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grif091
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Posted: March 26 2008 at 14:14 | IP Logged Quote grif091

Added a Type entry for a Simplehomenet EZIO2X4. This device has 4 Inputs (4 Groups), which monitor states of connected circuits and send Insteon ON/OFF commands based on those states, and 2 Outputs (relays), which are responders to Insteon ON/OFF commands from linked Controller devices. Spider links show the 4 Inputs (Groups 1-4) and the associated Keypadlinc buttons linked to those groups under the Responders window, exactly as already linked. All good on the Input side. The spider links for the 2 outputs, in the Contollers window, correctly shows the Keypadlinc Button 7 to Output 1 (button 0) link. The Keypadlinc Button 8 to Output 2 (button 1) link said "link not defined" even though the link definition is there and Keypadlinc button 8 does cause Output 2 (button 1) on the EZIO2X4 to turn on and off. Did Reverify several times with same reeults. Finally dragged the Controllers link for Keypadlinc button 8 to Remove button to erase the PowerHome database entry. Then attempted to define a Controllers link for Keypadlinc Group 8 (button 8) to Output 2 (Button 1). Get an error message saying button number (entered as 1) must be zero. Looks like the logic thinks there is only one output for an EZIO2X4 when there is really two distinct outputs. Looked through the various fields of the Type entry for the EZIO2X4 which I added myself but did not see anything that looked like a means for specifing the number of outputs the particular device contains.   

The devices are working because the links had been established before I installed PowerHome snd I can live with not being able to see a good Controller link between Keypadlinc button 8 and Output 2 on the EZIO2X4 but that means I will have to use the old "Set" button to set the output links on my next EZIO2X4 device to come on line. Would like to be able to do all the link definitions through PowerHome if possible.



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dhoward
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Posted: March 26 2008 at 17:09 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Lee,

In the "Types" tab of the Insteon Explorer, under your new EZIO2X4 entry, change the "Groups" column from the default of 1 to 4. This should allow you to setup the EZIO2X4 properly in the links tab.

What it sounds as if you had was a 1-way link. A 1-way link will still generally work if it's the controller link that is missing and not the responder link.

HTH,

Dave.
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grif091
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Posted: March 26 2008 at 20:34 | IP Logged Quote grif091

Dave,

Thanks for the quick response. I did set the Groups column to 4 when I created the Type entry for the EZIO2X4. That seemed like the correct number as it matched the number of Inputs (controller type) the EZIO2X4 contains. The 2 Outputs are separate from the 4 Inputs, and only function as Responders. Like having a Lamplinc containing one output circuit as a Responder (button 0 only) except the EZIO2X4 has 2 Output circuits as Responders, (button 0 and button 1). I could not enter a "1" in the button column when I dragged the EZIO2X4 Device definition to the Responders window. The would be new link definition accepted a value of "8" in the Group column (blue in color) for button 8 on the Keypadlinc to be the controller but an error popup was displayed saying the Button column (green in color) had to be 0. The popup window title is "DataWindow Error" with a text line that says "The button number must be 0.". It is as though the logic assumes only a single Responder in the EZIO2X4 device even though it has 4 Inputs (controller type) and the Groups column in the Type definition contains "4". Using the Groups column value of 4 would not be accurate for an EZIO2X4 Responders definition since the EZIO2X4 contains only 2 Outputs (Responders). There is no cross relationship between the 4 Inputs (controllers) and the 2 Outputs (responders) in the EZIO2X4. I did not check the Keypadlinc column in the Type definition for the EZIO2X4. The Keypadlinc accepts up to 8 buttons as Responders so the LEDs under the buttons stay in sync when cross-linked with other controllers but was concerned what other bad things might happen if I did that.   

I tried defining the link the other way with the same error. My previous attempts to define a responder link to Output 2 had been to have the Keypadlinc as the item selected in the "Insteon Device ID" field. Then dragged the EZIO2X4 device to the Responders window. Just tried it the other way. Made the EZIO2X4 as the device selected in the "Insteon Device ID" field and dragged the Keypadlinc device to the Controllers window. Same error popup, same error message that Button must be 0.

Edited by grif091 - March 26 2008 at 23:35


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grif091
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Posted: March 27 2008 at 09:17 | IP Logged Quote grif091

I checked the Keypadlinc column in the EZIO2X4 Type definition. This change allowed me to add a Responders link for the EZIO2X4 Output 2 (button 1). PowerHome shows Verified for the link. Not sure of the long term implications of what I have just done. In the Simplehomenet forum, there are references to Simplehomenet devices Link Database being "linear" and Keypadlinc Link Database being "linked". Don't know what that means in actual terms but the forum entries warn about not using their free Utility Suite software to manipulate Keypadlinc link database for that reason.   My next EZIO2X4 comes online in about two weeks in my basement. It will monitor the state of several outdoor motion sensors and control the corresponding flood lights. There are two Keypadlinc devices which will have Keypadlinc buttons linked to the EZIO2X4 to display the status of the motion sensors and monitor/control manually the same flood lights. My plan is to use PowerHome to establish all the Controller and Responder links involved. I think the worst that can happen is the EZIO2X4 Link Database comes out wrong because of the Keypadlinc column check mark in the EZIO2X4 Type definition. I'll just Factory reset the EZIO2X4 and do the links with the Set button if that happens.

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dhoward
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Posted: March 27 2008 at 10:36 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Lee,

I did some checking and it is indeed the lack of "KeypadLinc" in the "Types" screen not being checked that was keeping the button number locked at 0. I guess I need to modify the column headings in the Types screen to reflect more generic terms because this tricked me up as well. It used to be that only the Keypadlinc allowed button settings but other devices such as the SimpleHomeNet products will need it as well. I'll probably need to create a total "Input" groups column as well as an "Outputs" column as well.

Setting the KeypadLinc to checked should not have any adverse effects other than your EZIO8 now showing up as being programmable in the "KPL Config" screen which is not something you'll want to do. The KPL link database memory map is the same as most other Insteon devices in that it is "linear". The PLC has a "linked list" type of link database. The only real effect the "KeypadLinc" column has is to enable the setting of buttons and to show on the KPL config.

HTH,

Dave.
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grif091
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Posted: March 27 2008 at 12:56 | IP Logged Quote grif091

Dave,

Thanks again for the fast response and the information. Knowing that the Keypadlinc Database has the same format as the Simplehomenet devices makes me feel much better. I was worried that something would come back and bite me at the worst time. I have no interest or intention of defining/testing exceptions so checking the Keypadlinc column works for me. Would be a good long term idea to add a new Type column for the number of output buttons. Simplehomenet has devices with only Inputs (6 on the EZIO6I), with only outputs (4 on the EZIO4O), and some with a combination of Inputs and Outputs (4 Inputs 2 Outputs on the EZIO2X4, 7 Inputs 8 Outputs on the EZIO8SA). They have many more devices, just some idea of the Input/Output combinations.

Been using PowerHome for only a few days but anyone who reads this and is looking for something more than Houselinc Desktop, I would suggest looking at PowerHome. The device support is better overall (still miss the Keypadlinc expand) and the human response (thank you Dave) could not be better!       

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GadgetGuy
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Posted: October 24 2010 at 07:57 | IP Logged Quote GadgetGuy

Lee/Dave -

While this is an old thread, my current issues seems better inserted here than making a new Post.

I'm trying to clean up a number of historic issues I've had with the EZIO controller family. Never was able to link them with PH and always had to do device linking by running around and pushing buttons! That is until Lee (thank you very much) advised me a few days ago on a EZIO2X4 issue that I needed to set the Link Memory buffer address in the PH Type definition Tab.

That made my 2X4 work and last night I realized I needed to do that for my other EZIO devices too!

Long story short. When I used the SimpleHomeNet Utility to check the 8T to discover if Links were stored in Low/Medium/High memory, I got a pile of link records in each! (Probably as a result of all the struggles I've had trying to get them to work)

While I could do a Factory Reset and start all over again, it means a lot of physical effort to get at things in outbuildings on the farm. It would be easier to do it all from the comfort of my chair!

Where are the Link Records stored in memory for the EZIO2X4?

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grif091
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Posted: October 24 2010 at 09:52 | IP Logged Quote grif091

This applies to all the SHN devices. Older devices will be have the smaller memory internal PLM where the link records start at 0FF8. Newer devices will have the larger memory internal PLM where the link records start at 3FF8.

The memory model being used wraps memory addresses such that a device with the small memory (0FF8) will display the "same" records when using the Small option or the Large option. This gives the appearance of having records in both places when actually they are only at 0FF8.   

Of course if the device has the Large memory (3FF8) then link records can physically exist at both 0FF8 and 3FF8. The records at 0FF8 will not be active.

Unfortunately in the evolution of the Smartlabs PLMs during the move from the small memory to the large memory PLMs, some PLMs were shipped with the larger memory but with PLM firmware that still read/write link records at the low 0FF8 address. This means that although unique link records can physically be written at 3FF8 the PLM only recognizes link records written at 0FF8. These PLMs were produced in the 2007 time frame.

The technique I use to determine where the PLM needs to have link records is to Factory reset the device and do a Set button link to anything. Then use the SHN Utility to read the link record using the Small and Large options to see where the link record actually exists. Keeping in mind that for a small memory PLM the same link record can be returned using the Small and Large option. Once the location is known where the PLM firmware writes link records then the appropriate Mem Top option can be set. Factory reset or use the SHN Utility to delete the test link record and go from there.

The Medium option supports the Dual Band PLM (2413) where the link database starts at 1FF8 just to add more complexity to the PLM memory size question.


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Posted: October 24 2010 at 11:35 | IP Logged Quote GadgetGuy

As always - "Thanks Lee"

What is interesting (after reading your discussion above) is that I got the largest batch of links (about 4 times the size of the other attempts) from the Medium Record read. It is a huge mass of intertwined records that I haven't bothered to pull apart yet. It sounds like I shouldn't even be seeing anything there.

Sounds like the Factory reset is the way to go, with a single new manual link, then use PH to Restore the Link Records once I know where to put them.

I'm guessing that this effort may be beneficial in stopping the sometimes bazaar actions of the EZIO8T I have seen (no wonder in looking at the tangled mess of links it holds!).   


Edited by GadgetGuy - October 24 2010 at 11:35


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Posted: October 24 2010 at 12:20 | IP Logged Quote GadgetGuy

GadgetGuy wrote:
What is interesting (is that I got the largest batch of links (about 4 times the size of the other attempts) from the Medium Record read.


My Bad! I entered the Insteon Address for my KeyPad by mistake, when using the SimpleHomeNet Utility. It is the KeyPad (whose mem does start at the Medium size) that holds all the links there.

Going back it appears that the EZIO8T's memory starts at 0000 (at least the Medium/High setting produce all "FF" results). Pending a Reset of the device it appears that Links are stored in mine at Low memory.

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grif091
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Posted: October 24 2010 at 12:48 | IP Logged Quote grif091

None of the common SmartLabs devices I have used has anything but the small memory PLMs. The spec's indicate support for 417 links which is the number that fit when the link database starts at 0FF8. Since the PLMs are the same I assume the link records you are seeing by reading 1FFF (Medium) are actually coming from 0FFF due to memory address wrap.

Memory does start at 0000. The link database starts at the upper end of memory with each new record being added below the last, 0FF8, 0FF0, 0FE8, 0FE0, etc. for a small memory device.    The lower end of memory holds device specific configuration information.   For SHN devices this layout is documented in the various documents on the SHN site. SmartLabs does not make public the memory layout for their devices. They have a fee based subscription that gives access to some of that information but one has to sign a non-disclosure agreement which prevents passing that information on.


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Posted: October 24 2010 at 15:11 | IP Logged Quote GadgetGuy

So you can't even say anything like, "If I told you that memory started at 4088, I'd have to kill you.", eh?   

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