Help.... lost my Insteon PLM...

[Andrew]

Ok... I've gone through everything I could find.

 

I set the Insteon PLM up once so far, successfully, but it was a while ago.

 

In August it stopped working, and I haven't been able to figure out how to get it going again; none of the instructions/routines/troubleshooting has shed any light on it.

 

I'd think it was as easy as just following the instructions...

 

(Or, basically, plug everything in in the right place in the right order... )

 

guess not : (

 

I know this is pretty open ended, but any help appreciated. 

 

thanks

Andrew

[paulbates]

Hi Andrew, give this a look

 

IF that doesn't help, can you provide more information... what's working, what's not

 

Paul

[Andrew]

Hi Paul - thanks - replace or restore?

 

I'm not sure, since the section header says "Restore Modem (PLM)" but immediately underneath it says "Replace Modem (PLM)"...

[paulbates]

Hi Andrew

Without knowing more, I would run the restore modem function described in the post.

 

If that doesn't work, see if you have an ISY backup from before the PLM went bad. Restore the ISY backup, then, Restore modem again

 

If that doesn't help, or if there isn't a backup... you'll need to list the symptoms your seeing

 

Paul

[Brian H]

Replace Modem (PLM) is used when you change the PLM interface. It changes the PLM ID in your modules as it is installed.

Restore Modem (PLM) restores the Link Database in the PLM to what the ISY994i setup knows what should be there.

 

Another possibility. If the PLM is over two years old. They have a reputation of failing.

Long thread here on PLM failures and how some of us have rebuilt the power supplies.

http://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/13866-repair-of-2413s-plm-when-the-power-supply-fails/

[Andrew]

Ok, back at it after a while.

 

I cannot find the actual instructions to restore a PLM. (Not replace... restore.)

I'd post a screenshot here, but can't figure out how to attach one...

[paulbates]

Not a lot to it.  See the restore entry from the wiki here

 

https://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/420-how-to-replacerestoreremove-plm/

 

Paul

[Andrew]

Not a lot to it.  See the restore entry from the wiki here

 

https://forum.universal-devices.com/topic/420-how-to-replacerestoreremove-plm/

 

Paul

 

Thanks Paul - however, I don't know what part of that thread is from the wiki.

 

I'm going to try what I'm finding there, but it doesn't appear correct. Let's see what happens...

 

---

 

Ok, I read this:

 

"How to Restore a PLM

You can restore your existing PLM by running "Restore Modem (PLM)" at any time."

 

And it does not seem to be true, because I tried this:

 

"Its easy to recover if you have done this;

- restart ISY (leaving the new PLM plugged into ISY - Important!)

- Do a "Restore Modem"

 

And received an error message. 

 

I figured I'd try it one more time, so I restarted the modem, and now my ISY Admin Console will not start up.

 

????

 

 

 

[paulbates]

Andrew

 

What error message did you receive?

 

I would: Unplug the power to both. , wait 10 seconds, plug in the PLM, wait 10 seconds, plug in the ISY Then try the AC. Do you get the "Safe Mode" message? Any others?

 

What behaviors in your insteon devices are causing you to do a restore modem? Its hard to say based on what's here so far, but this could be a defective PLM

 

Paul

[Andrew]

Andrew

 

What error message did you receive?

 

I would: Unplug the power to both. , wait 10 seconds, plug in the PLM, wait 10 seconds, plug in the ISY Then try the AC. Do you get the "Safe Mode" message? Any others?

 

What behaviors in your insteon devices are causing you to do a restore modem? Its hard to say based on what's here so far, but this could be a defective PLM

 

Paul

 

Hi Paul - 

 

Basically just trying to get the PLM reconnected after a long time... setting it up initially was a bit tricky; lost it once before, but was able to finally figure out how to get it connected again.

 

A while back, I unplugged it because I needed the outlet for something else, and could never reconnect it.

 

That said, its service life to date has only been about 3 months... I don't remember the error. If it pops up again, I'll screenshot it. How do I actually post a screenshot here?

 

thanks

[paulbates]

Hi Paul - 

 

 

That said, its service life to date has only been about 3 months... I don't remember the error. If it pops up again, I'll screenshot it. How do I actually post a screenshot here?

 

thanks

 

At the bottom right is more reply options, and under there are options for loading images. You can place them inline with your comments or just attache. 

 

If you are a windows user, the snipping tool is an easy way to capture screen images and save them to a file, that you then attach here

 

Paul

[Andrew]

Sorry, Admin console won't start any more.

[paulbates]

I suggest contacting UDI by opening a ticket. Provide a link back to here

 

Paul

[Andrew]

Will do. Thanks.

[Andrew]

Ok, some good news - I loaded the Admin Console from the UDI site, but on my PC. (The other one I'm trying to run is from one of my Macs.)

 

Loaded up just fine - all Z-Wave devices operating normally, all programs look ok.

 

I believe it's picking up the PLM, but none of the Insteon devices are working yet... how do I test the PLM from the console?

 

thanks again all-

Andrew

[paulbates]

There are a couple of things to try in this order until things work:

1. Tools, Diagnostics, PLM Info/Status. If it says anything besides Connected, there may be a PLM problem. If it does say connected, the ISY has good serial communications with the PLM, but there can still be other problems ,,e,g. false positive...then try:
    
2. Tools/Diagnostics PLM Links... press start. How many links. If 0 (or a only a few) the PLM has no information about your Insteon network.
    
3. You did the "restore modem", correct? A bare PLM that's not been programmed via Restore Modem,will behave as you describe. If that doesn't work:
    
4. Use the Admin console to turn on and off devices and scenes. Also try turning installed devices on and off at the switch and see if the isy picks it up
   • If the ISY can not control the devices, something is most likely wrong with the PLM or the PLM and ISY have "forgotten" your network
   • If turning switches on and off does not update in the ISY, try a right-click of the device and "restore device". If that doesn't get it, factory reset the device at the switch and try restore modem
   • Worst case, you may need to delete and reinstall devices

Paul

[Andrew]

Hi Paul - thanks - 

 

I get

 

43.6C.F6 v9E / Connected

 

System busy / do not power off with a progress bar.

 

The Insteon devices have the red exclamation mark next to them, and, for example, I can see that my "Dining Room Switch" is on at 38%. Turning it off % querying shows the correct state.

 

However, I can't control it from the Admin Console.

 

I don't want to jump ahead too much just in case it's an "easy fix" from this point  

 

Sometimes too much experimentation gets the desired result but with an unknown solution.

[paulbates]

The links table is the key piece of data needed. Your description suggests some are missing from the ISY

• Pick any one of the ! ones and try restore modem... does that work?
• If no, factory reset that one and restore modem.

Paul

[Andrew]

Hi Paul-

 

I assume you mean restore device?  (I tried that, but it didn't work.) This one happens to be a wall swich (intalled & wired). I actually don't remember exactly what type it is, but will look at my order history.

 

I also tried a wall plug type (LampLinc / Dimmer) which seems to be working fine!

 

[edit] For some reason, the LampLinc can't be found again and the exclamation point has returned.