New to Z wave

[mitch236]

I've been a user for many years but I just installed my first Z-wave device.  I installed the Z-wave board into my 994 successfully and was able to add the door lock successfully and it shows up in the admin console (I followed the wiki article).  Problem is, when I linked it, I was about a foot away from the 994.  Now that it is installed, it is about 30 feet from the 994 and I've lost communication.  Am I missing something simple?

 

Thanks,

Mitch

[stusviews]

An Aeon Siren is the usual cure. I've never known it to not work. In general, a Z-Wave mesh almost always requires more than one device.

[MikeD]

I like the Aeon doorbell since you can load it with mp3 files and selectively play them. I have several programs that are triggered by door sensors and play different mp3s. A rooster crows when my garage door opens. Don't know if it serves as well as the siren but it sure is a lot more versatile and fun.

[mitch236]

How about the Aeon repeater?  Will that work?

[stusviews]

Many users, including myself, have found that the Aeon repeater (DSD37) is useless.

[Broyd]

You want the doorbell unit. It is by far the most useful.

[mitch236]

I'm assuming z-wave travels through air and not wiring.  Is there an antenna I can put on the 994?

[MWareman]

ISY was was tested for verification without an external antenna. All an external antenna will do is make the signal more directional - which may help in some situations for some people, but for most people is makes things worse.

 

I'm another one that had several Aeon repeaters. Utter trash. Didn't help at all.

 

The Aeon siren on the other hand works as an flawless repeater. I highly recomend using the Siren instead of Repeater.

Edited April 16, 2017 by MWareman

[mitch236]

Since you all have more experience, how far will a repeater be able to reliably communicate?  Will I get 20-30' with no walls in the way?  Will the repeater be able to hear the 994 from 10'?

 

Sorry for all the questions, but I'm so new to this technology that I need to get up to speed quickly!

 

Thanks

[stusviews]

The repeater is useless. Distance in inconsequential.

[mwester]

Since you all have more experience, how far will a repeater be able to reliably communicate?  Will I get 20-30' with no walls in the way?  Will the repeater be able to hear the 994 from 10'?

 

As with so many things in life, the answer is a definite "It depends"... and the answer to the logical next question ("So, what is it that it depends on, then?") is "Way too many things for anyone to be able to determine without trying it".

 

I have no issues with my z-wave devices -- 50+ feet in every direction from the ISY, with no failures that I've ever observed.  I have only one secure device (a garage door opener), and I purchased the Aeon siren just in case.  But the optimum routing calculated by the ISY is direct to the GDO; the siren isn't necessary.  (So I'm glad I bought the siren -- not only does it work far, far better than the repeater, but it's also useful as an alert device.)  As far as I can tell from the ISY, nothing in the entire house actually gets repeated by any other device; everything claims to go direct to the ISY.

 

To be fair, I have no other 900MHz devices in this house, and my nearest neighbor is 1/8 of a mile away (and they go "mooo" -- the people are further still).  So I have no RF interference to worry about, and I expect that accounts for the excellent range I get.  You might try unplugging baby monitors, old cordless phones, and searching for things like remote-control-extenders, etc, that use the 900MHz band.

 

Signal strength is also attenuated by building materials.  Metal is (of course) the worst, so a door lock that's on a solid steel door in a steel door-frame is already starting from way behind in terms of signal -- try placing your siren so it is directly in front of the door (rather than off to one side or the other.  To a lesser extent, masonry and old plaster can also reduce the signal -- as can drywall, although one or two layers of drywall is hardly going to matter at 900 MHz, frankly.

[mitch236]

Perhaps I need to move the 994?  It is mounted in my telephone closet that contains also the network switches including the AT&T gateway which has wifi.  The 994 is about 6" from the wifi unit.  The z-wave signal from the 994 goes about 6" as well.  I tried to link an Aeon device and had to mount it in the closet in order for the network to see it.  Could that be the issue?

[nwchicago]

I purchased the Aeon Siren and added it to my small zwave network - my network is mostly Insteon.

My ISY 994i zw recognizes it as a Siren, but the only modifications allowed are on/off via the dialogue.

Yet the documentation specifically mentions 6 different tones and adjustable volume controls.

Additional programming documentation indicates an extensive API for query and manipulation - even to understand battery status - i love the 3 hour backup battery..

 

Questions:

a.  Does anyone know how to program or modify the more detailed siren behaviors using my ISY admin console?

b.  Does anyone know how to securely add it as a zwave device?  secure add typically requires a short 2-3 foot distance as used for locks.  documentation says it supports 128bit encryption to / from gateway.

 

The link below indicates the specific parameters that should be adjusted - but how to communicate with it to make the adjustment?

https://aeotec.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/6000120761-changing-sound-and-volume-of-siren-gen5-parameter-37-

 

Thanks.

 

Chicago

 

PS  Here's the documentation link https://aeotec.freshdesk.com/helpdesk/attachments/6009584694

 

PPS Here's the info sheet on changing volume:  

[stusviews]

Z-Wave security devices do not provide a choice between adding them as a security device or not.. They either add (as a security device) or they don't add at all. If you were able the add the siren to hte Z-Wave mesh, the it already supports Security Command Class and has the AES 128 bit security encryption built right in.

[Jimbo.Automates]

Z-Wave security devices do not provide a choice between adding them as a security device or not.. They either add (as a security device) or they don't add at all. If you were able the add the siren to hte Z-Wave mesh, the it already supports Security Command Class and has the AES 128 bit security encryption built right in.

Some do have the option. Many aeon devices require two button presses to include securely, but that is not a requirement for the siren.

 

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

[Ajax]

Di

 

I purchased the Aeon Siren and added it to my small zwave network - my network is mostly Insteon.

My ISY 994i zw recognizes it as a Siren, but the only modifications allowed are on/off via the dialogue.

Yet the documentation specifically mentions 6 different tones and adjustable volume controls.

Additional programming documentation indicates an extensive API for query and manipulation - even to understand battery status - i love the 3 hour backup battery..

 

Questions:

a.  Does anyone know how to program or modify the more detailed siren behaviors using my ISY admin console?

b.  Does anyone know how to securely add it as a zwave device?  secure add typically requires a short 2-3 foot distance as used for locks.  documentation says it supports 128bit encryption to / from gateway.

 

The link below indicates the specific parameters that should be adjusted - but how to communicate with it to make the adjustment?

https://aeotec.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/6000120761-changing-sound-and-volume-of-siren-gen5-parameter-37-

 

Thanks.

 

Chicago

 

PS  Here's the documentation link https://aeotec.freshdesk.com/helpdesk/attachments/6009584694

 

PPS Here's the info sheet on changing volume:  

Did you get this figured out?

[nwchicago]

I can add it and think it is securely added, but I haven't had time to dive into it yet. Sorry.

 

 

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