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nick7920
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 11:48 | IP Logged
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Power Home Version 2.1.4 with i2cs patch
I had this strange problem yesterday , Power Home stopped communication with PLM 2413U. (Its had been working for while may be for two years).
error :
Communication problem with Insteon PLM controller POWERLINC_MODEM detected. Attempting to restart controller.
I tried many things and got it UP again.
May be someone has a better idea on how to approach this issue.
These steps did not help but want to show.
Reboot system - power off PLM (many times in the process)
2413U is USB but uses internally serial to USB. I made sure if I had the current Driver.
Eventlog cleared to two days used powerhome database utility to make sure size is small.
watch the Device manager of windows if PLM (as serial port) plug/unplug USB cable to see if device manager showed the change and it did. plug the PLM into different USB port but Power Home kept giving error.
Plug something else into USB port to see if window recognize the device and It did.
at this point you would think PLM is the problem .
I install the Power home into my backup computer and plug the PLM and it was working without a problem.
Install PLM back into original computer and got the same error.
Now you would thing USB (serial bus) some how has the problem.
What worked:
Now I wanted to find a program which can communicate to insteon PML thru serial port to see if I am getting any data or so. (I had done this long time a go but could not find my program/documentation to send Raw Hex data)
exit from power home.
I got the program called PLMtest from net by busyrat. (freeware)
setup the correct COM port in the software
then I turn on and off one of my light and program showed the RX and TX - I knew my PLM was getting communication.
I exited the PLMtest program and run the power home again and now no communication error and worked.
So my question is what PLMtest reset in the computer that power home started the communication. (we know PLM was working in different computer so PLM had no problem)
Thanks
Nick
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grif091
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 12:26 | IP Logged
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Is PH using the same Com Port number the PLMTest program was using.
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Lee G
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nick7920
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 12:43 | IP Logged
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yes when I tested I made sure to use the same COM port #
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grif091
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 13:00 | IP Logged
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The USB PLM looks the same as a Serial PLM to the application (PH in this case). All commands to and from the PLM are the same whether Serial or USB. If PH is losing communication with the PLM (assuming PLM is not marginal/defective or cable issue) it sounds like an OS situation. Is the PLM plugged into a powered USB port.
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Lee G
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nick7920
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 13:06 | IP Logged
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No , its the same computer where it was working for while - I had tried all the USB port on the computer. I use to use power USB few years back in other old computer never needed for this one.
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grif091
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 13:07 | IP Logged
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I'm referring to something like the USB ports on the side of my terminal screen versus USB ports on the PC itself.
Edited by grif091 - December 02 2012 at 13:08
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Lee G
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nick7920
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 13:10 | IP Logged
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No I dont have USB port on my monitor - (but that will also plug into your computer may be with power) . I had USB hub with power.
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jonkjon
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 13:14 | IP Logged
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I had this problem too....it sure sounds like a com port problem. Have you looked in Window's device manager at the com ports. Then check the ph explorer>setup>controllers and verified the com port that way?
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nick7920
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 13:18 | IP Logged
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yes - that was the first thing - like said in my OP
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BeachBum
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 14:56 | IP Logged
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I recently had a similar issue and it was caused by a MS update. You might try a system restore back to the last time it work.
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Pete - X10 Oldie
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nick7920
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 16:38 | IP Logged
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I dont do MS update automatic , this computer I use for PH only (old good XP) - I normally wait for a while (weeks) before I update then I know OS is not casuing a problem. (No recent updates were done)
Its working but just dont know why got stuck yesterday and the way it came back up. (I do reboot my computer every few weeks just to make sure of any memory leak from any program)
I am going to keep watching and see if I run into same problem again.
Thanks
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BeachBum
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| Posted: December 02 2012 at 19:36 | IP Logged
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Good point... I have not had problems with my XP except one IBM laptop the usb stop working. Other than that XP is rock solid. Lee and I did a study a couple of years ago on PH memory leaks and could not find PH causing a problem, Just for your info... Also I have found when you get into that mode of comm errors there is no recovery even though PH is trying.
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syonker
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| Posted: August 18 2013 at 22:03 | IP Logged
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Precisely the same problem here. Tried everything above
including the 30-30-30 "factory reset" on the PLM, and
removing the RF booster into which it was plugged...as
well as moved it outside of the 42U rack into which it is
mounted to a different power source.
The issue for me was sporadic...goofy. Noticed it when
trying to transmit/receive...it would just *hang* and
come up with a dialog that came up that said
"Communication to PLM failed. Attempting to
Restart"...this would occur *every* time I tried to do a
"Full Insteon Add" to the PLM. Noticed regular failed
TX/RX commands with retry that *sometimes* would work,
then it would go into the above error state, and the rest
of the "full add" would fly by with no comm to or from
the PLM. Grrrr.
For the record, I also have a good old XP box that has
run PowerHome for the better half of a decade with no
problems. The PLM was replaced a few years ago...had
another go south just before this one - hardcore bricked
that one (as in wouldn't light at all).
I got the "Full Add" to work by doing the following:
1) Checked my COM port Settings in the Device Manager.
2) Changed the Port Speed from 9600 to 115,200 BAUD
3) Shut down PowerHome.
4) Rebooted the PC.
5) Once PowerHome came up, turned off "Timed Events -
Alt-F5" under "Control"
6) Went to the Insteon Control Screen.
7) Cleared the PLM.
8) Did a "Add Full" (Add PowerHome Insteon (FULL).
9) Waited it out....loaded successfully.
10) Resumed the Timed Events under "Control" (Alt-F5)
Not sure what is going on, but everything seems to work
happily now. Hoping this in some way helps someone else
who has run into this. I was about to drop a couple of
C-Notes on new interface hardware, so pretty happy I got
this to work...may acquire a spare PLM just to have
around though. 
-S
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Topic: PLM 2413U Dual Band communication problem
