Wireless Sensors stopped working?

[smithnc]

My wireless sensors (five 2420Ms) have stopped working. Programs that are supposed to be initiated by them no longer are. I still see the LED wink when they detect motion so there must be a communication issue somewhere.

 

My wireless is all dual lamplincs - about 6 of them distrributed all over the house and on both legs of the power. All the wired devices are working fine and start and stop according to their timers so I don't think there are any wired communication issues....

 

What is the best way to troubleshoot my sensor issues? Is there a simple program that would be a good wireless sensor tester?

 

I realize I have a lot of reading ahead of me here in the forums and on the Wiki but if anyone can throw me a bone or a pointer to troubleshooting steps it would be much appreciated.

 

TIA

 

-Nate

[LeeG]

When multiple RF devices stop responding the first thought is a VenStar Insteon adaptor is blocking RF activity. The current dongles have an issue that can cause other RF activity to be blocked. Unplug any thermostat adaptors and see if that resolves the problem.

 

Not likely that all motion sensors are going through the same Dual Band device so a failure there is not high on the list.

 

Does the Event Viewer with Device communications events selected show any Insteon traffic when the motion sensors are triggered (after unplugging dongles).

[smithnc]

Thanks for your reply LeeG.

 

I don't have a VenStar Insteon adapter that I know of - no thermostat adapters in the house. I do have several UPSs, and of course a generous array of computers and electronice, most plugged into the UPSs and surge protectors. Insteon equipment is plugged directly into outlets.

 

I did some more reading after my post and found out about the event viewer.

 

I have a test sensor that I am able to unregister and re-register with the ISY and I see the activity from that in the event viewer, but I don't see any activity from other devices in the house. (and with people walking around I expected to see some activity). When I manually activate the test sensor I don't see its activity on the event viewer.

 

Do dual-band lamplincs ever lock up or create a loop?

 

-Nate

[LeeG]

I have no experience with Dual Band Lamplincs. All my RF is accomplished with Access Points and a few Dual Band PLMs from time to time.

 

Try moving the test motion sensor to the location of an installed motion sensor that is not working. If the test motion sensor works then the LampLincs are working.

 

If the test motion sensor works try changing the battery in one of the installed motion sensors. If that does not resolve the problem it sounds like a configuration issue. Perhaps something with the link database in the PLM.

[smithnc]

Good call on the PLM database being scrambled.

 

I'm not sure if it was the best course, but I factory reset the PLM and then did a PLM restore and so far at least my test wireless controller seems to be working. We'll see what the other units do.

 

-Nate