drkair Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 All of my sensors just quit working. I can't get any response on my ISY994i. They all worked last week, but I just noticed they quit working. I have (6) sensors and none of them are working. this freaks me out. I have mostly all Insteon motion sensors. I have been adding to them for years. Everything has worked great until this week. I have tried to figure out what is wrong but nothing fits. I still have a few X10 motion sensors and they seem to work. I have brought the sensors up and re synced them but they still don't register movement on the software. I have multiple dual bands through out the house and many 2443's. All of a sudden they just don't show any change on the software. the indicator lights are showing movement. Any ideas? Don
Michel Kohanim Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 Hi Don, Do you have any baby monitors? With kind regards, Michel
drkair Posted October 11, 2013 Author Posted October 11, 2013 Yes but it is not on. So are you thinking I have something in the 915 MHz range that is interfering? I have numerous wireless AP's wireless IP cams throughout the house but they are in the 2.4 GHz range. I am trying to think of something new I added last week. I can bring the sensor to my office and change the options, but even after that it will not show "dusk dawn" or "sensor" just blanks. All of the sensors show "Bat" off. It is not making any sense. Don
oberkc Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 When I see a bunch of things apparently "failing" simultaneously, I try to think of common factors. Besides RF, this could also be explained by something that is causing a communication failure with the ISY, itself. a) do you see any other evidence that the ISY is failing to see insteon communication activity? do you seen any signs that the motion sensors are communicating with devices other than the ISY? c) did you recently add a new device to the outlet/circuit powering your PLM? There are a few, simple, experiments that could point to the root cause. Try moving the PLM to the same outlet as one of your insteon access points (use an extension cord, if necessary). Create a temporary scene, with a motion sensor as controller and some light as responder. Does motion trigger this scene?
Xathros Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 Hi Don- Last time this happened to me, I found that one of my Access Points had locked up and needed a power cycle. I discovered this while attempting a 4 tap test. One of my AP's didn't respond at all. Unplugged and replugged and all started working again. Run a 4 tap test on one of your access points and make sure the others respond. Also, as oberkc pointed to above, are you seeing any status changes in the ISY from any insteon device? -Xathros
MaddBomber83 Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 A similar thing happend to me and it was because we added a bunch of computer power items in our computer room. Temporary fix was to move the PLM out of that room. Longer term fix was to add filters and APs to increase the robustness of the network.
arw01 Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 I would also put the event viewer on level 3, and hit the set button as you walk further and further away from the plm back to the original motion sensor location. Using a laptop makes this easier as you can see the receipt by the PLM, the hop count improve or drop lower etc. I have 2 motion sensors that are older that just go away for hours to days at a time, then come back. Flakey things, the last one I bought direct from Smarthome worked flawlessly until the battery died. I really need to find a 9v ps on ebay with a normal 9v battery end on it.. Alan
jgorm Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 I'm new and have 2 questions. 1. what is a 4 tap test? 2. why bother with access points for $40 when you can buy another dual band switch, or outdoor plug for $50. shouldn't they do the same thing?
Xathros Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 The 4 Tap test is used with Dual band devices like access points to verify that they are in RF range and on opposite 120v legs of the power feed. Tap the set button on a dual band device 4 times. It's LED will start blinking. Look at other dual band devices. Any whose LED's are blinking are in range. The color that they blink indicates if they are on the same or opposite phase as the test originator. Look to the individual device's manuals for specifics on the LED color meanings. Access points generally have better RF range than your standard dual band device. -Xathros
Xathros Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 I really need to find a 9v ps on ebay with a normal 9v battery end on it.. Alan How about Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Eliminator-100-24 ... supplies_3 -Xathros
drkair Posted October 11, 2013 Author Posted October 11, 2013 All the other Insteon devices worked normally, even the x10 sensors. I ended up deleting and relinking all six of the motion sensors and they seem to be working properly, I will know for sure when it gets a normal dusk dawn cycle. Right now the sensor on-off works. I don't understand how all six motion sensors could do this. Don
oberkc Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 why bother with access points for $40 when you can buy another dual band switch, or outdoor plug for $50. shouldn't they do the same thing? They should, but it seems the anecdotal evidence suggests otherwise. Perhaps range is better with access points. Perhaps the flexibility afforded a plug in module not tied to a physical fixture is beneficial. Perhaps installation of switches into boxes messes with range or performance. Who knows.... As for me, I consider the money I spent on my four access points to be well spent.
LeeG Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 drkair It sounds like the PLM lost link records. Suggest checking if other non RF devices such as SwitchLincs or KeypadLincs show state changes. If they do not show state changes do a Restore Modem (PLM) to rebuild the PLM link database. It is highly unlikely to be an issue with the Motion Sensor links as those devices sleep making it impossible for the ISY to have written anything to the Motion Sensors nor would they be exposed to powerline glitches or outages.
bsobel Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 I'm new and have 2 questions.1. what is a 4 tap test? 2. why bother with access points for $40 when you can buy another dual band switch, or outdoor plug for $50. shouldn't they do the same thing? IMHO The dual band switches are good for one use case, when you have multiple of them in a box and they are on different phases. Gives another path for the signal. The access points have a much less obstructed ability to relay the signals in my experience. Bill
drkair Posted October 11, 2013 Author Posted October 11, 2013 I have (3) dual band units and (5) 2443 access points. I do have an open-close Insteon module I haven't checked. Yes the Triggerlinc had to be relinked. All other Insteon units operated normally, only problem was the wireless units. Is there anything I can do on a mass scale that will put everything back to normal without doing one at a time? Hopefully it will never happen again. Thanks to everyone for the help, Don
LeeG Posted October 11, 2013 Posted October 11, 2013 Without having identified the cause it is hard to suggest a solution. I would try a Restore Modem (PLM). It does not take a lot of time and if things work then the problem has been identified as a PLM link record problem. I know of nothing at the PLM level that would have affected RF device responder link records only.
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