Kwikset Zwave Lock Problems

SJHart said:
You may want to reset the zwave card in the lock. If you remove the two small screws that are flush in the front (not the screws that hold the locks main pieces together) you can remove the small black cover and pull out the card. SJ
 
Yeah, I pulled the card when I was trying to get it working before. I also swapped in the card from another lock as well... no joy. That was basically when I stopped trying to fix it :(
 
A friend of mine gave me another one to try before he installed. Well, it doesn't work either which makes three different zwave cards that I have tried in the new lock. Really means something is messed up between the VRC0P and the new lock. The first two continue to work because they must have been setup correctly which I did we'll over a year ago. Must not be enrolling correctly or something. Maybe my network is the issue. I even tried an older version of the installer tool and that didn't help. I'm going to setup a new zwave network with just the new lock and another VRC0P that I have and see what happens. SJ
 
SJHart said:
A friend of mine gave me another one to try before he installed. Well, it doesn't work either which makes three different zwave cards that I have tried in the new lock. Really means something is messed up between the VRC0P and the new lock. The first two continue to work because they must have been setup correctly which I did we'll over a year ago. Must not be enrolling correctly or something. Maybe my network is the issue. I even tried an older version of the installer tool and that didn't help. I'm going to setup a new zwave network with just the new lock and another VRC0P that I have and see what happens. SJ
 
I'm interested to see what ends up working for you. As I mentioned I basically ran into the same issue, and really haven't had the time to dedicate to fixing it. I tried 3 different boards as well, and was never able to add the second lock into the Leviton software...
 
Well, I built another network.  Upgraded my VRC0P (again) as even though I had updated the firmware before, I noticed on the terminal program that it showed an older version (I'm running a hyperterminal program as my PC is connected to the VRC0P via serial)...  I created a network with just the installer, VRC0P and the new lock.  With the latest installer tool software which crashes on my network,  but worked OK with just the three devices.   I finally got the lock to work!  I had to unenroll it my old network (with the previous installer software) and then reenroll in the new network (with the newest software).  The association process now works which it never did before.  I really think the trick is to get on the latest/upgraded firmware and software to make this work correctly.  It creates all the correct associations as I can watch through the PC terminal program as you unlock/lock manually it shows the status changes.  After I got this new lock FINALLY working, I unenrolled the other two locks from my old network and reinstalled.  I did reset the locks after unenrolling by holding the button when you plug the batteries in. Did this before enrolling in the new network.  I decided to get the locks working and the rebuild my entire zwave network around the locks.   The pain is that I have to install the old version of the software to work on my current network and then reinstall the latest software for my new nework that I'm setting up that has the locks installed.  This is all really crazy, but at least I can see a path forward and out of my lock misery.  SJ
 
Thanks for the update. Hoping that this may work for me as well.
 
I've never updated my VRCOP firmware, which currently has V2.33S/Z-Wave 3.11
 
I have tried to update my firmware and it just hangs now the VRCOP3 is not responding at all.  I have I tried it a few times and no luck.  I have a fairly new laptop 4 months old with windows 7 and a prolific usb to serial converter but it doesn't seem to work.  What have other folks used with success to upgrade the firmware?
 
The very first part it hangs.  Doesn't get past removing and now the VRCOP3 doesn't work at all .   Do you have windows 7 and a USB to serial converter or an actual serial port.  I have heard that many of the USB to serial converters with windows 7 do not work well with the VRCOP but havent been able to find one that does.  I am about ready to go buy a PCI serial card for my desktop and try that.
 
I realized this morning that upgrading my VRCOP probably wouldn't fix my issue - at least not the current one... since I can't even get the VRUSB to read my second lock.
 
What version of the Installer Tool software are you running?
 
This isn't going to help you, but the Kwikset locks are a POS.  I bought them 2.5 years ago and already had one die, where it completely drains batteries.  I just bought one of the Yale touchscreen z-wave deadbolts and it works great, and the build quality is many times better than that of the Kwiksets...
 
SJ:  I'm not sure why you have to uninstall/reinstall the RF Installer tool.  Can't you just read the network from the USB stick and save a new file with your old network?  I never tried that feature, but I remember seeing it...
 
Drvnby:  Update the stick and RF Installer Tool to the latest versions (the older versions do not support locks).  Then try resetting the lock as SJ describes (with the z-wave card in the lock).  Then use the VRUSB and RF Installer tool to include it.  You MUST have be very close to the lock with the stick; almost touching it.  Be sure to keep it there until the light stops blinking.  This will take a few minutes as a lot of data needs to be passed for the encryption to work.  
 
If you do the above and it still won't read the lock, you have a hardware problem.  If the above works, but you have problems using the lock, you'll need a routing slave in between the lock and the VRC0Pv3.  You'll need to ensure that whatever routing slave supports encryption.  You'll also need to use the set routes command to tell the lock and VRC0Pv3 to use the slave as part of the route.
 
Dogman:  Try using an older XP machine to update the VRC0Pv3's hardware.  I also had to use an old Digi to USB 8 port adapter as my newer serial to USB cables would still not work!
 
Well I will need to find a older XP machine that is the problem.  Both my laptops are Win 7 as well as my Desktop/server.   I think I will try and buy a serial card for the desktop and see if that works.  It w as working fine but My Yale Lock died and I got a replacement and was unsuccessful replacing the node with Installer tool software so I figured I should try updating the VRCOP3 firmware .  I guess that was the flaw in my logic. :unsure:
 
etc6849 said:
Drvnby:  Update the stick and RF Installer Tool to the latest versions (the older versions do not support locks).  Then try resetting the lock as SJ describes (with the z-wave card in the lock).  Then use the VRUSB and RF Installer tool to include it.  You MUST have be very close to the lock with the stick; almost touching it.  Be sure to keep it there until the light stops blinking.  This will take a few minutes as a lot of data needs to be passed for the encryption to work.  
 
If you do the above and it still won't read the lock, you have a hardware problem.  If the above works, but you have problems using the lock, you'll need a routing slave in between the lock and the VRC0Pv3.  You'll need to ensure that whatever routing slave supports encryption.  You'll also need to use the set routes command to tell the lock and VRC0Pv3 to use the slave as part of the route.
 
Thanks for the response. Oddly, I have a feeling there is a bug somewhere but overall, it shouldn't be a version issue; I mentioned in an earlier post, I already have one lock working properly. The issue was that I couldn't get my second lock added to the Installer Tool... I was literally inches away from the lock with my laptop and got no response. I reported this to Kwikset and they sent me a second lock; same issue.
 
That said, I haven't updated the Installer Tool, and don't even know about updating the VRUSB (Is that possible? If so, can someone link upgrade software?)
 
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