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Subject Topic: Random lockups (the PLM, not PowerHome) Post ReplyPost New Topic
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lizaoreo
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Posted: June 23 2013 at 22:54 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

For the past few weeks, maybe months now, I've randomly had lockups. It started out
happening rarely, but has steadily become more common, now happening almost daily,
sometimes even within minutes of me resetting the PLM.

Basically everything stops working, if I do a reinitialize on PowerHome, it complains it
can't talk to the PLM. HouseLinc does the same if I run it. I've got to physically unplug
the PLM and disconnect the USB, usually wait about 10 seconds, then hook up the USB before
plugging it back in the wall. After that it'll work for an undeterminable amount of time
before choking again.

My PLM is the 2413uh. I can't think of anything that has changed as far as appliances or
anything. We are running the air now, which we might not have before, but we ran the heat.
And the kill overs don't seem related to whether the air kicked on or not. While the PLM
is now plugged right into the wall, until recently I had it plugged into a surge protector
(I just relied on the RF signal and it worked well enough). I moved it when I started
having weird communication issues and to see if this freezing thing might go away, sadly it
has not.

Below is an extract of what seems to happen in the log just before a hang. I started at a
point where things seemed normal and the last little bit is the hang. I'm hoping someone
might be able to help me out, or at least point me in a direction. I've tried thinking of
anything that's changed in the house recently and I've reinstalled the drivers and such for
the PLM. I'm not sure where to go from here.

Code:
2013-06-23 21:13:42.741     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 1C C4 5F 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:13:42.774     RX  &nbs p;  SENTINSTEON=18 D3 0C 1C C4 5F 0F 19 00 06
2013-06-23 21:13:43.124     RX  &nbs p;  RECEIVEINSTEONRAW=1C C4 5F 18 D3 0C 27 00 FF
2013-06-23 21:13:53.286     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 15 C4 0A 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:13:53.318     RX  &nbs p;  SENTINSTEON=18 D3 0C 15 C4 0A 0F 19 00 06
2013-06-23 21:13:53.669     RX  &nbs p;  RECEIVEINSTEONRAW=15 C4 0A 18 D3 0C 27 00 00
2013-06-23 21:14:03.847     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 1C 90 4C 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:14:03.878     RX  &nbs p;  SENTINSTEON=18 D3 0C 1C 90 4C 0F 19 00 06
2013-06-23 21:14:04.229     RX  &nbs p;  RECEIVEINSTEONRAW=1C 90 4C 18 D3 0C 27 00 00
2013-06-23 21:14:14.383     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 1A 68 91 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:14:14.414     RX  &nbs p;  SENTINSTEON=18 D3 0C 1A 68 91 0F 19 00 06
2013-06-23 21:14:14.765     RX  &nbs p;  RECEIVEINSTEONRAW=1A 68 91 18 D3 0C 27 00 FF
2013-06-23 21:14:24.929     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 17 CE C8 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:14:24.960     RX  &nbs p;  SENTINSTEON=18 D3 0C 17 CE C8 0F 19 00 06
2013-06-23 21:14:25.260     RX  &nbs p;  RECEIVEINSTEONRAW=17 CE C8 18 D3 0C 2B 00 FF
2013-06-23 21:14:39.819     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 19 50 30 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:14:41.832     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 19 50 30 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:14:43.843     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 19 50 30 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:14:55.915     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 17 CF 65 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:14:57.914     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 17 CF 65 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:14:59.985     TX  &nbs p;  02 62 17 CF 65 0F 19 00
2013-06-23 21:15:07.348     TX  &nbs p;  02 60
2013-06-23 21:15:19.019     TX  &nbs p;  02 60
2013-06-23 21:15:30.839     TX  &nbs p;  02 60
2013-06-23 21:15:42.505     TX  &nbs p;  02 60
2013-06-23 21:15:54.180     TX  &nbs p;  02 60
2013-06-23 23:41:54.499     TX  &nbs p;  02 60
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grif091
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Posted: June 24 2013 at 04:23 | IP Logged Quote grif091

The trace shows the PLM is not even echoing back the message issued. When a serial command is issued it is echoed back with either a 06 (accepted) or 15 (rejected) appended to the end of the message string. Even the simple echo is not happening.

I can understand a PLM issue being resolved by a power cycle but I don't understand the need to unplug the USB cable. Can you try it on a different USB port. PLMs do fail and it may be this one’s time.
.

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lizaoreo
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Posted: June 24 2013 at 08:31 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

grif091 wrote:

I can understand a PLM issue being resolved by a power
cycle but I don't understand the need to unplug the USB
cable. Can you try it on a different USB port.


You know... I should probably just try the power cycle
without the USB, I think I just ended up doing that and
it
worked and that's what I've started doing. I've tried
moving the USB port several times and it's not really
helped.

grif091 wrote:

Can you try it on a different USB port. PLMs do fail and
it may be this one’s time.


I was afraid someone would say that :/

Curious, what would be recommended replacement at this
time, it is quite an old PLM, I've had it for 3 or so
years
now. I'm not apposed to getting the serial version if
that's better, I figure if nothing else, it's less
"moving"
parts (no USB to serial driver).

Or maybe the Hub? I'd seen where some were able to use
it as a virtual PLM, but I'd also seen some issues with
64bit Windows and that's what I'm running on.

Edited by lizaoreo - June 24 2013 at 08:33
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grif091
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Posted: June 24 2013 at 08:49 | IP Logged Quote grif091

If you have a Serial Port on the PC I would definitely get the serial version. Unless you want to use the Hub as a Hub now, in addition to using it as a PLM substitute I would wait. I do not have one but from the posts on the Smarthome forum I don't think it is mature enough yet.

Also if you had any thoughts of moving to a standalone Controller such as an ISY to eliminate the need for a PC 24/7, a Serial PLM is the only PLM the ISY supports


Edited by grif091 - June 24 2013 at 08:52


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lizaoreo
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Posted: June 24 2013 at 09:22 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

Yeah, that's part of why I was thinking the Serial, for
later integration with an ISY. I'd wait until PowerHome
supported it probably, but I'll always have a computer
running for certain server tasks, so that doesn't really
bother me much.

Guess I'll start pricing them. I had suspected it might be
dying, but I wanted a second opinion.

Thanks Lee :)
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dhoward
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Posted: June 25 2013 at 16:16 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Lizaoreo,

As others have indicated, it definitely sounds like your PLM is dying.

Up until recently, I would have recommended the SmartLinc for a PLM but the two I have are starting to exhibit behaviour much like your PLM. The tiniest little power anomaly sends them into vapor lock requiring a power off to reset them. Many times, there is absolutely no observable power glitch yet they'll lock up tight. Definitely doesnt do much for the WAF.

After dealing with these lockups several times a day, I gave up and went back to my 2448A7 portable USB PLM adaptor. Not sure why I originally stopped using it but it has been GREAT! No lockups or mishaps for weeks now. I know Ken (GadgetGuy) swears by this device as well. The great thing about it is it has NO powerline interface relying strictly on RF and either dual-band devices or Access Points to couple the signal to the powerline. So no matter how the powerline glitches, it doesnt affect the operation of the PLM.

Dave.
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lizaoreo
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Posted: June 25 2013 at 16:51 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

Oh, cool. Thanks Dave. Cancelled my Amazon order for the serial PLM and replacing with this. It's even cheaper, that's a big bonus ^_^
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grif091
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Posted: June 25 2013 at 17:25 | IP Logged Quote grif091

The down side to the 2448A7 PLM is it has no Set button. When programmatic linking works no problem but the lack of a Set button takes away an option. For the 5 months PH2 did not support I2CS the PLM Set button was the only option to link an I2CS device to the PLM. Functionally I have had no problems with my USB PLM but it does have the Set button limitation.

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lizaoreo
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Posted: June 25 2013 at 17:27 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

Oh, I've never used the hardware linking capabilities, I don't think I'll miss it. If they do something that causes that issue in the future I'll just have to be sure to avoid buying anything with the new stuff until PH supports it :-)
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Posted: June 25 2013 at 17:34 | IP Logged Quote dhoward

Lee raises an interesting point that I hadnt thought of but should be able to be worked around. In the Insteon Explorer on the Manual Linking tab, you can simulate pressing the Set button on the PLM. I havent actually tried it with the 2448A7 (that I can remember) but I used this method all the time on my other PLM's rather than pressing the actual button (all my PLM's are upstairs in a very inconvenient location from where Im doing my work). I would suspect it would work on the 2448A7 but it would have to be tested.

One other drawback of the 2448A7 is it doesnt send/receive X10 commands. This usually isnt an issue unless you've got X10 devices and don't have another controller capable of X10.

Dave.
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lizaoreo
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Posted: June 25 2013 at 17:39 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

Yeah, I saw that about the X10. I don't have any X10 devices right now. I had considered X10 motion detectors, but I keep thinking cameras with configured hot zones would work better and be more customizable (I can zone higher than the cats and dogs).

I appreciate all the suggestions. Sad to see it go, but I think I'll like this new device better if it's more reliable and I don't have to deal with goofy power caused issues.
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lizaoreo
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Posted: July 07 2013 at 16:54 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

How do you configure the 2448A7 in PowerHome?

I tried just changing the port to the new COM port for the
2448A7, but it complains that I have firmware version 38,
and it has to be at least 63.

Edited by lizaoreo - July 07 2013 at 16:55
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grif091
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Posted: July 07 2013 at 17:05 | IP Logged Quote grif091

Using Powerhome Explorer, click Settings | Controllers and define the 2448A7 as a Controller Type of Insteon PLM.

What level PH2 is being used?   

Edited by grif091 - July 07 2013 at 17:07


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lizaoreo
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Posted: July 07 2013 at 17:11 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

Running PH 2.1.4.

Under PH Explorer, Settings, Controllers, I have the 2448A7 configured as Insteon PLM with the
COM Port pointed at 6 (which corresponds with the port it grabbed. But PowerHome throws the
following:

"The PLM controller requires a minimum firmware of 63. Your firmware version is 38. Unable
to start PLM controller INSTEON PLM."
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grif091
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Posted: July 07 2013 at 17:23 | IP Logged Quote grif091

Thanks.   Dave will have to jump in here.   The firmware in the 2448A7 is different from a normal 2412/2413 PLM. It has lower numbers as that firmware has not been through the multitude of updates the regular PLM has. I suspect Dave tweaked his PH to run with a 2448..

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Posted: July 07 2013 at 18:41 | IP Logged Quote grif091

Look at the last post in this link.   It has the solution for the 2448

http://www.power-home.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2735&KW= 2448

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lizaoreo
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Posted: July 07 2013 at 19:38 | IP Logged Quote lizaoreo

Cool, thanks Lee.

I goofed up when I searched for it and only saw the General
Forum results :)
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