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Why do we need to change z-wave module just because of a firmware update?


Tassos

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I do not use z-wave much, in fact I was only using 2-3 z-wave switches as opposed to 50 Insteon modules.

 

However, as z-wave seem to have many more appliances (e.g. TRV switches), I am hoping to be using more of those.

So I bought a Danfoss TRV in the hope I could try it out and find that my "Z-wave donge is not responding".

After a bit of research I believe that I must have a Z-Wave 300 board.

I am based in Europe and when I had got my ISY I had to change the Z-Wave chip in order to support the European Z-Wave frequencies.

Now I have to go through the whole process of buying a new board, a new chip etc. just because of a software update?

Something is wrong here...

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2 hours ago, Tassos said:

I do not use z-wave much, in fact I was only using 2-3 z-wave switches as opposed to 50 Insteon modules.

 

However, as z-wave seem to have many more appliances (e.g. TRV switches), I am hoping to be using more of those.

So I bought a Danfoss TRV in the hope I could try it out and find that my "Z-wave donge is not responding".

After a bit of research I believe that I must have a Z-Wave 300 board.

I am based in Europe and when I had got my ISY I had to change the Z-Wave chip in order to support the European Z-Wave frequencies.

Now I have to go through the whole process of buying a new board, a new chip etc. just because of a software update?

Something is wrong here...

Nothing is wrong here. Technology changes. The 300 board has become obsolete before the system just like anything else electronic. 

You can continue to use both, you just can't upgrade pay a certain point. No different than smartphones, connected vehicles, alarm systems etc

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3 hours ago, Tassos said:

Something is wrong here...

Have you tried to use  updated IOS Apps on an old Iphone or Ipad ? 

I have an old Ipad 2 that I can only use to play Solitaire.... when I have a solitaire moment ?. By far most of my usual IOS apps can not be used on this old Ipad.

Apple makes me change my Iphone and Ipad every few years. That is the price of innovation and progress.

 

Edited by asbril
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I think some of you are missing the point...

Yes, I have seen old iPads not be supported by new software and, yes, technology does change.

What I have not seen though is a software upgrade which renders the hardware obsolete... If the h/w cannot keep up with the times, then you upgrade the h/w. But making software upgrades which render h/w unusable is a first.

 

 

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@Michel Kohanim Yes, I do remember and I was right not to follow your advice as I managed to convert an Insteon hub to act as EU compliant PLM and I managed to have the wave chip changed with that of a EU compliant chip, so I was able to use your wonderful product without any problems for several years. In fact I have done this for two homes in Europe with no problems.

In fact, I am not complaining that you do not make a European compliant z-wave board, this is expected. I am complaining about the fact that the latest firmware renders existing hardware obsolete and I was, merely, asking what is the reason for this?

 

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21 minutes ago, Tassos said:

@Michel Kohanim Yes, I do remember and I was right not to follow your advice as I managed to convert an Insteon hub to act as EU compliant PLM and I managed to have the wave chip changed with that of a EU compliant chip, so I was able to use your wonderful product without any problems for several years. In fact I have done this for two homes in Europe with no problems.

In fact, I am not complaining that you do not make a European compliant z-wave board, this is expected. I am complaining about the fact that the latest firmware renders existing hardware obsolete and I was, merely, asking what is the reason for this?

 

Technology changes! That's the nature of things. The isy beingodular allows you to replace a board to upgrade to keep up at a lesser cost than having to replace the whole thing. 

Edited by lilyoyo1
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@Tassos,

Thank you very much! Perhaps you can become a distributor in EU (Polisy) ?.

Without getting into too much details, we had no choice because we had to do Z-Wave Plus Certification and that only works with 500 series and above. So, we left 300 series with 4.9 and made 500 series certified with Z-Wave. Again, you can use release 5.1 if you want to use 300 series.

With kind regards,
Michel

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3 hours ago, Tassos said:

I think some of you are missing the point...

Yes, I have seen old iPads not be supported by new software and, yes, technology does change.

What I have not seen though is a software upgrade which renders the hardware obsolete... If the h/w cannot keep up with the times, then you upgrade the h/w. But making software upgrades which render h/w unusable is a first.

 

 

So don't upgrade to the latest firmware.  You are complaining for circumstances that are entirely yours. ISY and Polisy are not built for Europe. Maybe one day they will.

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5 hours ago, Tassos said:

I think some of you are missing the point...

Yes, I have seen old iPads not be supported by new software and, yes, technology does change.

What I have not seen though is a software upgrade which renders the hardware obsolete... If the h/w cannot keep up with the times, then you upgrade the h/w. But making software upgrades which render h/w unusable is a first.

 

 

No one is missing the point. We simply do not agree with your point. As Asbril pointed out, you do not have to upgrade past the point that UDI stated. Your current board and system will continue to work. You could also simply replace your board with a new one for about 50 bucks and continue to receive updates. 

No different than taking an old computer, swapping out components to keep it up to date

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@Michel KohanimWould love to help spread the word on this product. Not familiar with Polisy but ISY994i is amazing!

 

Regarding Z-Wave 500, does this contain an extended appliance database? I tried to "include" a Danfoss Living Connect Z TRV and at some stage it stopped complaining about unknown manufacturer specific info (or something along these lines)

 

 

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1 hour ago, Tassos said:

@Michel KohanimWould love to help spread the word on this product. Not familiar with Polisy but ISY994i is amazing!

 

Regarding Z-Wave 500, does this contain an extended appliance database? I tried to "include" a Danfoss Living Connect Z TRV and at some stage it stopped complaining about unknown manufacturer specific info (or something along these lines)

 

 

There's no extended appliance database. 

I suspect it doesn't use standard zwave command classes. Most likely your device requires custom coding in order to work. 

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