New thermostat adapter - same problem as before

[Rob]

Hi all,

 

I finally received a new thermostat adapter to replace my old one that was prone to flooding the network with traffic. I initially linked it via Start Linking/Press Set Button method. That worked fine but I noticed the ISY wasn't receiving status changes such as Fan or Cool State. I deleted the device and added it again via the address and auto discover. That worked fine as well and now I get status changes just fine.

 

HOWEVER - less than a minute later I encountered the same exact issue I've always had with these devices - flooding the network with traffic every second.

 

Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:04 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:04 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:08 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:08 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:12 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:12 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:16 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:16 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:21 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:21 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1

 

Just as before I have to unplug the adapter for a minute and plug it back in. The adapter is 2.4/v95. Does anyone else still have this issue with the newest adapters? I'm getting pretty irritated with these things.

 

thanks

rob

[Teken]

Hi all,

 

I finally received a new thermostat adapter to replace my old one that was prone to flooding the network with traffic. I initially linked it via Start Linking/Press Set Button method. That worked fine but I noticed the ISY wasn't receiving status changes such as Fan or Cool State. I deleted the device and added it again via the address and auto discover. That worked fine as well and now I get status changes just fine.

 

HOWEVER - less than a minute later I encountered the same exact issue I've always had with these devices - flooding the network with traffic every second.

 

Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:04 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:04 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:08 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:08 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:12 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:12 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:16 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:16 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:21 PM : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 11.B5.EC 19.6F.3F 07 70 92           (92)
Wed 07/25/2012 08:18:21 PM : [standard-Direct][11.B5.EC-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=1

 

Just as before I have to unplug the adapter for a minute and plug it back in. The adapter is 2.4/v95. Does anyone else still have this issue with the newest adapters? I'm getting pretty irritated with these things.

 

thanks

rob

 

I have 5 of these T1800 thermostats all using V.91 Rev 2.1 & V.92 Rev 2.3 with out any issues.

 

Teken . . .

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Rob,

 

Is this traffic from the new thermostat?

 

We have not had this issue reported with the new adapters at all.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Rob]

Hi Michel,

 

Yes that was from the new adapter. It's only happened that one time (so far). I'm willing to write it off as a fluke if it doesn't happen again.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Rob,

 

Thank you! As much as I would like to write it off a fluke as well, unfortunately, history has always come in the middle. As such, please do keep a close eye and keep us posted.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[wrj0]

Michel,

 

I am sad to report that after installing a replacement 2441V RF Adapter, rev 2.4R, I also see the thermostat communication floods - please see below. 14.25.F6 is the replacement adapter received and installed a couple of days ago. It also seems the ISY system clock updates are delayed, perhaps due to the flood.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi wrj0,

 

This is not good. Thanks so very much for the report.

 

At this point I really do not know what else we can do above and beyond asking SmartHome for some input.

 

I am so very sorry to hear. This must be quite frustrating.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi again,

 

This is the response we got from SmartHome:

viewtopic.php?f=25&t=9086

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Rob]

Thanks for the update. I have a T1900 which has the humidity sensor. From reading the Smarthome response, I should set the jumper to No Humidity Sensor to prevent spurious traffic? Their response is a little unclear.

 

I've always had pretty good luck w/ most Insteon products but the thermostat adapters have been the worst (owned 2 of them sense Rev. 1.0 and both have been replaced at least 3 times).

 

Thank goodness we have yourself and the other smart folks here on this forum as resources.

[Michel Kohanim]

Please see SmartHome's response here: viewtopic.php?f=25&t=9086&p=69268#p69268 .

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[wrj0]

Michel,

 

I removed the 2.4R adapter that seemed to be causing the comms flooding and put the previously used 2.2 adapter back into the T1800 thermostat. Humidity module is installed and jumpered per the documentation. The rev 2.2 adapter was previously not causing flooding before removal - guess I should have left well enough alone!

 

Removed the 2.4R adapter, re-installed the 2.2 adapter (14.15.18), linked, and used the Replace function to put the 2.2 back into the system. And, as you may have guessed by now, the 2.2 adapter is now flooding with Insteon traffic - please see below. Any suggestions on what I may be able to try to return my system to the previous configuration where no flooding was occurring?

(note to self: Patience!)

 

Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:33 : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 14.15.18 19.74.BA 0B 70 32           (32)
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:33 : [standard-Direct][14.15.18-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:34 : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 14.15.18 19.74.BA 0B 70 32           (32)
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:34 : [standard-Direct][14.15.18-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:36 : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 14.15.18 19.74.BA 0B 70 32           (32)
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:36 : [standard-Direct][14.15.18-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:38 : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 14.15.18 19.74.BA 0B 70 32           (32)
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:38 : [standard-Direct][14.15.18-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:39 : [iNST-SRX    ] 02 50 14.15.18 19.74.BA 0B 70 32           (32)
Tue 07/31/2012 15:19:39 : [standard-Direct][14.15.18-->ISY/PLM Group=0] Max Hops=3, Hops Left=2

Edit: rev 2.2 adapter has been removed and re-installed to try to reset the problem to no avail. Thermostat Set Option, 'Report Humidity' has been disabled. All Thermostat programs are in one folder (with several sub-folders) - added an "If On Never" schedule to the top Tstat folder and rebooted - the comm flooding remains. Suggestions, please?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello wrj0,

 

I am so so very sorry to hear. I really do not know what to suggest. The problem is that I do not know what that traffic is ... if it was related to humidity, then we would see humidity values.

 

I have sent another email to SmartHome ...

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[wrj0]

Thanks, Michel.

Your support is greatly appreciated.

[SteveL]

wrjo,

 

Our Quality Control Manager has been updated on this situation and she has our firmware team looking into it. I am now suspect that it is the adapter since the 2.2 ver had previously worked before. The one constant is the thermostat. There is a factory reset option for the Venstar thermostat that may be a good next step. If that doesn't work you can email me your address and I can send you a thermostat and adapter that we can test to be traffic free and send it to you.

 

SteveL

INSTEON

[wrj0]

SteveL and Michel,

 

I am pleased to report that my T1800 Thermostat with Insteon RF Adapter is no longer sending the excess traffic messages, at least not in the past 14 hours since re-installing the 2.4R adapter.

 

After again reviewing the installation procedures, the UDI Wiki on the Thermostat, and previous forum posts, I just could not see where I had done something that may have been the cause of the traffic flooding. I did realize that the one change I had made since the first time the rev 2.2 adapter was installed and working without this problem, was to include a CAI WebControl board in my HA system. The program WC_Linc was being used on a PC to periodically push collected environmental data to the ISY-99. I wondered if during linking of the thermostat adapter, if a push from this external data collection system to the ISY may have caused a problem.

 

The first time I attempted installation of the 2.4R adapter, WC_Linc was running in the background. Also the first time I tried to install the 2.4R adapter, the ISY remained in linking mode for perhaps one minute. A similar linking time occurred when the 2.2 adapter was put back into the thermostat.

 

Last night, I disabled WC_Linc, turned off the thermostat, removed the 2.2 adapter, re-installed the 2.4R adapter, entered Link Management | Start Linking mode on the ISY, and held the Set button on the 2.4R adapter until the thermostat screen blinked all characters on.

 

This time, the ISY took perhaps 4 minutes to complete linking of the 2.4R adapter - far longer than the first time it was attempted. Next, the ISY admin function 'Replace' was run against the old Thermostat programs in the ISY and completed successfully - this operation also took longer than when the Replace operation was run when the 2.2 adapter was re-installed, and again when the 2.4R adapter was re-installed last night.

 

Today, Event logs show normal activity from the 2.4R adapter, and none of the traffic flooding observed for the past few days. I will keep an eye on this for a while, but do hope this has resolved the issue.

 

Thanks for the suggestion on doing a factory reset on the Venstar Thermostat; if I see the comms flooding again, I will certainly try that, but have not done so yet, preferring to leave well enough alone.

 

Many thanks for your response and for the offer of a replacement thermostat, but that does not seem necessary at this time.

 

Terrific customer support from both you and UDI! Thank you. Perhaps you heard my 'Whu Hoo!' earlier this morning.

[Michel Kohanim]

wrj0,

 

First of all, thanks so very much for the details. Secondly - and unfortunately so - I cannot share your optimism. The reason is simple: NOTHING should take 4 minutes to link especially if you used the first option.

 

I hope I am wrong but I think now:

1. You have more than 50 records in your PLM for this thermostat ... still investigating the root cause but it all likelihood it's the PLM firmware

2. Not only you are not getting the spurious events, you are NOT getting any status updates! To test, please change the set point or mode on your thermostat and see if the status changes in the Admin Console

 

Again, I very much hope I am wrong ...

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[wrj0]

Thank again, Michel.

 

Changing the cool set point at the thermostat is almost immediately reflected in the ISY admin console; perhaps a one second delay between pressing the tstat button and the admin console display update. The temperature shown in the admin console matches the set point shown on the thermostat - at least it did for the one-at-a-time one degree down for five degrees, and then back up five degrees.

 

Please let me know if I can do any other testing that may be helpful. Optimistically keeping my fingers crossed.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi wrj0,

 

Thanks so very much for the update. I am quite happy to be wrong!

 

Please go to Tools | Diagnostics | Show PLM Link Table, click on start, and when done go through the list and let me know how many entries you have for your thermostat.

 

Thanks again and with kind regards,

Michel

[wrj0]

Michel,

 

The Show PLM Links Table shows 8 entries for the thermostat as shown below. Thanks again for your support and advice. Please let me know if I can provide anything further.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello wrj0,

 

Fortunately, everything looks OK!

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[wrj0]

Thanks, Michel. I'll take that as good news. Do you still suspect that I may have a problem with the PLM firmware?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi wrj0,

 

No, I do not think you have PLM issue!

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[wrj0]

Thanks again, Michel. Guess what has returned? Argh!

[Michel Kohanim]

wrj0,

 

I guess my pessimism was not misplaced and quite unfortunately so. This is definitely thermostat firmware issues. We just have to wait for SmartHome to let us know the next steps.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[wrj0]

Michel,

 

I suppose my patience with this thermostat is running a bit thin, so last night I did a factory reset on the T1800, as SteveL suggested a few posts back in this tread. Steps followed: put tstat in off mode, removed Insteon rf adapter, reset tstat to factory default settings per the T1800 Owners Manual, re-installed rf adapter, configured tstat back to desired setup from its panel. After this operation, the ISY event viewer was not showing any response from the tstat, nor could the tstat be controlled from the ISY admin screen, so I issued an ISY reboot. After this sequence, the tstat appears to be operating normally, both from its front panel and from the ISY. Now after 18 hours of operation, the event viewer is showing normal operation - no excess Insteon traffic from the thermostat. Once again, remaining optimistic about the long term result.