Zigbee Interface

[RArbour]

Pete_C,
I suspect you do not have a Zigbee Omnistat2 since it sounds like you did not specifically order a Zigbee Omnistat2. The Zigbee option will always exist in the Installation menu, but is dormant in the version that do not have a Zigbee radio. A easy way to tell if your Omnistat2 does have a Zigbee, is to look to see if a radio is attached to the Omnistat2. This is a separate board that fits on the 8 pin connector on the back of the Omnistat2, and is fastened with a screw.

Thanks,
Ryan

 

[pete_c]

Barry,

So basically my OmniStat2 (think its like maybe three months old) really just has newest firmware (with Zigbee configurations, etc)?

Does that mean that all of the Omnistat2's then have just been shipping with the Zigbee firmware as part of the standard OmniStat2 FW?

Ryan,

Thank-you. It doesn't have a separate board plugged into the 8 pin connector (J3?).

Can I update this thermostat by purchasing this part?

BTW noticed that this version of the Omnistat with FW always goes back to a "green" screen and never my "blue" screen.

 

[RArbour]

So, if you are using a Zigbee Omnistat2, you would need the ZIM for the OmniPro to control the thermostat and you then need a separate Smart Energy controller that would also talk to the Omnistat2?

Are the possible future solutions "potentially" going to be a flash update to the ZIM to allow the single interface?

A zigbee device can only be enrolled into one network, so it can only talk to one coordinator.

A brief explanation of the two different networks:
HA (Home Automation) and SE (Smart Energy) are two different profiles that run on the same underlying Zigbee stack. The SE profile requires extra security (EEC encryption with certificates) that HA does not. This is because the utilities want control of what is on their smart grid network for obvious security reasons. Since HA and SE profiles use different security means, they cannot talk to each other easily. If you have a HA omnistat2, it will be able to talk to the ZIM (interface to the controller) and other HA products you purchase at Bob's Zigbee shack. This HA omnistat2 will not talk to the SE smart meter that you may have. If you have a SE Omnistat2, it can talk to the SE smart meter, but cannot talk to a ZIM. The ZIM and smart meter are both Zigbee coordinators.

To get a SE device to talk to a HA network (and vice versa) there must be a bridge. This will consist of a device that has two different radios, each enrolled to different networks (one in HA, and and SE). These two radios will then pass information between them to transport messages from HA to SE, or SE to HA. The Omnistat2 can act as a semi-bridge if you have a SE Zigbee Omnistat2, but hardwire the Omnistat2 back to the controller. That way you can control the thermostat from the Omni while it can talk to the meter.

There are topics being discussed that may allow a HA device to join a SE network, but only access non security essential information (like current time and energy price). This is tied up in discussion so may not come to light.

The above explanation is very general and there are a few exceptions, but in interest of not making this post 100 pages, it is probably best to keep it simple.

 

[RArbour]

Barry,

So basically my OmniStat2 (think its like maybe three months old) really just has newest firmware (with Zigbee configurations, etc)?

Does that mean that all of the Omnistat2's then have just been shipping with the Zigbee firmware as part of the standard OmniStat2 FW?

Ryan,

Thank-you. It doesn't have a separate board plugged into the 8 pin connector (J3?).

Can I update this thermostat by purchasing this part?

BTW noticed that this version of the Omnistat with FW always goes back to a "green" screen and never my "blue" screen.

All Omnistat2 we are shipping now have the Zigbee firmware. This functionality lies dormant until a radio is attached. We are not selling the radio's separately at this time.

I am looking into why the screen will turn green. I believe if you are setting your Omni Energy level to Low, it will force the screen to go green.

Ryan

 

[pete_c]

I am looking into why the screen will turn green. I believe if you are setting your Omni Energy level to Low, it will force the screen to go green.

Thanks Ryan. I didn't see this documented anywhere and no one answered my previous question relating to why it kept defaulting to green a few months back.

I have a second Omnistat2 in FL and didn't install it on my last visit because of issues I have had with the one here in the midwest. But thinking some more about the second Omnistat2; it might be better for me to consider utilizing Zigbee for the transport instead of 4 wires.

 

[JonW]

Ryan, thanks for providing some additional background information on how the Zigbee profiles work.

If an SE Omnistat2 is used with an OmniPro panel, will it be able to communicate the energy cost low/mid/high/critical statuses to the OmniPro panel to use in further automation logic rules? If so, is there other SE data that can also be communicated to the OmniPro (total current load, avg. load, etc.)? If this type of data can be communicated via the SE Omnistat2, that could solve the network bridging problem. With automation rules, all other Zigbee devices could then be controlled via the ZIM and would not need to interact with the SE network directly.

 

[ghanson]

Ryan,

Wondering if there is any update on when the HAI Zigbee interface will work with the Kwikset Zigbee lock interface with the OPII.

 

[RArbour]

Ryan,

Wondering if there is any update on when the HAI Zigbee interface will work with the Kwikset Zigbee lock interface with the OPII.

Unfortunately I cannot give you an exact date since it is not under our control. We have evaluated Kwikset's (Black and Decker) Zigbee HA beta lock a few weeks ago. They have a few minor issues to clear up to be Zigbee HA complient (their previous version were not). I do not have an estimation of when they plan to release their final version, but they are working on it.

It should not be too far out since I do have a working version on my desk, that accept for a few minor issues is fully functional.

Ryan

 

[ghanson]

Thanks for the feedback. Good to hear from the source.

 

[Carlton Bale]

I'm looking to add Kwikset locks to by a HAI Omni IIe system. I'm thinking a OPII module and the Zigbee Kwikset version would be the simpleness solution, right?

Do I understand correctly that the older Zigbee Kwiksets are not compatible and that I'll need to wait for a new Zigbee HA version? How do I tell them apart?

 

[js19707]

I'm looking to add Kwikset locks to by a HAI Omni IIe system. I'm thinking a OPII module and the Zigbee Kwikset version would be the simpleness solution, right?

Do I understand correctly that the older Zigbee Kwiksets are not compatible and that I'll need to wait for a new Zigbee HA version? How do I tell them apart?

i don't know the answer, but i'm interested in hearing it, too. Although in my case I'm leaning towards the Yale locks: if the Zigbee HA version will be supported, I'd rather use that than Z-wave (I don't have an existing Z-wave installation).

AFAICT, with both the Kwikset and Yale locks, it looks like the Zigbee versions are only available through Control4 dealers..

 

[ASIHome]

Neither Kwikset nor Yale will sell to a distributor that does not have a controller to support the locks. Since Control4 is the only one right now supporting the ZigBee versions, they are the only place to get them. Once HAI adds their support for the locks, we will have access to them.

 

[js19707]

Neither Kwikset nor Yale will sell to a distributor that does not have a controller to support the locks. Since Control4 is the only one right now supporting the ZigBee versions, they are the only place to get them. Once HAI adds their support for the locks, we will have access to them.

Thanks for clearing that up Barry. Do you have any insight into whether/when HAI will support the ZigBee version of these locks? (and natively support the Z-wave version)?

 

[Carlton Bale]

Any update on when these wireless locks will be available for HAI systems?

 

[bighorn]

If I have four HAI OmniStat2 wired (non-Zigbee) to my OP2, can I add the HAI ZIM and if so, how does it communicate with my wired thermostats? Via UPB? Most importantly, what's the benefit of adding the ZIM under my set up?

Many thanks for your insights.