Adding A RemoteLinc?

[Brian H]

I found that if I used the Auto Discover choice and not the Add a RemoteLinc choice. I could get My Lighting to show the actual firmware version in my RemoteLinc v.33.

 

While the Add a RemoteLinc does not and shows v.00

 

Any reason why the Add a RemoteLinc has to be used if the Auto Discover will also?

Well as long as you remember to turn on the linking mode with the Bright and Dim Buttons.

[Teken]

I found this out as well during my re-install where it initially reported V0.0 for both the remotelinc & one icon switchlinc relay.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi BrianH,

 

RemoteLincs are controllers only and, as such, Linking would not work (it will add them as responders and thus you would not get any status updates).

 

The problem, though, is that RLs do not respond properly to IDReq and that's why you do not see the version.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Brian H]

Then you are saying when I used Auto Discover the v.33 was a bogus number?

 

It added all six buttons and they where red. Just like the ones I added with the Add a RemoteLinc choice that gave me the v.00 for firmware.

[Teken]

I also have to affirm that doing what Brian H has outline has also given me a version number. While doing it the other way results in a V0.0

 

Mine is stated as V.35 just in case you needed to know. My remotelinc also works fine with out any problems.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Guys,

 

Getting a version number does not mean that it has been linked properly to ISY (i.e PLM = Slave, Remote Linc = Master).

 

In the scenario that you use Auto Discover, do you get status feedback from RemoteLinc buttons in ISY?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Teken]

Hi Guys,

 

Getting a version number does not mean that it has been linked properly to ISY (i.e PLM = Slave, Remote Linc = Master).

 

In the scenario that you use Auto Discover, do you get status feedback from RemoteLinc buttons in ISY?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

Yes, I do see and receive confirmation on the ISY admin console when I activate a device / scene.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Teken, thanks so very much. Do you actually see the status of the RL button change in ISY?

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Teken]

Yes I do. I also confirmed that the status changes when looking at the RL on the left side of the admin tree for that device only.

 

When I view the status of the RL from the My Lighting it also shows the change of state immediately.

 

In my eye's this is good news. Having the version number instead of a V0.0 is preferred than some random default V0.0

 

It works, so I'll take it LOL !!!

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Teken,

 

Ah, it's Alzheimer or senility or age or all ... sorry for the confusion!

 

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[andyf0]

Adding the RemoteLinc using the 'Add RemoteLinc' selection only gives you the six buttons. How can I add Bright, Dim, All on & All Off?

[Brian H]

Unless something has changed. You can't.

 

Though on my old revision RemoteLinc. I can manually link modules to the All Buttons and not have any of the six paddles in the loop.

 

The Diagnostics Show Device Links Table. For the RemoteLinc. Does show the extra links to the All Buttons and flags an extra link message in the compare functions.

[Teken]

Unless something has changed. You can't.

 

Though on my old revision RemoteLinc. I can manually link modules to the All Buttons and not have any of the six paddles in the loop.

 

The Diagnostics Show Device Links Table. For the RemoteLinc. Does show the extra links to the All Buttons and flags an extra link message in the compare functions.

 

Really? What version is this RL? I want to try!

[LeeG]

I ran the same test with the same positive result. Manually linked an ICON Dimmer to a RemoteLinc All On button. ICON Dimmer turns On/Off with the All On and All Off buttons. The Group number in both link records is 255 as expected. The RemoteLinc was originally added specifying the specific Device Type so the firmware is listed as v00. Would be nice if the ISY fixed that aspect of adding a device to the ISY with a specific Device Type and picked up the firmware level during that flow.

[Brian H]

The RemoteLinc is in the Device Type List. 00.05

 

I have used the Auto Discover and it was added. Just have to remember to turn the linking mode on or it isn't found.

 

Firmware v.33. V1.0 RemoteLinc.

I have seen a V1.2 reported as having a v.35 firmware.

 

Michel gave me a reason why I should not go that route in an earlier post to this thread. But it was added.

 

I don't have any newer revisions. So new ones may not act the same as mine.

[sanders2222]

I've tried a half dozen time to link my RemoteLinc to the ISY and no luck. I am able to link the RemoteLinc to a 2457D2X plug-in dimmer, and I've linked the plug-in to the ISY. But whether I try auto or manual link approach on the ISY, it is not discovered.

 

I've even held the thing next to both Access Points I have and while I can see the response on the AP, the signal doesn't seem to get through my PLM to the ISY.

 

Another interesting behavior is that while I can control the plug-in with my RemoteLinc, the ISY console does not show the change is status. I find I have to query the plug-in device to get the ISY to report the correct status. Hmmmm.

 

This seems like reporting and adding this device should be pretty straight forward. What am I missing? Anyone have a suggestion?

 

EDIT: Oh I am using 3.1.2 Beta so I hope that's not my issue (solution too simple).

[LeeG]

sanders2222

 

There is an option Link Management | Link a RemoteLinc that is used to add a RemoteLinc to the ISY.

 

Lee

 

EDIT: until the RemoteLinc is added to the ISY and an ISY Scene defined with the RemoteLinc button as a Controller and the plugin dimmer as a Responder the ISY will not be aware of the RemoteLinc controlling the plugin dimmer with direct links.

 

Should also unlink the RemoteLinc from the plugin dimmer before going any further. Links established outside of the ISY are not known by the ISY and will bite you eventually.

[sanders2222]

Thanks for the suggestions LeeG. I tried all that and each time would get an error message "Failure reading device link". But then discovered I needed to leave the RemoteLinc in link mode for the systems to communicate together. Someone probably states that somewhere but I missed it.

 

So OK, I've added the RemoteLinc to my list of devices. If I understand it correctly, I must set up scenes for each button (1-6) to control other devices. Do I need a scene if I use a button to trigger a program?

 

I successfully set up a few scenes and tested them, it WORKS! But the annoying thing is each time the ISY/PLM needs to write to the device (gray 1011), I have to make sure the remote is in the learning mode or I end up with red exclamation marks. That in itself complicated building each scene because it dropped out of learning mode after 4 minutes.

 

EDIT: Also, did someone figure a scheme to make the ALL ON/OFF buttons do just that?

[LeeG]

sanders2222

 

All the Insteon RF only devices (RemoteLincs, Motion Sensors, TriggerLincs) must be put into linking mode to keep them awake so the ISY can write the required link records for the Scene. Otherwise they sleep (turn the RF circuitry off to conserve battery) which makes outside initiated communication impossible.

 

“So OK, I've added the RemoteLinc to my list of devices. If I understand it correctly, I must set up scenes for each button (1-6) to control other devices.â€

 

Yes.

 

“ Do I need a scene if I use a button to trigger a program?â€

 

No.

 

“EDIT: Also, did someone figure a scheme to make the ALL ON/OFF buttons do just that?â€

 

All On/All Off works for devices which have been linked as Scene Responders to the RemoteLinc buttons. The All On/All Off buttons cannot be used to trigger a Program.

 

Lee

[sanders2222]

Thank you again LeeG for your quick and right-on responses.

 

It kind of wastes one button, but using one of the buttons to trigger ALL ON/ALL OFF ISY programs did the trick.

 

BTW: I found a nice label template on the Smarthome page, so that raised the WAF!

http://www.smarthome.com/manuals/2440temp.doc

 

Now I need to work on my KPL labels, something a little better than a 'Post-it' on the wall next to the switch. (read somewhere that you have a KPL Word template).

[LeeG]

sanders2222

 

On the Smarthome sales page for clear KPL button conversion kit are several links to button prototypes, MS Word, Adobe, maybe something else if memory is correct. Almost all of my KPL buttons are clear. That is all there was in the beginning. Avery Labels have small mat finish that I used to label all the paddle switches. I place the label just below the paddle middle. Turned out better than I thought it would. Might be able to use something like that on a KPL. Would have to cut the small labels even smaller for a KPL button.

 

Lee