Replaced PLM and it will not talk to devices

[RF_Burns]

My programs stopped working.  I pulled up the ISY admin console and found the ISY could not talk to any devices.  The ISY was talking to the PLM however (Checked status).

We are going away for a month starting this weekend, so I purchased a new PLM and backed up the ISY.  Installed the new PLM following the instructions here:

https://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY-99i/ISY-26_INSTEON:File_Menu#Replace_Modem_(PLM)

When I logged back into the Admin Console, the ISY tried reading the Devices and on each one it did an update before (or after) posting an Error that it could not communicate with the device.  So when it was done, and all devices showed a communication error, I did a Restore Devices.  This only displayed a couple of devices before quitting the routine.

The ISY still cannot talk to any devices.

Unlike a previous user with a similar problem back in May, I did not change computers... same laptop I have been using with the ISY for years.  I can still see all my devices and thankfully they can still talk to each other directly.

I'm using firmware 4.8.0 which has been working great for a 5 years, so didn't upgrade.

I've had Insteon and ISY for about 20 years and I was in electronics for 40 years, so I'm not a newbie.  But Chemo has left me with some brain fog so small technical details elude me.

Anyone who can point me in the right direction would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Bruce

[paulbates]

A possibility is that the PLM was so far gone that when you backed up, you backed an empty and/or corrupted PLM data table.... and that's what was restored.

Do you have a good backup from before the problems started? Restore that and then restore the PLM, retest

[RF_Burns]

Thanks for that suggestion.  I have one from last September that I just tried.  It got to the 13% point and then failed with the error:

Could not open file

/conf/network.cfg

Failed resetting the PLM

-200000/-30

hmm

 

[paulbates]

The new plm may have gotten 'confused' by the initial bad restore. I would try: 

• Factory reset the PM: Unplug the plm from the wall, press and hold the set button while plugging it back in the wall, keep holding it until it beeps
• Unplug the ISY, wait about 10 seconds, plug back in, give it a couple minutes to fire up
• Try to restore the backup and then restore plm

Edited Wednesday at 03:07 PM by paulbates

[RF_Burns]

Ok, so I reset the PLM and restored from the second from last backup in case it was corrupt.  I didn't get the "could not open file" error this time, but still after Restore of ISY and Restore PLM, I still have no communication with any devices.

One thing I get after rebooting and logging into the ISY, while trying to read each device the ISY tries to write to it which shows ERR 1 on the progress bar.  This takes about 20 minutes to go through all the devices which also shows the error window "can't communicate with device".  None of the instructions mentions this is going to happen.

[DennisC]

Try plugging the PLM in to a different power circuit in case there is something on that circuit causing interference.

[paulbates]

I would also pick a device that's in a scene with several other devices, right click and pick "restore device"

[RF_Burns]

16 hours ago, DennisC said:

Try plugging the PLM in to a different power circuit in case there is something on that circuit causing interference.

The PLM is in the electrical closet with about 6ft of wire to the breaker panel.  There are also 3 Insteon 2477 dimmers with about 6ft of wire from the breaker panel to them, so no more than 12ft of wiring from the PLM to these dimmers and they do not communicate with the PLM.  Another reason I don't believe its noise causing interference is all the devices are programmed to communicate directly and everything that way works. If it was interference, then the devices could not communicate with each other.

 

[RF_Burns]

10 hours ago, paulbates said:

I would also pick a device that's in a scene with several other devices, right click and pick "restore device"

I've tried restoring a single device and all my devices are in scenes, but no luck.

At this point, one day away from leaving on my trip I purchased a couple of timer switches so at least my outside lights will come on at dusk and off in the morning.

I have bigger issues now.  I took the motorhome out for a longer test run and I have some backfiring issues!!  I need to concentrate on that problem now !

Such is life!

 

[DennisC]

11 minutes ago, RF_Burns said:

The PLM is in the electrical closet with about 6ft of wire to the breaker panel.  There are also 3 Insteon 2477 dimmers with about 6ft of wire from the breaker panel to them, so no more than 12ft of wiring from the PLM to these dimmers and they do not communicate with the PLM.  Another reason I don't believe its noise causing interference is all the devices are programmed to communicate directly and everything that way works. If it was interference, then the devices could not communicate with each other.

 

This definitely sounds like a nose issue especially given the location you have described. It has nothing to do with communicating directly.

Use an extension cord from PLM to another outlet outside the electric room.

Also, make sure you have the cable from PLM to ISY connected correctly. If you have another cable, try replacing the cable with the correct type cable.

[Guy Lavoie]

How about a simple test for the PLM: try manually linking a spare switch or module to the PLM, just using the link buttons on each device. Just to see if they can talk to each other, without the isy being involved.

[RF_Burns]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your help to this point, but I have run out of time.

When we get back from our trip I'll revisit this issue.

Bruce

[paulbates]

Just now, RF_Burns said:

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all your help to this point, but I have run out of time.

When we get back from our trip I'll revisit this issue.

Bruce

I get it... we spend a lot of our time camping around the Great Lakes, in fact we're out now 😉

[larryllix]

7 hours ago, paulbates said:

I get it... we spend a lot of our time camping around the Great Lakes, in fact we're out now 😉

Which Great lake were you in?   

[paulbates]

36 minutes ago, larryllix said:

Which Great lake were you in?   

Lake Michigan near Petoskey!