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Using Multiple PLMs


Xathros

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Posted

I have 2 PLMs on my network. 1 for the ISY-99i and another connected to an IES Tabletop touchscreen. I'm looking for the best way to get the ISY to see status changes on my network when the IES touchscreen changes a device's status.

 

Right now I have the IES send an X10 command when a Scene is activated and have traps in the ISY to act on those X10 commands but this seems like an ugly workaround.

 

Is the a way to add the IES PLM to the ISY device tree or some way to link the PLMs so the status changes are seen by both?

 

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

 

-X

Posted

Hello Xathros,

 

Unfortunately the way INSTEON is implemented, the only way you could have ISY hear what you do with another PLM is to cross link all those devices in both PLMs. This is quite a daunting task and no tools currently support this type of configuration.

 

You might want to call IES and see if they would be willing to replace your PLM based touchscreen with the POE version in which case the status of all devices are in synch regardless of where/how the status has changed. IES's POE version automatically finds ISY on the network and configures itself for communications with ISY.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

I have 2 PLMs on my network. 1 for the ISY-99i and another connected to an IES Tabletop touchscreen. I'm looking for the best way to get the ISY to see status changes on my network when the IES touchscreen changes a device's status.

 

Right now I have the IES send an X10 command when a Scene is activated and have traps in the ISY to act on those X10 commands but this seems like an ugly workaround.

 

Is the a way to add the IES PLM to the ISY device tree or some way to link the PLMs so the status changes are seen by both?

 

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can offer.

 

-X

Posted

Thanks Michael.

 

I was afraid that would be the answer. I think I'll keep what I have for now until I can afford to buy another touchscreen. I'm sure I'll be able to resell this screen/PLM as a standalone controller sometime down the road. For the moment, the X10 messages are doing the job. Just makes my programs more complex and I have to keep track of the HU codes and their definitions on both the ISY and IES devices.

 

Can you give an example of what you mean by cross linking. If its not overly complex, I may try that with a few of the more critical devices.

 

Since we are sort of on topic here, do you have any recommendations for PoE power injectors ?

 

Thanks.

 

-X

Posted

Hi Xathros,

 

I am so very sorry for being the bearer of bad news. Have you tried calling IES to see if they are willing to upgrade you?

 

We use NetGear FS108P which is quite good.

 

Cross linking requires something like PowerHome. The main issue is that if you change anything in ISY, then you will immediately be out of synch and will probably have even more problems.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Thanks Michael.

 

I was afraid that would be the answer. I think I'll keep what I have for now until I can afford to buy another touchscreen. I'm sure I'll be able to resell this screen/PLM as a standalone controller sometime down the road. For the moment, the X10 messages are doing the job. Just makes my programs more complex and I have to keep track of the HU codes and their definitions on both the ISY and IES devices.

 

Can you give an example of what you mean by cross linking. If its not overly complex, I may try that with a few of the more critical devices.

 

Since we are sort of on topic here, do you have any recommendations for PoE power injectors ?

 

Thanks.

 

-X

Posted

Michel-

 

No problem. I bought the IES screen from Smarthome and rather than trying to swap it out, I'll just use it for now and plan on upgrading to the PoE version sometime down the road.

 

Cross linking doesn't sound feasible so I'll continue for now with the X10 messenger method. I have simplified it a bit already by creating a query scene for each room or area and trigger those queries via X10 when the IES sets a scene. This way I don't need to query discreet devices but rather small groups of devices. Kind of a trade off between moderate network traffic or lots of work. The PoE screen sounds like the perfect solution. Just wish I had done better research before I bought the Tabletop version.

 

Thanks again for your input on this.

 

-X

Posted

Hello Xathros,

 

My pleasure. I really wished I could give you better news especially in this economy.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Michel-

 

No problem. I bought the IES screen from Smarthome and rather than trying to swap it out, I'll just use it for now and plan on upgrading to the PoE version sometime down the road.

 

Cross linking doesn't sound feasible so I'll continue for now with the X10 messenger method. I have simplified it a bit already by creating a query scene for each room or area and trigger those queries via X10 when the IES sets a scene. This way I don't need to query discreet devices but rather small groups of devices. Kind of a trade off between moderate network traffic or lots of work. The PoE screen sounds like the perfect solution. Just wish I had done better research before I bought the Tabletop version.

 

Thanks again for your input on this.

 

-X

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