Program Query always returns status of zero

[stevehoyt]

Hi

 

I have just purchased and installed my 2nd ISY with version 2.7.0. and am running Windows 7.

 

In the course of programming it, in the past few days, I noticed that the Query all program was always returning a status of zero for all devices in the log file even when they were turned on.

 

My network is working fine I have no communication issues, the devices work as programmed. In the admin console, I can turn devices on/off/dim them etc, and do queries and all is as expected. When programs turn them on and off status's are also received as expected.

 

It is only when I execute a program to do a query that I have a problem with the log file status always being zero.

 

I have modified the query program, to in addition to querying "My Lighting" to query a scene I created and to query individual devices and I always get zero for the status. I also created a new scene and queried it via a program with the same results.

 

I have cleared my Java cache and rebooted the PLM and the ISY.

 

I am out of ideas as to the cause. Any suggestions?

 

Thanks

Steve

[oberkc]

Reading another post just now, I wonder if restoring your devices would help?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks so very much for the feedback. It does seem that the logs are not updated properly. The normal behavior should be:

If the status has not changed, nothing should be logged.

 

We'll take a closer look.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[stevehoyt]

Just to make sure that I have described my issue correctly, my understanding of why I would run the query all "MY Lighting" was to make sure the status of the devices was correct in the ISY. I understand that the ISY does not change the status of a device unless it receives a status change off the network.

 

What is happening is that I have device(s) that have changed status and the ISY has received the status change correctly off the network and displays it correctly in the admin console.

 

If I then run the query all program the status of all devices (even those that show ON in the admin console ) is shown as zero.

 

Thanks

Steve

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Steve,

 

Yes, thank you. The problem is in the UI and it has been rectified in 2.7.10.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[stevehoyt]

Hi

 

I just upgraded to 2.7.10 and the log file now has entries for Insteon devices whose status has changed since the last "query all" and status requests for all X-10 devices. I have the X-10 add on. This is a bit different than 2.7.0 was as you used to get the status of all devices whether it had changed or not.

 

The issue that I have, which I thought the "query all" might help with, is that I am seeing incorrect status values in the ISY. I turn a light on and the light goes on but the status reply is lost and hence an incorrect status is reflected in the ISY.

 

I know that it is likely due to messages getting lost in my network. I have spent 2 days tracing every breaker in the house (70 in all on 3 sub panels) and mapped their phases. I have moved my 6 Access Points and done extensive work to make sure the phases are all linked properly. I suspect, at this point, I may need even more access points but that is another issue.

 

Since I did this, my network is performing 1000% better almost perfectly. My Switchlinc problems which I attributed to V.35 issues have gone away and I rarely if ever see "can't communicate" issues. I am very pleased I took the time to do this. I was forced to do it as Smarthome would not replace the switch until I did it ..........

 

I am still having issues at sunset, when I switch 7 lights on at the same time, that a status reply may not get back to the ISY. I am trying various approaches to fix this. I am adding scenes and adding delays between each command, if I turn each light on individually, to see what effect that has. It will take a few more days to see if any of these approaches helps.

 

Now to the 2 questions.

 

1) Could we not have the "query all" return, in the log, the current status of all devices so that I can check to see what it thought was the status versus what I saw in real life?

 

2) Does the "query all" really poll each device? I was hoping by running a "query all" hourly that when I had the mismatched status between the ISY and the devices actual status that I could get the 2 in sync again.

 

Thanks

Steve

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks so very much for the update.

 

First, I would like to know a little more about your sunset scene:

1. Do devices actually respond to your sunset commands?

2. Are you actually turning on/off a scene?

3. Is the status in ISY on when it should be off or the other way around?

 

As far as query all, yes, indeed it does query every device for it status.

 

Please note that there was a bug in the log which returned 0 for certain devices (when doing a query).

 

And, unfortunately - and please forgive me - I really do not think adding more access points is going to solve the issue. Personally, I think adding more access points is going to cause more problems than fix anything. And, finally, I do not think anything would recompense for the issues relating to SWL 35. All this said, if you wish, send and email to tech@universal-devices.com and I'll see if I can help you get your SWLs replaced before spending more money on Access Points.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[stevehoyt]

Thanks Michel for your reply you guys sure work long hours. I will BOLD my issues as this is such a long post....

 

I guess I spoke too soon as last night the V.35 switch problem reappeared along with some new ones i.e a different light that would not turn off....

 

I will attempt to describe what I am seeing. I have tried using scenes and in some cases not all the lights go on or off and in other cases the lights go on but not all the status's are returned correctly. I then tried turning on each of the lights individually in a program with no delays between commands with similar results. My last attempt was to put delays of 30 seconds between each of the commands. This seems to be the only approach that works close to 100%..... not enough days running yet to reach any conclusions...And of course defeats the point of Scenes

 

So my guess at the moment is that I am still having communication issues and am bowing to your wisdom and feel that the V.35 switchlincs ( I have 5 switchlinc's 4 of which are V.35 1 is V.37) may be contributing to my problems. I am also bowing to your wisdom and not going to add anymore access points until I do further trouble shooting. I have 6 AP's and have made sure they communicate across phases within each sub panel and across phases between each sub panel.

 

Last night as I mentioned above, the V.35 switch that is turned on by a controlinc using a scene went back to its usual problem. The scene turns it on OK.

 

The scene OFF executes and the switchlinc reports OK but the light does not turn off...

see below log entries

 

Fam Rm Goose Necks Status 100% Sat 02/06/2010 06:01:14 PM System

Clink 1-3 Goose Necks Status 100% Sat 02/06/2010 06:01:14 PM System

Fam Rm Goose Necks Status 0% Sat 02/06/2010 06:01:23 PM System

Clink 1-3 Goose Necks Status 0% Sat 02/06/2010 06:01:23 PM System

 

A new issue showed up

 

These lights were supposed to go on for 2 minutes then turn off. It has worked without fail for about 10 days. Last night the light did not turn off and as you can see from below apparently the status came back bad.

 

Family Room Big Lamps On 255 Sun 02/07/2010 12:00:00 AM Program Log

Family Room Big Lamps Status 100% Sun 02/07/2010 12:00:01 AM System Log

Family Room Big Lamps Off 0 Sun 02/07/2010 12:02:00 AM Program Log

Family Room Big Lamps Sun 02/07/2010 12:02:04 AM System -2

 

Lastly, sorry for the post being so long, my log file does still not seem correct to me. When I did a "Query all" in 2.7.0 I used to get entries in the log for each device queried. Now I get none. I only see query requests for the X-10 devices which are non 2 way so I expect no responses.

 

See below

"Query All" at 7:40

 

Scene:My Lighting Status Query Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:18 AM Program Log

X10 D3 Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:47 AM Program Log

X10 D3 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:47 AM Program Log

X10 B5 Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:50 AM Program Log

X10 B5 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:50 AM Program Log

X10 D2 Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:50 AM Program Log

X10 D2 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:50 AM Program Log

X10 M5 Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:50 AM Program Log

X10 M5 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:50 AM Program Log

X10 B16 Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:50 AM Program Log

X10 B16 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 07:40:50 AM Program Log

 

As I mentioned, I would have expected above to see the status of all my insteon devices in the "Query All" done at 7:40 as It was in 2.7.0

 

I then turned on the driveway lights at 7:51

 

 

Driveway Lights On Sun 02/07/2010 07:51:30 AM Web Log

Driveway Lights Status 100% Sun 02/07/2010 07:51:30 AM System Log

 

I let the query run at 8:40 and again did not see the status of the Driveway lights showing on.

 

Shouldn't I see all Insteon status in the log?

 

Scene:My Lighting Status Query Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:18 AM Program Log

X10 D3 Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:42 AM Program Log

X10 D3 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:42 AM Program Log

X10 B5 Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:45 AM Program Log

X10 B5 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:45 AM Program Log

X10 D2 Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:45 AM Program Log

X10 D2 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:45 AM Program Log

X10 M5 Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:45 AM Program Log

X10 M5 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:45 AM Program Log

X10 B16 Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:45 AM Program Log

X10 B16 Status Request (10) Sun 02/07/2010 08:40:45 AM Program Log

 

 

Smarthome has refused to replace my switches until I did the work on making sure my Access points were ok which I have done and if that failed Switch 1 of my other Switchlinc's with the failing one and see if the problem persists.

 

I will Email you and will appreciate any help you can provide me with dealing with Smarthome

 

Thanks again for your help

Steve

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Steve,

 

Thanks so very much for the update and your kind words about my wisdom!

 

Based on what I see, I can almost assure you that once you replace the SWLs and remove some of the excess access points, all your problems are going to go away. I have contacted SmartHome and I am sure they will help you out.

 

In the meantime, you might want to try the Scene Test.

 

And, yes, ISY should have all the statuses reflected in the log.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[stevehoyt]

Hi

 

Thanks for your help. A couple further points/questions.

 

1)I look forward to replacing the defective switches. At this point, I am planning on paying Smarthome the difference to upgrade all but one of the offending switches to keypadlincs rather than deal with anymore of these problems. I assume this will not cause any problems.

 

2) Just as an FYI (not that you need any more info but it may be of help to others) last night with 30 second delays between commands I still had one light that did not turn on. I had a backup program that ran 5 minutes later that queried all the subject lights with 30 second delays and then turned them all on again with 30 second delays. The second attempt turned the light on that was off and failed to return the status on a different light that was already on.

 

3) I neglected to tell you that I have been running the Scene test multiple times with almost 100% failure on those tests. I had read in another post due to the nature of the scene test (hop count 1) that it was a worst case test and might fail when in fact the network needed multiple hops. I plan on running it again when I replace the offending switches.

 

4) On the log issue, am I understanding you correctly, that in a future rev I will see the status of devices in the log when a "Query all" or for that matter a query is done a particular device.

 

5) Regarding removing access points. Four of my 6 access points are dual band lamplincs. I would like your opinion on the effects of keeping them in my network.

 

Thanks again for your help.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi stevehoyt,

 

Just the fact that scene test fails (especially with all those access points) is enough for me to certain that the source of all the problems are the SWLs.

 

Yes, you will have the correct status in the log.

 

And, I really do not think you will need any access points as long as a) you use your LLs to bridge the phases correctly and you are certain they are not going to be unplugged.

 

With kind regards,

Michel