What does this Scene Test Info really do for me?

[someguy]

I was reading another thread where it was recommended that they use the Scene Test and I tried it but don't know what to do with the info that it gives.

 

here is my situation:

 

I've got three breaker panels. One main panel and two sub panels that are switched through the main panel. My understanding is that I really just have two phases of electricity that run through this main panel.

 

I have a total of 3 AP's in use and just bought two more that are not in use yet.

 

I also have a signalinc that I was thinking of installing attached to my main panel.

 

Here is my problem:

 

I have unreliable communication. I oftentimes have a popup that say that the isy can't communicate with 3-6 different units in my home.

 

Here is what my scene test shows for one of my scenes:

 

 

so it says that these lights "failed". The interesting thing is that these lights usually do go on and off with the group command.

[Illusion]

Funny, my stuff always passes the scene test but does not respond to the group command sometimes.

[someguy]

I just did another scene test for my living room lights. Interestingly, all three of the lights went off (as they should) during the test, but two of the three said "failed".

 

It seems as though the scene test is failing, but the scene is actually working.

[IndyMike]

Hello Someguy,

 

The Scene test is pretty much a worst case test of the scenes in your system. The test uses only 1 hop for the reporting devices. In a best case scenario you will receive the following:

 

A) PLM on phase A, Scene devices on phase A: Your devices can communicate directly with the PLM (no accesspoints involved) you can get 1 hop remaining.

 

PLM on Phase A, Scene devices on Phase B: Your devices may not bet able to communicate directly to the PLM (unless you have a good couple through your transformer). If the signal is transferred through the Accesspoints (RF) you will use 1 hop and 0 hops remaining will be reported.

 

Since you have a 3rd accesspoint in the system you may be having problems communicating directly with devices on a branch circuit. The Accesspoint is assisting by receiving RF communication and transmitting it locally to the powerline. This works with a three hop count command. Unfortunately the response from the device is only 1 hop count and it's not making it back through 2 of the Accesspoints (you're 1 hop short).

 

Again, this doesn't mean that your system isn't working (obviously the light respond). It simply means that things are not optimal.

 

IM

[Illusion]

IndyMike,

 

If the scene test is a group command sent out with only 1 hop, how can it go through two APs to turn on the light but the light cannot respond with a 1 hop count?

[IndyMike]

Illusion,

 

That's a good question - you're picking things up rather quickly.

 

The answer is that a one hop command can't make it past two accesspoints. The ISY first transmits a Group OFF command - I believe this is done with 3 hops.

 

Cleanup commands are then issued to each device in the scene to test whether they have responded properly to the Group command. It is the cleanup command that is issued with one hop.

 

Strictly speaking, my post to Someguy was therefore incorrect. The devices respond because the Group command is issued with 3 Hops. The scene test fails because the cleanup command is issued with 1 Hop (the devices may not hear the cleanup request).

 

Thanks for keeping me honest,

IM

 

IndyMike,

 

If the scene test is a group command sent out with only 1 hop, how can it go through two APs to turn on the light but the light cannot respond with a 1 hop count?

[Sub-Routine]

As far as I know an AccessPoint doesn't subtract a hop when it receives a power line command and transmits it on RF. Then it will subtract a hop and repeat on the PL.

 

And vice-versa.

 

Rand