New to Insteon - basic question (location of ISY and PLM)

[Tuckerdude]

Hello everyone,

 

I have been reading the posts and found a bunch of great suggestions for improving signal strength. (Thanks to all posters!)

 

But in reading some, I noticed a few of you suggesting that you locate the ISY and the PLM close to the main electrical panel of the house. In my case, this is the garage.

 

But, when I read the instructions for setup and initial install of the ISY, it made reference to hooking up the ISY directly to my router. In my case, the router is in my "server room" which houses my large media storage computer, a second PC, and my UPS for when the power goes out.

 

So based on what I've been reading, I should relocate the whole thing closer to my electrical panel, but will that be a problem if it's not directly connected to my router? I'm pretty savvy when it comes to networking, so I can't imagine why it needs to be a direct connection, but I thought I would ping this group to find out.

 

FYI...I am having many of the same communication issues listed here, so resolving this will keep me from pulling more hair out!

 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[bsobel]

I think the default advice is to avoid having to debug any 3rd party networking or cabling issues. If you are network savvy you will have no problems...

[apostolakisl]

ISY has to be plugged into a LAN cable. It doesn't matter if it is plugged into your router or a separate switch, so long as it has a connection to the internet.

 

Physical distance to the electric panel is a minor concern. More likely you are getting noise or signal sucking from they myriad of other equipment in your "server room". Put everything except your PLM on a power strip and plug the power strip into a filter. If you can't get it all onto one power strip, you might need multiple filters.

[Tuckerdude]

Many Thanks for the quick replies! I will try the filters first, and then relocate both if needed after that.

 

I'm a bit confused that you say the proximity is a minor concern, since I read a few posts from others claiming it makes a difference. But if I can solve the communication issues without moving the devices I will be happier in the long run, as I didn't like the idea of having them in the garage.

 

One other point, my house is about 5000 square feet a spread accross 3 levels. Should I assume that distances are not the real issue but rather noise accross the power line?

 

Thanks again!

[oberkc]

I agree with apostolakisl. Filter everything in your server room except the PLM. With controllers such as the ISY, robust communication to the PLM is paramount.

 

Another option that may be viable, depending on a lot of factors, would be to run a dedicated circuit to the server room. The dedicated circuit would be for the PLM (and ISY) only. I would, however, still filter the rest of the equipment.

 

The way I have approached this is to dedicate two circuits for insteon, on opposite legs of my electrical system. One circuit has an outlet with only an access point plugged in. The other circuit has an outlet (with access point), but continues to an outlet dedicated to the PLM. Nothing else is on either circuit.

 

This arrangement accomplishes a couple of things in theory: communication between legs, clean circuit for PLM, and good communication between the PLM powerline and RF (via access point).

[apostolakisl]

I'm a bit confused that you say the proximity is a minor concern, since I read a few posts from others claiming it makes a difference. But if I can solve the communication issues without moving the devices I will be happier in the long run, as I didn't like the idea of having them in the garage.

 

Thanks again!

 

Insteon signals do fine for at least a few hundred feet of power line if there are no signal suckers or noise. The concept of being at the panel is more about getting away from problem things and less about getting physically close to the panel.

 

Running a dedicated line is the same concept, you're trying to get a strong signal to the panel where it has opportunity to run out all branches in your house and find other devices to repeat the signal. In most situations, however, that would be rather expensive and challenging to do. But even if you do put the unit at the panel or run a dedicated branch, your comm will still probably suffer with noisy or sucking items plugged in.

 

The goal is maintaining Insteon signal levels and minimizing noise providing a signal that is strong enough to be understood at the target device and not drowned out by noise.

 

And 5000sf is definitely no problem, especially if it is compact, which I am guessing you are if you are over 3 levels.

[bmiller]

I installed an insteon rf coupler at the main circuit panel and filters on my UPS's.

That solved communication and noise problems for me.

[Tuckerdude]

Thanks to everyone here for all the sage advice! I'm going to try the methods described here (without relocation the ISY and PLM) and see how it goes. Will update with my findings after that.

 

Thanks again...it's so great to have such a super helpful community.

[arw01]

I would have been nice if they put a pass through outlet on the front of the access points.

 

I was thinking it was advantageous to put the access point out on the ends of the runs.

[bsobel]

No pass through as what was in front could block the rf.