Re: Insteon Test Report

["BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

The Signal Generator is the transmitter half of this:
 https://www.smarthome.com/4810.html and sends a continuous stream of
P1-PON-P1-P OFF, like a Powerflash module in alarm mode.

It's used with a companion Leviton (or any other) signal strength meter
for troubleshooting. The pair have been selling for over 20 years -
which is when I got mine.

 As for the bathroom, I have tried unplugging everything - there's not
that much in a bathroom - to no avail. I did however, notice something
strange. To install the Insteon repeaters you plug one in at a
convenient outlet and press the button for 10 seconds to enter setup
mode. You then take the the other one and plug it in somewhere else. If
it blinks slowly or not at all, you're on the same leg and you try other
locations till you find one where it blinks fast indicating you're on
the other leg. I tried a bathroom outlet and it blinked slowly but it
was a dim/bright blink rather than an on/off blink. It was a solid
on/off everywhere else.

 The Insteon signals do appear to be immune to X10 though!.


From:Dave Houston
nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx

> I'm not familiar with the Leviton Signal Generator. Is it sending
> continuously? If so, I think Insteon noise immunity lives up to its
> rep.
>
> You must have a serious signal sink in or near that bathroom.
>
> I agree 100% about the controller. It's too big, has too few features
> and is just plain ugly. I don't think it is nearly as well thought
> out or will be as well thought of as the basic Insteon technology.
>
> As for the RF link failure, I suspect you just did their burn-in.
>
> "BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Of course, I was so frustrated by the other stuff that I forgot to do
>> that test.  Here are the results:
>> I plugged one Insteon Appliance Module, one Insteon Tabletop
>> Controller, one Leviton X10 Signal Generator and one ELK ESM1 into a
>> basic powerstrip.  The Insteon module responded flawlessly to every
>> on and off command sent from the controller and the ESM1 did indeed
>> report it as noise by turning off the green light about 2 seconds
>> after the Insteon signal was sent.  I then plugged the controller
>> into various outlets around the house and it worked fine (except ,of
>> course, from the infamous bathroom).
>> One thing nice about the controller is that it reports on whether the
>> signal got through. If it doesn't get a confirmation back from the
>> module within a few seconds the LED on the controller flashes
>> rapidly. The controller is a big (to me) bulky thing that only
>> controls 5 Insteon modules or module groups, however; if you flip up
>> the faceplate, the same buttons can control all 256 X10 codes!  I
>> hope thay make a controller that will handle more Insteon devices.
>>
>>
>> From:Dave Houston
>> nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>>
>>> You can still run the noise test I suggested. You don't need to
>>> bridge the phases. Just put the tabletop controller and an Insteon
>>> lamp module on the same phase and see if they can communicate while
>>> the line is flooded with X-10.
>>>
>>> "BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Yes, the bathroom has GFI outlets but so do other rooms with no
>>>> problems.  Signals sent withIN the bathroom are strong but it's
>>>> almost like there's a signal blocker between the bathroom and the
>>>> rest of the house.
>>>> I figured I might solve the problem by moving one of the Insteon RF
>>>> lincs to the bathroom thereby bridging the bath to the rest of the
>>>> house via RF.  However, I was foiled in my attempt to test that
>>>> because one of the RF lincs is now dead after about 2 hours of use.
>>>> Smarthome is advance shipping another pair which will take another
>>>> week to get here. So, until the new RF linc arrives, all tests are
>>>> off.
>>>> After blocking out the day to test this stuff I am, needless to
>>>> say, EXTREMELY frustrated.
>>>> I may spend the rest of the day doing some UPB testing instead.
>>>>
>>>> From:Dave Houston
>>>> nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx
>>>>
>>>>> Bruce,
>>>>>
>>>>> Any X-10 meter (e.g. ESM1) should report the Insteon signal as
>>>>> noise. You can use it as a measure of signal strength.
>>>>>
>>>>> Is the bathroom outlet GFI?
>>>>>
>>>>> "BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> I've run my first test with an Insteon ICON switch and controller
>>>>>> with disappointing results.  I installed the repeaters per the
>>>>>> instructions and one ICON In Wall On/Off (2876S) switch that
>>>>>> controls a porch light. I linked that switch to an Insteon
>>>>>> Tabletop Controller and verified that it works from several
>>>>>> outlets. The real test was to see if it worked from my bathroom
>>>>>> where I could never control the X10 switch that was in place
>>>>>> prior to the Insteon.  I plugged the controller in, pressed the
>>>>>> button and... No Joy.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Next step is to call them and discuss the result to see if they
>>>>>> have any suggestions. Stay tuned.