Setting up basic z-wave network

[etc6849]

For Z-Wave in Premise: no locks yet, but this will be added once the new VRC0P comes out.

There's an extensive VRC0P module that's open-source for Premise and supports numerous device types, including thermostats. Several improvements have been made and it's still a work in progress: http://www.cocoontech.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=18200&st=45

Premise allows for USB support, but no Premise module has been built for the ControlThink stick alone. You'd need a VRC0P and a ControlThink stick (or equivalent).

 

[Quixote_1]

This may extend beyond the scope of a basic Z-Wave network, but I'd like to know if using a VRC0P with an Elk in conjunction with a Vera 2 would be compatible. The reason I ask is because with Insteon, you cannot use an ISY with another controller or you will not have the correct statuses of your devices all the time. The different PLMs will not update each other.
Also, I'd like to know how the Vera 2 compares to the ISY Pro, if there is anyone here that has experience with the two. Is it possible to link a switch with any light as you can with Insteon? Can you use software and trigger other events when a light switch is pressed aside from turning on a light? (I used to control my music playback from an Insteon Keypadlinc).
Lastly, is there ever any interference on a Z-Wave network that we should be concerned about? ie.- Microwave ovens, Wifi networks on every channel, Solar storms?

Thanks!

 

[electron]

While I am having issues with the VRC0P and the M1, the unit itself seems to work just fine with Vera 2 as the primary controller. In fact, I used the Vera 2 to configure the associations on the VRC0P.

 

[Quixote_1]

While I am having issues with the VRC0P and the M1, the unit itself seems to work just fine with Vera 2 as the primary controller. In fact, I used the Vera 2 to configure the associations on the VRC0P.

What kind of issues, if you don't mind my asking?
Have you set up switches to trigger other events with the Vera 2 (ie. music playback / turning on your television set)? I used to love the way I could hit a button on the KPL and have my TV go on. My guests would always wonder how the heck I did it.

 

[electron]

I have played around with events based on thermostat temps, but that's about it. As for the issues, The M1 doesn't seem to talking to the thermostat I associated, and can't control it either. Yet when I hook the unit up to HyperTerminal, I can see the commands come through.

 

[Digger]

I have played around with events based on thermostat temps, but that's about it. As for the issues, The M1 doesn't seem to talking to the thermostat I associated, and can't control it either. Yet when I hook the unit up to HyperTerminal, I can see the commands come through.

I had the ELK and VRCOP working fine with a CA8900 TSTAT but could not get it to work with the 2GIG TSTAT's. The VERA works fine with the 2GIG TSTAT's but I have not tried the CA8900 yet.

This is all just for informal testing to get familiar with Zwave since where I work they have chosen to support Zwave over all other protocols. I would have also done UPB but I dont get to choose.

 

[Quixote_1]

I had the ELK and VRCOP working fine with a CA8900 TSTAT but could not get it to work with the 2GIG TSTAT's. The VERA works fine with the 2GIG TSTAT's but I have not tried the CA8900 yet.

Please let us know when you have the chance to try out the CA8900 with the Vera. I can't use these thermostats since I don't have a heat-pump (electric baseboard heaters. They suck, but they're cheap), but I think that it's a good initial indicator of the compatibility of the Vera in a general sense.
Come to think of it, that may be a good list to have here on CT; a Z-Wave compatibility chart. What do you think?

Digger, have you ever tried an ISY?

 

[Digger]

Please let us know when you have the chance to try out the CA8900 with the Vera. I can't use these thermostats since I don't have a heat-pump (electric baseboard heaters. They suck, but they're cheap), but I think that it's a good initial indicator of the compatibility of the Vera in a general sense.
Come to think of it, that may be a good list to have here on CT; a Z-Wave compatibility chart. What do you think?

Digger, have you ever tried an ISY?

I used an ISY26 years ago when I had craplincs. The ISY is fantastic (Craplincs are not). There is a UPB version in the works using similar hardware.

A Zwave Compatability chart would be fantastic.

 

[electron]

Need to have an idea of what the chart would look like, would definitely like to build something like that.

 

[Digger]

Need to have an idea of what the chart would look like, would definitely like to build something like that.

As a start it should be device to controller I guess.

 

[Quixote_1]

Maybe a grid with the names of the products on both the x and y axis and symbols indicating certain things at the intersection where they line up.

Digger - how would you compare the ISY and the Vera 2? Are they similar at all?