How Do I tell if PLM is Talking to Switch via RF or PLC?

[apostolakisl]

I just put in a dual band plm and 4 dual band switchlincs. The purpose is to get my Insteon commands around the house with fewer hops.

 

I would like to confirm that my location of the switchlincs is close enough that they are receiving the RF commands directly from the PLM. How can I do this?

[Brian H]

Wouldn't the communications tests in the modules show you what is happening.

Tap the set button on the PLM four times. It should start beeping and then observe the LEDs on the other Dual band Modules..

Flashing Green communicating and on opposite phase. Flashing Red communicating on same phase. No flashing is not reaching each other.

Now if you have some older below 2.0 Access Points the LEDs act differently.

[apostolakisl]

I did the 4 tap on the PLM.

 

Two of my 4 dual band switchlincs are blinking the white led. I assume this means they are receiving the RF signal and that they are on the opposite phase from the PLM. This would be consistent with my planning which put two of the devices on each phase. (I have three panels in the house, I put one switch on each phase of each of two of the panels, and plugged the PLM into one phase of the third panel and used a hardwired phase bridge on that panel)

 

The other 2 devices are appearantly on the same phase, or, they are not getting the RF signal, correct?

 

How do ensure the other two devices are actually getting RF. I suppose I could plug the PLM into a plug on the other phase? This would be a pain but possible. Is there some other way?

[Brian H]

I thought the Dual Band SwitchLincs had a Red/Green LED set, but looking at the quick guide shows other wise. Sorry.

The manuals are very vague on how devices with single color LEDs act. I believe bright solid white or blue is opposite phase communicating.

 

You can always try starting the test on one of the SwitchLincs and then observe all the remaining devices. Including the PLM.

[ELA]

I have used one or possibly (two back to back just to be sure) filterlincs to isolate a PLM from the line communications.

Send a command with no filterlincs first to confirm the command works, then isolate the line with filterlincs.

[apostolakisl]

I have used one or possibly (two back to back just to be sure) filterlincs to isolate a PLM from the line communications.

Send a command with no filterlincs first to confirm the command works, then isolate the line with filterlincs.

 

Well, yes, but that is a serious PITA! The one issue is that one of my switchlincs is in a metal gang box so if I start pulling the switches out so I can hook it into a filterlinc, I would have some seriously screwy wiring to get the switch back in the box still connected to the filterlinc. One of the main things I wanted to test is if the metal box is blocking the rf.

 

I think I will try switching the PLM to the other phase by going to the breaker box and moving the breaker over one slot.

[apostolakisl]

OK, I switched the phases at the breaker box on the PLM and indeed the other two switchlinks are now blinking when I do the 4 tap on the PLM.

 

So, can I assume that the RF signals are succeeding in reaching all 4 switchlincs? The switchlinc would only blink if they received the RF signal, right?

[Teken]

OK, I switched the phases at the breaker box on the PLM and indeed the other two switchlinks are now blinking when I do the 4 tap on the PLM.

 

So, can I assume that the RF signals are succeeding in reaching all 4 switchlincs? The switchlinc would only blink if they received the RF signal, right?

 

I would like to know if this is the case as well. Because as far as I can tell no one has ever confirmed with 100% certainty that its not simply confirming *wired coupling* opposed to RF coupling.

 

Insight

 

Teken . . .

[apostolakisl]

Teken,

 

I had the same thought. That was why I kept using the word "assume".

 

It would seem unlikely to me however that it would be doing this via PLC since it is entirely possible that in some installations there may be no other phase bridging besides the dual band switch. Having this blink function on a system where the dual band switch was the only phase coupler would therefore make this test useless if it worked via PLC. I can't believe that SH would be that backass in designing a test like that.

 

But, again, there are assumptions being made here. If you put the switch on the other side of a filter and it blinked, that would confirm that it is getting RF. But that still doesn't mean that it is excluding PLC if PLC is also available (or available instead).

[Teken]

Teken,

 

I had the same thought. That was why I kept using the word "assume".

 

It would seem unlikely to me however that it would be doing this via PLC since it is entirely possible that in some installations there may be no other phase bridging besides the dual band switch. Having this blink function on a system where the dual band switch was the only phase coupler would therefore make this test useless if it worked via PLC. I can't believe that SH would be that backass in designing a test like that.

 

But, again, there are assumptions being made here. If you put the switch on the other side of a filter and it blinked, that would confirm that it is getting RF. But that still doesn't mean that it is excluding PLC if PLC is also available (or available instead).

 

You and I are on the same page. I would love to hear from someone of authority, is it Steve Lee from Smart Home? At the end of the day, in the big picture, as long as my Insteon network is rock solid that is all that matters.