Communication Problems

[sfhutchi]

When I first installed this, I had problems communicating with one switch that was very close to the PLM.

The PLM was on the same outlet as my router, cable modem, and a network hard drive. I assumed some noise since I have a PLC on the other side of the house with Houselinc Desktop communicating to all switches with no apparent problem.

After adding a filterlinc, the problem seemed to disappear. Now several days later, I was unable to communicate to almost all of my switches. I added a lamplinc on the same outlet just to test and it communicates fine. I can communicate with about half of my switches now.

 

How can I truly troubleshoot this? Is there a way to determine the level of the signals on my line? Is it possible that I have been right at the threshold and the slightly lower power of the PLM vs. the PLC is the difference? I feel like I went from a stable condition to a relatively useless system at this point. FWIW, I also have 2 signal lincs installed near this location.

 

Any ideas?

[Michel Kohanim]

When I first installed this, I had problems communicating with one switch that was very close to the PLM.

The PLM was on the same outlet as my router, cable modem, and a network hard drive. I assumed some noise since I have a PLC on the other side of the house with Houselinc Desktop communicating to all switches with no apparent problem.

After adding a filterlinc, the problem seemed to disappear. Now several days later, I was unable to communicate to almost all of my switches. I added a lamplinc on the same outlet just to test and it communicates fine. I can communicate with about half of my switches now.

 

How can I truly troubleshoot this? Is there a way to determine the level of the signals on my line? Is it possible that I have been right at the threshold and the slightly lower power of the PLM vs. the PLC is the difference? I feel like I went from a stable condition to a relatively useless system at this point. FWIW, I also have 2 signal lincs installed near this location.

 

Any ideas?

 

sfhutchi,

 

We ran into this exact problem when one or more X10 devices started bombarding the network with messages. By any chance, do you have any X10 devices still on the network. To test this case, please unplug ISY and see if your PLM's LED continues blinking. If so, then you have one (or more) devices on your network which are just overwhelming the PLM and the network.

 

Thanks and with regards,

[sfhutchi]

I don't own any X10 devices, but is it possible that one of the Insteon switches has an X10 address defined and could be creating this havoc? I have received a few devices with pre-programmed X10 addresses from Smarthome.

[Michel Kohanim]

I don't own any X10 devices, but is it possible that one of the Insteon switches has an X10 address defined and could be creating this havoc? I have received a few devices with pre-programmed X10 addresses from Smarthome.

 

sfhutchi,

 

Do you see the PLM light blinking even without ISY being plugged in? If so, then the problem is either of the following:

a. One of your Devices (in all likelihood and X10 enabled device) is causing a network noise

b. You might have a fluorescent light connected to one of those devices which is causing the network noise

 

There are no easy ways (yet) of figuring out which device is causing the network noise/jam. The only way, as of right now, is to unplug your Insteon/X10 devices one at a time and check and see if the PLM stops blinking.

 

Would you please let me know if your PLM is blinking continuously without ISY being plugged in?

 

With regards,

[sfhutchi]

With or without the ISY powered up, the light on the PLM appears to be constant at what I would call 50% brightness. When powering the ISY backup, as ISY communicates the PLM light flashes.. but then eventually settles back to 50% constant.

[sfhutchi]

To further complicate things... this evening, the system acts as though there is no communication problem with anything. I can't think of any device or appliance or device in the house that was in a different state, but I'll do some brainstorming.

[Michel Kohanim]

To further complicate things... this evening, the system acts as though there is no communication problem with anything. I can't think of any device or appliance or device in the house that was in a different state, but I'll do some brainstorming.

 

sfhutchi,

 

Thanks for the update. In all likelihood, there's a malfunctioning device which jams the network intermittently. I wished I could be of more help but unfortunately, at this point, I cannot think of anything else.

 

With regards,

[Sub-Routine]

Big Brother checks in every so often. Depending on the initial data obtained they decide if you need further observation.

 

Rand

[sfhutchi]

Nice one.

[C Martin]

I have personally had an X10 Enabled Insteon LampLinc send a constant broadcast out on my network. The situation was caused when my X10 enabled LampLinc which is controlling my Low Voltage lights had an interruption in its load. My Low Voltage ckt was opened by mistake and when the switch tried to turn the lights on, (this load was removed on the secondary side of the lighting transformer) it then started a continuous broadcast of it X10 address on the network. This continued until I removed the plug from the LampLinc.

A strange situation indeed.

I don't know if this sheds any light on your problem.

I have not tried this with a SwitchLinc with an incandecent or resistive load.

[sfhutchi]

This helps to at least identify the possibility of an Insteon device jamming up the traffic. Did you have a tool to positively identify the X10 traffic on the network?

[C Martin]

I was using the HouseLinc software at the time and using their Log you can see the activity. You can also see it by clicking on the SDM.