Insteon Motion Sensor Signal Reliability

[rhughes]

Hi,

 

I'm adding some Insteon motion sensors as occupancy sensors in my home. I'm then controlling lights using ISY programs to trigger lighting scenes. The light(s) should come on instantly with the motion ON signal but begin to fade off after the motion OFF signal is received. As it turns out, the time between motion detection and the lights coming on isn't instant, but I can live with that. The problem is that sometimes the ISY fails to get the ON notification from the motion sensor. I've verified this with the Log. I'm not sure why, other than maybe a wireless signal collision from multiple sensors. I have a SignalLinc plugged directly into the PLM. I've been trying to think of some ways to mitigate this problem, including:

 

1) Add the motion sensor directly to the lighting scene, but this creates a problem since I want the lights to slowly dim off after a period of no motion, not turn off instantly. I don't think there's a way to add the motion ON to a scene but the motion OFF to a different scene?

2) Create a scene with a LampLinc (no lamp attached) and the motion sensor and use it as a backup signal to the programs? Even if this worked, I'd need a LampLinc for each motion sensor -- not ideal.

 

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks.

[Brian H]

Model 2442 SignalLincRF or 2443 Access Point in the PLM pass through outlet?

The SignalLincRF will not receive anything from any Insteon RF device. It uses a different frequency and was superseded by the 2443 Access Points.

 

You must have some dual band device. Something is receiving the motion sensors. Maybe a dual band LampLinc or an Access Point somewhere. Maybe the module receiving the motion sensors signal is far from where it is mounted.

[rhughes]

Hi Brian,

 

Right, my mistake. I have an Access Point plugged directly into the PLM. That's how I'm receiving the signals. I only use one since I installed a hardwired Insteon phase coupler. Since I have another Access Point, I'll try plugging it in at the other end of the house for better signal coverage. Thanks for the feedback.

[LeeG]

Putting an Access Point on the end of the house reduces the effective coverage as there is nothing on one side of the Access Point. Better to put them in more central locations. Of course if there are dead spots in RF coverage putting an Access Point near the dead spot should eliminate the dead spot.

 

Don't worry about signal collisions. Also when RF reception is good you will see the Motion Sensor sends two Group Broadcast commands. This is not the result of multiple Access Points (or equivalent) receiving a single command from the Motion Sensor.

[rhughes]

Thanks for the advice, Lee.