any help.

Hi, I have a very small insteon system (in a large house). I just installed an ISY 994i pro. I have one older x10 insteon device, one insteon dual band remote control switch, one insteon motion sensor (which controls the switch), and two dual band access points. Oh, and a brand new PLM. Last night, I performed "link management, start linking", and found only the x10 device. No matter what I did, I could not get the dual band control switch to be found. Today, I tried to manually add the motion sensor, by using link management, link a motion sensor. I enter the address of the motion sensor, give the motion sensor a name, and hit "OK", and nothing at all happens. Everything but the x10 device is brand new. The only thing I can find on the network is the x10 device. What debugging steps should I be taking? Thank you.

Ha! That worked! Thank you. The programming also came back.

Hi Michel, I tried this on two different computers. The PLM Status/Info says "0.0.0 v0 / Not Connected" I input my program again, manually, but the program is again lost once reentering the browser program. Thank you, Bob

I just upgraded to 2.7.0 (from what version, I'm not sure), and now my programming is gone. File, Restore ISY does nothing. The network of lights/devices still looks correct, but the programming is all gone. If I click on "program summary", I get the error message "request failed". Unplugging and replugging the ISY doesn't help. Any ideas on what I should do?

Hi Michel, I can do this, but my router requests an application name (http, ftp, etc.) which appears mapped to public and private ports. Let me know if you're available sometime next week or in January, and I'll see if I can get you to connect to me. I'd love to get this to work, since I haven't been able to login for a long, long time.

Hi Michel, Don't worry abou the tardy reply, as I can only check here periodically. Could you tell me how to determine my URL? I can determine my external HTTP address, but how would you get past my firewall? My router will allow me to do the following: "The Virtual Server option allows you to define a single public port on your router for redirection to an internal LAN IP Address and Private LAN port if required. This feature is useful for hosting online services such as FTP or Web Servers." Is this what I would use? Thanks, Bob

Hi Michel, This appeared to work for a short time, where it said "negotiating keys" or something along those lines, then the browser (Opera) died. I retried using Explorer and the browser immediately died after attempting to login. Is there anyway to login using the serial port and update/reset the software this way? I'd really like to change the time, because one of our lights comes on at 4am or so, and I think our baby sees the light under her door and thinks we're up. It's no fun getting up at 5am to put the baby back to sleep. Thanks, Bob