When INSTEON looked like they were toast, I loaded the Z’-wave firmware version for my ISY994i and started getting a few Z-wave devices. Now it looks like INSTEON is still a viable solution so I want to reload the firmware with the PLM support for my INSTEON devices. Will I loose all my Z-wave device definitions when I do so? Suggestions on best way to proceed?  Thanks!

5 minutes ago, Kentinada said:

When INSTEON looked like they were toast, I loaded the Z’-wave firmware version for my ISY994i and started getting a few Z-wave devices. Now it looks like INSTEON is still a viable solution so I want to reload the firmware with the PLM support for my INSTEON devices. Will I loose all my Z-wave device definitions when I do so? Suggestions on best way to proceed?  Thanks!

Stay with what you have. Insteon will still work

The difference in the firmware is that the firmware that's the Zwave only version doesn't look for a PLM and thus won't give you an error message when it can't find one.

Be sure to make a an ISY backup before and after you add a PLM back to your system

So if reconnect my PLM with this firmware, it will work with no changes? I can just start adding my INSTEON devices back in?

Try connecting it, you have nothing to lose.

But the downside is if you have a PLM failure the ISY won't know about it.

What's your current ISY firmware version, if it's an older version you should update it.

This is my current version.  So I can try it like you said.  The downside is no notification if the PLM fails. If I load the firmware with PLM support, I assume I'm starting from scratch to load all my devices including my currently defined Z-wave devices - correct?

The ISY994i checks for a PLM at boot up.

Not sure if the PLM dies as the system is used. Would be detected.

You can load 5.3.4 with full support. PLM and zwave. You then move forward from there. All zwave device should remain.

As always, backup zwave first and then ISY so you can recover if an issue occurs.

4 hours ago, Kentinada said:

This is my current version.  So I can try it like you said.  The downside is no notification if the PLM fails. If I load the firmware with PLM support, I assume I'm starting from scratch to load all my devices including my currently defined Z-wave devices - correct?

All your devices and programs will not be affected by the firmware change and will remain intact. Be sure to do a ISY backup and a Zwave backup before any firmware update as an insurance policy.

Being that you're on the latest firmware version, the firmware update to the one that supports the PLM is just an academic exercise.

Edited November 13, 20222 yr by Techman

So I reloaded the full firmware without a problem and rebooted.  When I do a Tools/Diagnostics/PLM Info status it says 34.E7.BB v9E / Connected so I assume it's all communicating properly.  When I try to add back in my first INSTEON device, I get the attached error.  I am trying to add a Lamplinc Dual-band Dimmer 2457D2.  I must be missing something. Suggestions? 

What is the device?  I perceive such errors associated with the few Insteon devices not directly supported by the ISY, such as the newer version of the motion sensor.  

The error message means that the PLM is unable to communicate with the device

Verify that the address is 18.73.E2. The 8 can sometimes be confused with a B

If the device address is correct, then try moving the lamplinc closer to the PLM

So I moved the Lamplinc closer to the PLM and it worked.  I did another one and it found 2 other addresses which I have no clue what they are but obviously couldn't communicate with them.  See screen shot. Where are these coming from? 

So I moved the Lamplinc closer to the PLM and it worked.  I did another one and it found 2 other addresses which I have no clue what they are but obviously couldn't communicate with them.  See screen shot. Where are these coming from? 
http://d2z8ydsemzif1x.cloudfront.net/monthly_2022_11/1579177086_ScreenShot2022-11-14at9_32_38AM.thumb.jpeg.bab153541e95206de21257aee017607b.jpeg

Those are probably addresses that existed in that switch. When you add there are question about finding them. If that’s your older switches, I’d factory reset each before linking them. I’d delete that one and add again.

Thanks for all the help. 

Is Insteon actually back?  That would be great, because almost all of my house is Insteon, but I have maybe 10 more switches that aren't Insteon. 

45 minutes ago, ctviggen1 said:

Is Insteon actually back?  That would be great, because almost all of my house is Insteon, but I have maybe 10 more switches that aren't Insteon. 

Insteon is alive and well. Some products are currently available, others will be available in Q1 2023. Here's the link to the new Insteon store:

Collections – Insteon

 

46 minutes ago, ctviggen1 said:

Is Insteon actually back?  That would be great, because almost all of my house is Insteon, but I have maybe 10 more switches that aren't Insteon. 

Read more threads here.

Insteon is partially back, under new ownership, that listens to users. They also report progress of their rebuilding the company and product lines.