PLM and ZMatter USB

[shergenr]

I'm ready to upgrade from isy994 to eisy.  In the process of a remodel so I have to relocate my udi box and plm, and have questions about placement of the Plm and z matter dongle.

Generally speaking both items operate on usb standards.  As I understand, usb signals are limited to 16 feet of wire.  Is this correct?  Can I use a usb over ip extender for either of these or will it interfere with the signals?

Additionally, in terms of placement what are the realities of location of the z matter dongle ?  Can these be placed in closets and function well or does it have  to be out in the open? 
 

Finally in terms of interference:  I will likely have to add the wireless  module to my elk panel...will this compete/interfere with the signals generated for zmatter and vice versa?

Thanks for your help.

[paulbates]

My suggestion, if you have a choice of which controller to have remote, is to switch to a serial PLM and get UDI's conversion cable.... there have been reports on different forums in the past of going 50' or more over serial. You might have to get a custom extension cable made or look them up on line as they are traditionally male- male and you'll need female - male. 

This post discusses the pin outs.

Edited December 9 by paulbates

[shergenr]

Paul, my thinking on extending the serial cable is since it terminates into a male rj45 to extend it would be a simple matter of getting a female rj45 keystone and wire it with either standard a or b on both ends.  The pin out is achieved via the serial cable, correct?

[larryllix]

Paul, my thinking on extending the serial cable is since it terminates into a male rj45 to extend it would be a simple matter of getting a female rj45 keystone and wire it with either standard a or b on both ends.  The pin out is achieved via the serial cable, correct?

Already wired Ethernet extensions are available and may avoid the switched pair confusion that can happen.

Sent from my SM-S711W using Tapatalk

[paulbates]

16 minutes ago, shergenr said:

Paul, my thinking on extending the serial cable is since it terminates into a male rj45 to extend it would be a simple matter of getting a female rj45 keystone and wire it with either standard a or b on both ends.  The pin out is achieved via the serial cable, correct?

Should work... I want the fewest physical connectors possible for wiring.

[dbwarner5]

6 hours ago, paulbates said:

My suggestion, if you have a choice of which controller to have remote, is to switch to a serial PLM and get UDI's conversion cable.... there have been reports on different forums in the past of going 50' or more over serial. You might have to get a custom extension cable made or look them up on line as they are traditionally male- male and you'll need female - male. 

This post discusses the pin outs.

My Eisy uses the serial out to an ethernet which then runs ~50 to the basement from the second floor to the PLM. Works fine. 

[shergenr]

Paul, my thinking on extending the serial cable is since it terminates into a male rj45 to extend it would be a simple matter of getting a female rj45 keystone and wire it with either standard a or b on both ends.  The pin out is achieved via the serial cable, correct?

[shergenr]

Okay that sorts out the PLM.  I'm greedy - what's the thinking on the zmatter dongle?  Can it be placed in a coat closet and provide reliable service?  That dongle won't survive the Better Taste Committee which is chaired by my wife if it is to be mounted in direct line of site.  Or is the trick to create a network of devices to pass that signal along?

[Guy Lavoie]

For zwave, you'll need a network of devices if you're looking to get reliable communications over a house that has many rooms. Also, battery powered devices like door locks will not function as signal repeaters.

[Brian H]

9 hours ago, shergenr said:

Paul, my thinking on extending the serial cable is since it terminates into a male rj45 to extend it would be a simple matter of getting a female rj45 keystone and wire it with either standard a or b on both ends.  The pin out is achieved via the serial cable, correct?

Be careful. The RJ45 network style serial connection on the PLM end only uses three wires. Other pins on the PLM end are not serial like send and receive TTL level signals. That should not be connected to anything.

[shergenr]

Thanks Brian.  I was hoping that only the 3 pins used by the udi serial adapter and the female Plm port were active.  Do you think this is a bad assumption?

[Brian H]

Sounds correct. The RJ45 serial 2413S PLM end only had three sires connected. From other posts here.