Range Extender Has Me confused

[o2manyfish]

Hey Everyone, 

I'm sure this is an easy fix, but I have a brain issue (legitmately) and have spent the last week trying to learn how to program an RTI system for my house. But that's not the issue.

 

I have about 15 Insteon devices. 5 of them are wireless motion sensors.

I started with an Insteon Hub. Then I upgraded and added the ISY994i Pro to my system with the PLM. I have been able to program and get my devices working. But now I have a slight issue. 

My house is 3500 sq feet. I have an 12000sq ft lot. In my back yard I have a guesthouse, and then beyond the guesthouse I have a storage shed. 

From the back of the house to the storage shed is about 60'

Inside the shed I have an Insteon Switch and the old style (Larger) wireless motion sensor to control the light. 

The motion sensor light switch works great. No issues

I bought a wireless door switch to put on the shed door. But when I go into the ISY console it shows there is no connection to the Switch in the shed. It sees the Motion Sensor (wireles) but not the wired switch. 

I bought an extender. But when I plug it into any outlet past the back of the house it doesn't respond to signals being sent. 

I did the 4 tap on the PLM, then Insteon Hub and the Extender. And everyone beeps green and happy. 

But I still can't see or control the light switch in the shed.

 

I'm guessing I'm missing something silly like i need to spit to the left and scratch myself while tapping the set button.... 

 

Please help a newbie out. 

 

Thanks 

 

Dave B

 

 

 

 

 

[oberkc]

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I did the 4 tap on the PLM, then Insteon Hub and the Extender. And everyone beeps green and happy.

Solid green, or flashing green? 

Quote

I bought an extender. But when I plug it into any outlet past the back of the house it doesn't respond to signals being sent.

What response, beyond the 4-tap test, did you expect but not receive from the extender?  Is there an outlet in the shed into which you could plug the range extender?

Quote

Inside the shed I have an Insteon Switch and...

Is this switch a dual-band variety?

It sure sounds as if your new wireless door switch is not within range of another insteon device.  If you were to temporarily move it close to the PLM, can you add it to the ISY?

[Teken]

Just to be clear the switch you're talking about is the single button battery operated or the 120 VAC line version?

Assuming it's the battery operated version the ISY Series Controller can only see the end results of the button press of On/Off. There is no way to communicate directly to the switch unless it's placed in learning / program mode.


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[ELA]

Wood or metal shed?

[o2manyfish]

15 hours ago, oberkc said:

Solid green, or flashing green?   --------------- The lights on the Bridge Switch from Red to Green, The lights on the PLM Flash Green and Beep, The lights on the extender Flash Green and beep.

What response, beyond the 4-tap test, did you expect but not receive from the extender?  ***********   When I plug the extender into an outlet in the house, when I send a signal to any insteon device it flashes showing it's sending a signal. Once the extender is plugged into an outlet past the back of the house the Green Led is solid and does not ever blink.

 

Is there an outlet in the shed into which you could plug the range extender? ************************** Yes, When I plug into that outlet, The Extender cannot be found by the ISY/PLM or the Bridge. When plugged into the outlet in the shed (or in the guesthouse) When I do the 4 tap button on the extender the switch in the shed starts beeping and flashing Red.

Is this switch a dual-band variety? ****************      Yes - It's the most recent version of the switch - It's a switch only, not a dimmer - And again the switch is linked to the motion sensor in the shed, and those two communicate. And the motion sensor (wireless in the shed) communicates with the bridge and PLM but not the extender.

It sure sounds as if your new wireless door switch is not within range of another insteon device.  If you were to temporarily move it close to the PLM, can you add it to the ISY? I ************* I have the wireless door switch connected to the PLM in the house. I have not tried it in the Tool Shed yet, because I wanted to get the light switch working first before compounding the issues. 

 

Teken --- This is the wireless door switch with a button - The wireless door switch is attached to the ISY/PLM and is working (while inside the house) for testing purposes. I didn't want to take it outside to the tool shed till I had control of the light switch. 

 

ELA - The shed is all wood - No metal, no stucco. No insulation, No Insteon :(

 

 

----------------------------------->   Thank you for taking the time to review my post and ask these questions to help narrow down the issue. 

 

Dave B

 

[Teken]

Hi Dave,

The first step is to confirm both sides of the electrical feed is properly coupled / bridged. You will do this by completing the 4 tap beacon test at the shed switch and 2413S PLM.

The reason for doing so is to confirm bi-directional 120 VAC communications.

Follow the full users manual for each device as to the expected behavior for the beacon test. In the interim take a very long extension cord plugged into the same outlet as the PLM. Bring it as close to the shed and see if you can control the lights as well as the results of the 4 tap beacon test. If dragging out the extension cord helps you need only Bridge the gap with a dual band device like the plugin on/off relay. Going this route offers dual use along with having the ability to turn RF / Powerline off for testing and validation purposes.

Keep in mind all the coupling / bridging in the world will not solve a noise maker / signal sucker condition. Lastly, what kind of bulb is in the shed? As a test remove it and see if the light can be controlled remotely.


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[oberkc]

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The lights on the Bridge Switch from Red to Green, The lights on the PLM Flash Green and Beep, The lights on the extender Flash Green and beep

"Bridge"?  (It is early...I am probably having a brain cramp.)  Still, I assume that the flashing green indicators suggest communication between the legs of the electrical system.  I assume that the lights on the switch did nothing (?).  

Quote

When I plug the extender into an outlet in the house, when I send a signal to any insteon device it flashes showing it's sending a signal. Once the extender is plugged into an outlet past the back of the house the Green Led is solid and does not ever blink.

No flashing light says the same thing to me as it does to you...not seeing a signal of any kind.

Quote

When plugged into the outlet in the shed (or in the guesthouse) When I do the 4 tap button on the extender the switch in the shed starts beeping and flashing Red.

Suggesting that the shed (and guesthouse) are on the same phase.  It also suggests that there exists RF communication between guesthouse and shed.  If you leave the extender in the guesthouse, how does it respond to the four-tap test when initiated at the PLM?  Have you tried leaving the extender at this location permanently?

It seems that you have coupled the legs (phases) of your electrical system.  The thing I would experiment with is whether you could find a location for the extender which communicated with both the PLM and shed (not wireless) switch.  This may be inside the main house, or somewhere in the guest house.  Teken has some good suggestions also, to which I add: make sure your PLM is on a good circuit without other electrical gadgets (or where those gadgets are filtered.)