Really strange error trying to link a factory reset switch...

[Oakland Jeff]

Still trying to recover from a problematic migration from isy to eisy.

About half of my switches are in permanent need of needing updates written. I do the write, progress bar finishes without incident, and the switch still shows the green icon. FINE, I'll just delete the switch from AC, factory reset the switch, and start fresh. NOPE! This is what I get when I now try to link the switch:

Prior to factory resetting and deleting the switch, this is what I got when I tried to read its link table from AC:

Any insight or advice is more than welcome!

Thanks,
Jeff

[Techman]

"Cannot determine Insteon Engine" means that the PLM is unable to communicate with the device.

The error could be due to an error in the address you've entered or a PLM issue, usually caused by noise on the powerline. 

Take a look at the device address as it's easy to confuse B and 8

You might also try removing power from the PLM and the eisy, then power up the PLM wait about 15 seconds then power up the eisy.

Also make sure that the firmware on the eisy is up to date.

 

 

[Oakland Jeff]

No joy. None of those suggestions resulted in any observable difference at all 

[Techman]

Is the issue you're having with just the one switch, or multiple devices?

 

 

[Oakland Jeff]

OK, some more details... About half of my switches are in permanent "needs to be written" state starting yesterday afternoon. Two switches started giving me the red "!" also at that time. Immediately prior to that, I could communicate and write to all these switches.

The master bedroom switch is the one that started giving me the red "!". It seems to be the worst off, and it's most important, so I thought I'd try to resolve it first.

I also JUST replaced this switch less than 2 months ago, and it worked fine until yesterday afternoon.

What caused this yesterday afternoon? Beats me. I was trying to recover from a bad migration that happened 4 months ago. I restored a back up from several months prior to that in hopes of trying to resolve the bad/stale links to a previous PLM (serial, from my ISY) that others had helped me identify as the problem. So I did the restore, and all the switches were working! Yay, I thought. But I noticed that almost all of device link tables did not match the eISY tables, so I was doing Device Restores on each device, one at a time. Somewhere along the line, about half the switches became "needs writing" green, and a couple switches gave me the red "!".

Edited November 1, 2023 by Oakland Jeff

[Techman]

For the bedroom switch, put the event viewer into level 3, then do a restore device.

Post the event log results.

The green icon means that there are links that need to be written to the device.

The red ! means that the PLM can't communicate with the device.

[Oakland Jeff]

Since I tried starting from scratch with the bedroom switch (deleted it from AC, factory rest it) I am unable to re-link it, so there is nothing for me to try to restore. However, Patti's Room Recessed is still giving me !. Here is the Level 3 Event Viewer during a Restore on Patti's Room Recessed.

Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:38 PM : [  1E 62 F6 1] Preparing Device 'Patti's Room Recesse' for Restore
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:38 PM : [  1E 62 F6 1] Device 'Patti's Room Recesse' ready for Full Restore
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:38 PM : [All         ] Writing 150 bytes to devices
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:38 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 BE B1 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:38 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.BE.B1 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:42 PM : [            Time] 14:46:43 0(0)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:47 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 BE B1 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:47 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.BE.B1 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:56 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 BE B1 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:46:56 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.BE.B1 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:00 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 BF 3B 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:00 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.BF.3B 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:09 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 BF 3B 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:09 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.BF.3B 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:12 PM : [            Time] 14:47:13 0(0)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:18 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 BF 3B 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:18 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.BF.3B 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:22 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 21 D0 FD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:22 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 21.D0.FD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:32 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 21 D0 FD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:32 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 21.D0.FD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:41 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 21 D0 FD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:41 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 21.D0.FD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:42 PM : [            Time] 14:47:44 0(0)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:45 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 D6 91 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:45 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.D6.91 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:54 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 D6 91 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:47:54 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.D6.91 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:03 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 14 D6 91 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:03 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 14.D6.91 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:07 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 21 59 44 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:07 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 21.59.44 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:12 PM : [            Time] 14:48:14 0(0)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:16 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 21 59 44 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:16 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 21.59.44 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:25 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 21 59 44 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:25 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 21.59.44 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:29 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 AE CD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:29 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AE.CD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:38 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 AE CD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:38 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AE.CD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:41 PM : [            Time] 14:48:44 0(0)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:47 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 AE CD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:47 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AE.CD 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:51 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 B6 54 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:48:51 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.B6.54 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:00 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 B6 54 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:00 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.B6.54 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:09 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 B6 54 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:09 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.B6.54 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:11 PM : [            Time] 14:49:14 0(0)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:14 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 B4 65 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:14 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.B4.65 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:23 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 B4 65 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:23 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.B4.65 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:32 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 B4 65 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:32 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.B4.65 1F 2F 00 00 00 00 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D0 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:36 PM : [31 AD B9 1  ] Link    3 : 0FE0 [62011A6830000001] Writing [62011A6830000001]
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:36 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 AD B9 1F 2F 00 00 02 0F E7 08 62 01 1A 68 30 00 00 01 BB
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:36 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AD.B9 1F 2F 00 00 02 0F E7 08 62 01 1A 68 30 00 00 01 BB 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:41 PM : [            Time] 14:49:44 0(0)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:45 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 AD B9 1F 2F 00 00 02 0F E7 08 62 01 1A 68 30 00 00 01 BB
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:45 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AD.B9 1F 2F 00 00 02 0F E7 08 62 01 1A 68 30 00 00 01 BB 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:54 PM : [INST-TX-I2CS] 02 62 31 AD B9 1F 2F 00 00 02 0F E7 08 62 01 1A 68 30 00 00 01 BB
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:54 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AD.B9 1F 2F 00 00 02 0F E7 08 62 01 1A 68 30 00 00 01 BB 06        (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:58 PM : [31 AD B9 1  ] Link    3 : 0FE0 [62011A6830000001] *Failed Writing [62011A6830000001]
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:58 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 35 73 67 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:49:58 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 35.73.67 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:07 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 35 73 67 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:07 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 35.73.67 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:11 PM : [            Time] 14:50:14 0(0)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:16 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 35 73 67 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:16 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 35.73.67 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:20 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 31 AD 1C 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:20 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AD.1C 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:29 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 31 AD 1C 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:29 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AD.1C 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:38 PM : [INST-TX-I1  ] 02 62 31 AD 1C 0F 0D 00
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:38 PM : [INST-ACK    ] 02 62 31.AD.1C 0F 0D 00 06                 (00)
Wed 11/01/2023 02:50:41 PM : [            Time] 14:50:44 0(0)

This is the link table that the ISY was trying to write to the switch:

 

[Techman]

Your PLM isn't able to communicate with the device in Patti's room.  If you have a long extension cord try plugging the PLM into a different outlet.

Either you have some noise on your powerline or some other issue that's interfering with the Insteon signal. Here are a few links to troubleshooting your issues:

  INSTEON: Troubleshooting Communications Errors - Universal Devices, Inc. Wiki (universal-devices.com)

  Can't Determine INSTEON engine - YouTube

  INSTEON Signal / Noise Troubleshooting - Universal Devices, Inc. Wiki (universal-devices.com)

 

[brians]

That Insteon address you gave is old and is not dual band and PLC only. Is the majority of your Insteon network old, or lots of RF dual band?

I am guessing that your backup messed something up (or was messed up before) and now you need to restore some of your switches. During your restores you could have made your Insteon mesh network unstable, which could cause a whole bunch of switches to fail that relied on one key switch to mesh from. Try restoring different devices and hopefully your network may come back. Maybe remove the device from wall and bring close to PLM and see if it will work.

I had lots of issues with Insteon, and I would get similar errors... I started a project a couple years ago to resolve this and would purchase used Insteon switches off Ebay (insteon shortage, months prior to the company closing) and replace my PLC only ones. Little by little my network would become more stable, until one day I replaced a switch which seemed to resolve everything... no errors, no opening AC and error cannot communicate with device. I still have 12 PLC only switches installed, and 8 dual band spares I am keeping to swap out as needed. To give an example how Insteon mesh can be finicky.... one room that had three older Insteon PLC switches experienced severe problems linking and being unreliable,  was solved by changing just one of the switches to a newer dual band RF... after than it has been flawless for almost 2 years now... it is using the dual band switch to help bridge to other dual band switches that have better communication path to PLM.

 

Edited November 2, 2023 by brians