Insteon Switch No Longer Communicates??

[Digger]

I have another switch that I can no longer get to respond to remote commands. This time I kept a log in Houselinc. For whatever reason the switch is not responding to a status check nor a on/off command. I am the only one home and there are no appliances etc on now that were not on earlier. The front lights are on other than that everything is the same as it was a few hours ago.

Anyone else ever see this?? I am trying to trouble shoot the reliability problems of Insteon and Houselinc seems to be the best tool so far.


2007-05-11 22:04:52.625: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 11:17:34.250: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-12 20:58:28.859: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 21:32:05.343: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-12 21:46:43.859: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 22:01:10.984: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 22:14:41.468: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) on pressed
2007-05-12 22:15:04.906: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 22:18:01.343: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 22:18:05.578: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) on pressed
2007-05-13 21:53:53.609: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-13 22:10:01.843: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-14 21:51:55.750: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-15 17:33:22.609: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-15 21:26:12.953: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-15 22:08:01.859: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-15 22:08:02.171: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-16 21:01:26.531: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-17 21:13:52.468: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-18 06:51:53.953: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-18 18:11:45.875: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-19 16:53:55.687: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) on pressed
2007-05-19 20:09:34.015: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:09:43.187: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:11:14.062: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:13:33.562: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)

 

[Digger]

I have another switch that I can no longer get to respond to remote commands. This time I kept a log in Houselinc. For whatever reason the switch is not responding to a status check nor a on/off command. I am the only one home and there are no appliances etc on now that were not on earlier. The front lights are on other than that everything is the same as it was a few hours ago.

Anyone else ever see this?? I am trying to trouble shoot the reliability problems of Insteon and Houselinc seems to be the best tool so far.


2007-05-11 22:04:52.625: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 11:17:34.250: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-12 20:58:28.859: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 21:32:05.343: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-12 21:46:43.859: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 22:01:10.984: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 22:14:41.468: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) on pressed
2007-05-12 22:15:04.906: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 22:18:01.343: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-12 22:18:05.578: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) on pressed
2007-05-13 21:53:53.609: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-13 22:10:01.843: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-14 21:51:55.750: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-15 17:33:22.609: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-15 21:26:12.953: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-15 22:08:01.859: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-15 22:08:02.171: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-16 21:01:26.531: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-17 21:13:52.468: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-18 06:51:53.953: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-18 18:11:45.875: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-19 16:53:55.687: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) on pressed
2007-05-19 20:09:34.015: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:09:43.187: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:11:14.062: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:13:33.562: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)

I have tried several different things including a reset (SH cure for everything). I still cant get the switch to respond. I will give it a day or so and if it doenst respond it will be another one for the cemetary.


2007-05-17 21:13:52.468: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-18 06:51:53.953: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-18 18:11:45.875: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-19 16:53:55.687: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) on pressed
2007-05-19 20:09:34.015: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:09:43.187: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:11:14.062: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:13:33.562: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:20:07.109: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:20:13.765: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:27:35.156: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 20:30:09.750: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) off pressed
2007-05-19 21:11:11.375: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 21:11:23.968: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 21:11:30.218: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 21:45:34.234: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 21:45:50.765: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 21:47:09.140: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 21:49:00.718: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 22:00:24.078: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 22:01:45.500: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-19 22:02:16.515: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)

 

[Herdfan]

It looks like it is sending commands, but not receiving them. Strange.

Have you tried removing power to the device? Not the air gap, but flipping the breaker.

 

[KenM]

Without seeing the raw messages it would be hard to guess what is going on.

One time, I about drove myself nuts with something similar going on with a V2 plug in lamp module. In my case the NAK had a code indicating the device could not comply with the command. It turned out the light bulb in the lamp was un-screwed.

A NAK does not always mean communications failure, it can also indicate an error that the device had while trying to carry out a command.

Ken

 

[Digger]

2007-05-20 10:09:46.859: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as ON
2007-05-20 10:09:50.218: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to OFF
2007-05-20 10:09:53.265: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 10:09:55.906: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 10:09:58.656: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to ON
2007-05-20 10:10:01.203: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to OFF
2007-05-20 10:10:04.359: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 10:10:06.812: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 10:10:20.421: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to ON
2007-05-20 10:10:24.281: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as ON
2007-05-20 10:10:28.953: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-20 10:10:33.234: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as ON
2007-05-20 10:10:36.687: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as ON
2007-05-20 10:10:40.156: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to OFF

I put an RFlinc in her room and its much better. Not perfect but much better (at least for now). Probably is a weak signal. With 20 switches and dimmers, 4 rf lincs, 2 plcs you would thin the signal would be ok in a 2500 sq foot house.

 

[Digger]

2007-05-20 10:09:46.859: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as ON
2007-05-20 10:09:50.218: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to OFF
2007-05-20 10:09:53.265: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 10:09:55.906: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 10:09:58.656: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to ON
2007-05-20 10:10:01.203: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to OFF
2007-05-20 10:10:04.359: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 10:10:06.812: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 10:10:20.421: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to ON
2007-05-20 10:10:24.281: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as ON
2007-05-20 10:10:28.953: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-20 10:10:33.234: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as ON
2007-05-20 10:10:36.687: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as ON
2007-05-20 10:10:40.156: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to OFF

I put an RFlinc in her room and its much better. Not perfect but much better (at least for now). Probably is a weak signal. With 20 switches and dimmers, 4 rf lincs, 2 plcs you would thin the signal would be ok in a 2500 sq foot house.

So far its now working fine with the RFlinc in the room. I am surprised that with 20 devices that I would need to have so many rflincs. I thought that they were mainly for bridgiing (and RF dead spots according to the advertising).

Is it possible that the Insteon signals are not strong enough (even with them all being repeaters) that they cannot travel 30 feet or so (length of wire between devices)?

 

[BLH]

If there was a severe noise maker or signal sucker on the same wiring. Maybe.
Many computers and electronic gear that kills X10 powerline signals also can with Insteon Signals. Though they do resend Insteon signals to others. They do not resend X10 ones even if an X10 primary Address is set in them.

 

[Digger]

If there was a severe noise maker or signal sucker on the same wiring. Maybe.
Many computers and electronic gear that kills X10 powerline signals also can with Insteon Signals. Though they do resend Insteon signals to others. They do not resend X10 ones even if an X10 primary Address is set in them.

On that circuit there is a nightlight, a clock, and a very small kids boom box besides the ceiling fan with lights. At the time the clock was on and maybe the nightlight.

Nobody else was home so there was only my computer with the PLC on it, and misc things on in the house but nothing major as far as noise producing (unless a frig was running and I didnt realize it etc).

I had this problem in the kitchen light circuit that had another device about 6 inches away on the same circuit (maybe 12 to 15 inches of wire length) and I replaced the switch and it has been fine since. Maybe........ they drift off frequency or loose signal strength over time? The swich in question now is an older Icon from the middle of last year or so.

 

[Digger]

If there was a severe noise maker or signal sucker on the same wiring. Maybe.
Many computers and electronic gear that kills X10 powerline signals also can with Insteon Signals. Though they do resend Insteon signals to others. They do not resend X10 ones even if an X10 primary Address is set in them.

On that circuit there is a nightlight, a clock, and a very small kids boom box besides the ceiling fan with lights. At the time the clock was on and maybe the nightlight.

Nobody else was home so there was only my computer with the PLC on it, and misc things on in the house but nothing major as far as noise producing (unless a frig was running and I didnt realize it etc).

I had this problem in the kitchen light circuit that had another device about 6 inches away on the same circuit (maybe 12 to 15 inches of wire length) and I replaced the switch and it has been fine since. Maybe........ they drift off frequency or loose signal strength over time? The swich in question now is an older Icon from the middle of last year or so.

I pulled 2 of my RFlincs and put in access points. They do not communicate with the RFlincs so the switch in my daughters room no longer works again. I have a total of 29 devices and I still have problems with reliable communications without the extra rflincs (and even with them but to a lesser degree).

I wish SH had sent all 4 accesspoints for the swap that I asked for since now I will have problems for weeks until they do the swap.

 

[BLH]

Digger; Sorry to read of your Access Points not working with RFLincs. That said you have in a round about way answered my question on them working together.