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drewtibs
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| Posted: October 10 2009 at 19:03 | IP Logged
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I have tried PH 2.1 on two dell optiplex gx270 work stations, using a Insteon SH 2412U and 3 SH 2443 lamp modules. The workstations are both fresh Win XP sp2. No AV, no software fire walls, brand new used dell off leases. A have verified solid phase coupling, with SH In both instances, the PH would show "aplication not responding" after about 24 to 32 hours of run time. The local machine keeps on running, but PH is frozen. C+A+D can not kill it. If you relaunch PH before rebooting, you get message that "com port is open and PH cannont comunicate with the insteon PLM" I have two identical dell opti gx270 to use, and other boxes available. I can use an XP AMD/SiS box or a newer vista C7. I researched HA alot before commiting, and I decided on PH with SH. Maybe I have a bad PLM 2412U. Thanks for a great forum.
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BeachBum
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| Posted: October 10 2009 at 21:52 | IP Logged
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I have seen PH freeze with PLM communications or better lack thereof. I don’t know if this is the same problem or not but many things can contribute to the problem. The fact that the PLM is not talking is the most obvious cause. Since the common dominator is the PLM I would talk to SH.
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Pete - X10 Oldie
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jbbtex
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| Posted: October 11 2009 at 08:43 | IP Logged
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I agree with Pete. I changed from PLC to serial PLM about two months ago.
I would have changed three months ago, except that the first PLM I recieved from SH didn't work.
The replacement works great.
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Brady
"Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity." - Gen. George S. Patton
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drewtibs
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| Posted: October 11 2009 at 20:54 | IP Logged
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Thanks for your replies, are there any resources I can utilize to confirm if my 2412U is functioning ok? Do you guys prefer the USB interface or the serial interface? Mine is USB, I would guess that serial port is more reliable? Thanks again. D.
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BeachBum
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| Posted: October 11 2009 at 23:03 | IP Logged
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I personally don’t know of any test available and when talking to SH they don’t suggest any. I haven’t heard of a preferences with respect to USB over serial. In my case the serial was the only one available when I ordered the PLM. Personally I would believe the USB would be faster because of the interface.
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TonyNo
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| Posted: October 12 2009 at 08:02 | IP Logged
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IIRC, the USB version is simply the serial unit with a USB-to-serial adapter added internally.
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BeachBum
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| Posted: October 12 2009 at 08:54 | IP Logged
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I guess then both would basically run at the same speed. Thks Tony…
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kev21986
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| Posted: October 20 2009 at 16:44 | IP Logged
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I had this problem when I had my PLM plugged directly into a computer. It has no problems if it is plugged into a USB hub that is connected to a computer... Sounds pointless I know, but it works. I had PowerHome crashing and the PLM not responding about 3-4 times a week and it has been running for 2 weeks without a problem now thats its plugged into a usb hub.
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Kevin Smith
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NorthernAl
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| Posted: November 01 2009 at 11:24 | IP Logged
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Does anybody have any other insight on this topic? I just purchased a plm 2412u to replace a failing plc. So far my system works much better. ...
but this morning PH was frozen. I killed the process but could not get PH to connected to plm on restart (error about com port being open already) so I rebooted PC.
Do I get a powered usb hub? Do I replace the plm?
It is pretty weird that PH would freeze even if the plm decided to stop communicating.
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BeachBum
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| Posted: November 01 2009 at 12:18 | IP Logged
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This problem has been around since the PLM was supported. I have a serial to USB connector and once in awhile, if something weird happens with the PLM, it appears PH goes into endless error recovery. Once PH looses contact with the PLM it cannot reconnect on its own. I have not had to reboot to recover but did have to restart PH. I’m somewhat mystified about the difference with a powered USB hub vs a straight cable using the internal power of the USB controller. Could be associated with length.
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kev21986
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| Posted: November 02 2009 at 07:53 | IP Logged
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NorthernAl wrote:
Does anybody have any other insight on this topic? I just purchased a plm 2412u to replace a failing plc. So far my system works much better. ...
but this morning PH was frozen. I killed the process but could not get PH to connected to plm on restart (error about com port being open already) so I rebooted PC.
Do I get a powered usb hub? Do I replace the plm?
It is pretty weird that PH would freeze even if the plm decided to stop communicating. |
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Try unplugging the PLM and plugging it back in. The computer thinks the com port is still being used becuase PowerHome froze without closing the port. There may be an easier way to close the port, but this has worked for me.
PowerHome is still running strong without any issues ever since I added that powered USB hub.
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Kevin Smith
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NorthernAl
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| Posted: November 02 2009 at 10:15 | IP Logged
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I'll give that a try. Do you unplug the usb or unplug the plm from the wall socket? My plm is behind a desk so can't do that easily. I can unplug the usb cable from the pc easily enough though.
What powered usb hub do you have?
Thanks
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NorthernAl
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| Posted: November 02 2009 at 10:23 | IP Logged
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Unplugging and replugging the usb cable from PC-end works. I can then restart PH and it will communicate properly with PLM.
Now to look for a powered usb hub. Clearly there is some sort of design flaw in the 2412U.
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NorthernAl
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| Posted: November 07 2009 at 12:14 | IP Logged
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David Howard told me in an email
"The problem with the USB PLM seems to be that the PLM draws more power than some PC's can supply via the USB port. A powered USB hub typically has more power to drive external devices and can clear up issues that are related to hangs associated with power dips because the PC cannot supply adequate power.
In my own setup, I am using a USB PLM and am plugged directly into the PC. I have had no hanging issues with PLM (knock on wood) but I know some people have. Notebooks especially seem to have the lower powered USB ports.
In the current beta Im working on, I am rewriting the Insteon background routines (again) and will hopefully have the problems with PowerHome completely hanging eliminated. However, if the PLM does hang due to low power, it would still need to typically be unplugged/replugged to get things going. All I would have control over is whether PowerHome itself hangs when the PLM hangs."
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My PH2/PLM would hang about twice a day. So I spent another $30 and purchased a powered USB hub. It really improved things. I don't have a notebook but an older PC with all the usb ports in use. Perhaps the PLM draws too much power, voltage drops, and the usb comm chip in the PLM hangs. Clearly a PLM flaw.
Anyway did the powered usb hub fix it? It worked without problem for about 3 days (compared to hanging twice a day that is an improvement). Alas it hung this morning. I had to kill PH2, and replug the usb cable to the PLM to fix it. So I am not out of the woods yet. 
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BeachBum
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| Posted: November 07 2009 at 13:03 | IP Logged
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Maybe it’s time to call SH and see what they can advise.
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Pete - X10 Oldie
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NorthernAl
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| Posted: December 06 2009 at 23:23 | IP Logged
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I received my replacement 2412U. Alas it is no better (well maybe a bit better- only crashes PH every second day instead of every day).
I have tried the powered usb hub suggestion, talked to SH support (they claim they have heard of the problem but no suggestions other than replacement), and lastly I have tried a second 2412U.
Spent a fair amount of time and money and still don't have a working system.
What is different here? (different from those that have working and stable PLMs). Different PC? Different PH command sequences? Or unlucky and got two bad PLM in a row?
Not sure what to try next. 
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grif091
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| Posted: December 07 2009 at 01:19 | IP Logged
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I have used two different Serial PLMs for a very long time with PH and never had a problem crashing PH. They were (are) both HouseLinc 2 enabled PLMs. No one has been able to tell me what is the difference with an HL2 enabled PLM. There was some question if they would work on software other than Houselinc 2 but a number of folks have used them on PH without issue. Smartlabs recalled the first one even though I never had a problem with it. Others have tried different USB hubs to resolve the problem. Might try a later device driver if one is available. Always possible to have two defective devices but that would be at the bottom of my probability list.
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Lee G
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NorthernAl
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| Posted: December 07 2009 at 11:59 | IP Logged
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Lee, is your PLM the serial version (2412S) or the USB version (2412U)?
I do also wonder what the difference is with the HL2 enabled one.
I guess I could try a different USB hub but this is getting expensive with no real guarantee I'll get it working.
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grif091
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| Posted: December 07 2009 at 12:43 | IP Logged
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It is Serial (2412S). I've heard the 2412U is a 2412S with an additional adapter to convert serial to USB. Does appear to be sensitive to the type of USB connection. Not just PH. I follow the Smarthome forum as well and there have been discussions about the USB version with different USB connections. Seems like a powered hub resolved some of the problems but as you say it may depend on the specific hub used. There was also a problem when some level of HouseLinc 2 was released which required a different USB driver if memory is correct. The basic serial version of the PLM has been rock solid. Even the one that Smartlabs recalled never failed on my system. There are a fresh set of discussions about Windows 7 and USB drivers. One would think the USB option would not have any issues for as many USB connected devices as there are. I even looked into what was available to add serial ports to one of my Dell boxes running Vista that came with many USB connections but no serial ports. There is a PCIe card that provides 8 serial connections. Want to move a SeriaLinc to that Dell box which will soon be Windows 7. Currently the SeriaLinc is connected to another Dell box running XP but that is located at the other end of the house. That was the only machine with an open serial port. I also have a Simplehomenet EZBridge which is connected to a Serial PLM that is also rock solid as far as the serial connection is concerned.
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Lee G
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rogersn67
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| Posted: December 09 2009 at 13:39 | IP Logged
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Has anyone tried to interface PH with the 2412n controller? Just curious to see if that was possible.
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Topic: PH freezing 2412U
