Re: Insteon with 400amp service (2 panels)

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

Someone <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>I've been trying just about every combination of outlets without any
>luck ... I think. One thing I haven't quite figured out yet is how to
>get the second Signalinc RF to try to connect. The instructions say
>just to plug it into the wall. However, when I do that, the LED comes
>on and stays on. If I press the Set button, the LED will flash. The
>question is - is Smarthome confused again? Should the RF automatically
>try to connect, or do I need to hit the Set button? When I have hit
>Set on the second RF, then go back to the first RF and hit Set, the
>first RF LED stays on, but the second one goes off.
>
>
>On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 16:19:21 GMT, nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)
>wrote:
>
>>8 feet should be close enough. Vertical/horizontal doesn't matter as long as
>>they both are the same. When I tested, I could create problems at 10-12'
>>with different antenna orientations.
>>
>>I suspect you have them on the same phase.
>>
>>SmartHome needs better training for their support people. There really
>>shouldn't be any problem with two panels. You may need additional RF units
>>but I would try it first with just two. As long as Phase A on both panels
>>and Phase B on both panels share the same utility company transformer, you
>>should be OK but you may need a few more Insteon switches or modules to
>>prove this.
>>
>>They should work between floors as long as the floors are not made of
>>something that blocks RF. You may need to experiment with antenna
>>orientation.
>>
>>Someone <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>>Sorry, I realized that I didn't even answer your question about
>>>distance. On my latest attempt, I had the units about 8 feet apart.
>>>That appears to be the closest I can get them while still being on
>>>different phases. This assumes that the way I've tried to identify the
>>>phases is correct - I've assumed that breakers on one side of the box
>>>are on the same phase.
>>>
>>>Thanks.
>>>
>>>   - Leon
>>>
>>>On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:33:43 GMT, Someone <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Thanks for the quick response, Dave.
>>>>
>>>>I don't have a lot of options for distance, based on what the labels
>>>>on the panel tell me. On panel 1, one phase appears to cover the
>>>>second floor,while the other phase covers the first floor. Will the RF
>>>>signal make it from one floor to the next? I'm not sure I had them as
>>>>close as I could (one room above the other), so I can try that. Also,
>>>>I had both antennas oriented veritcally. Would horizontal orientation
>>>>for both make a difference?
>>>>
>>>>Thanks.
>>>>
>>>> - Leon
>>>>
>>>>On Mon, 16 Jan 2006 15:21:20 GMT, nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)
>>>>wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>How far apart are the two RF units?
>>>>>
>>>>>When you initialize the RF units they need to be on opposite phases and
>>>>>within RF range of each other. The range is rather limited. Both antennas
>>>>>need to have the same orientation (i.e. both vertical or both horizontal)
>>>>>for maximum range.
>>>>>
>>>>>Someone <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>I just got my Insteon starter kit and discovered that I cannot get the
>>>>>>to Signalinc RFs to talk to each other. I have 400 amp service using
>>>>>>two panels. I talked to Smarthome and they said they don't support
>>>>>>this because they don't know if the signals will get through reliably.
>>>>>>I thought maybe I could get things to work if I started with both
>>>>>>phases of one panel. I had hoped that I could figure this out by
>>>>>>reading what the builder had marked on the panel (which seems to be
>>>>>>quite accurate). Once I got Insteon working across one panel, I was
>>>>>>hoping two more Signalinc RFs would bridge the two panels.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Am I missing something here? Is this even possible? If Insteon doesn't
>>>>>>work, do I have any hope even for X10?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks in advance for any advice.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>  - Leon