Re: Insteon Users note re: KeypadLinc setup - Installation status update

["none" <none@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Bruce,

I had no problems turning my KeyPadLinc to 8 button mode. Both methods
listed in the QuickStart and the Manual worked for me (just tried it, too).
There's no need to hold the buttons down until linking mode is activated.
The fiddly part is the set button is easy to release or bounce while you're
trying to pull it out or push it in. I prefer the Manual version (pushing
set button to neutral position), because when the button LEDs power on
(after about 2 seconds) you know it is done.

For linking, there is multi-link mode which saves time if you're going to
link stuff by hand. However, if you're halfway serious you should get
PowerHome (free 30 day trial, enough to get all your links setup), although
it does not have a particularly good interface it is BY FAR the best program
for Insteon linking.

There is also GroupCommander, which is a freeware linking program (a little
harder to use because it can't discover existing switches and links).

BTW, an important thing is you should factory default your switches before
you start programming for real use. The switches sometimes come programmed
with non-existent links from SmartHome during QA testing. (A cool feature of
PowerHome is that it can also defragment the link databases in the
switches).

"BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:uLe9g.2421$uM4.363@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> The Insteon KeypadLinc comes configured as a 6 button device but can be
> converted to an 8 button device with the included faceplate kit.  The
> instructions then say to pull the setup tab all the way out (airgap),
> wait 10 seconds then press it while holding in keys A & H.   That won't
> work so looking at the Users Manual (not the included Quick Start guide)
> they tell you to do the same thing but don't press the setup button all
> the way in - just press it gently to the "neutral" position (my words).
> That doesn't do it either.  Through trial and error I learned that there
> is one more step - you must keep pressing A & H for at least 10 seconds
> till the A button starts to flash.  That little tidbit would have saved
> me 20 minutes tonight!
>
> Another note, if you're planning on doing some cross-linking it is
> helpful to have an assistant and a pair of walkie-talkies.  To crosslink
> you have to hit the paddle on one unit for 10 seconds, go to the other
> unit and press that one for ten seconds. Press it again for 10 seconds
> and go back to the first one and press that one for 10 more seconds.
> More locations mean more running around so an assistant can be REAL
> helpful in a larger home.
>
> I currently have almost half of my X10 stuff replaced with Insteon and
> expect to finish the job over the next week.  I'm at the point where
> Insteon reliability has improved to about 95% and X10 has dropped below
> 50%. While Insteon can handle both, the two protocols do NOT play well
> together.  Before I started the conversion X10 was at about 98% with
> some unsolvable troublespots and getting progressively worse.   The
> Insteon problems I'm having now are not related to the protocol as much
> as they are to timing issues with the translator. Once RoZetta replaces
> the translator I expect to see most of those issues resolved.
>
> The biggest thing is the mental conversion of how Insteon works vs. X10.
> We are used to receivers and transmitters where any device that sends
> the proper code will work.  With Insteon, every single unit is two way
> and has it's own unique address (think MAC address).  Only units that
> have been programmed to pay attention to each other will work together.
> There are a number of pluses and minuses to this approach and it
> certainly takes some getting used to!
>
>



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