Anyone know if Z-Troller (from Homeseer) works as a Zwave controller interface?

[meich]

Im trying to evaluate mControl, and cant get any devices added to mControl. When connect to the Z-Troller within the Zwave Adapter Utility, it sees the controller and connects, and it also imports the devices and successfully polls them. yet when i go into either the Media Center interface, or the mControl editor, im unable to select a device from the dropdown list. Any help would be appreciated. The Z-Troller uses a serial interface, and again the zwave adapter utility successfully connects to it and loads the devices from the controller.

[Ted Singh]

When you say "unable to select a device from the dropdown list", do you mean that while in the "Edit Device" screen, you do *NOT* see any devices in the "Z-Wave ID" spinner bar (which has [-][+] options)?

Please also send your logfiles to support at embeddedautomation dot com, and we can diagnose what might be happening.

Ted

[keifer1]

So from the response can I assume the homeseer serial/Zwave controler Z-troller should work / is compatible?

[katrash]

If this is a serial Z-WAVE controller, you have to change the line in "mServer.exe.xml" to use it this way. Change the line from

<aparam name="Port" value="USB" />

to

<aparam name="Port" value="COM1" />

(use the appropriate com port #, COM1, COM2, etc. for your controller) then restart mControl Service and try.

[meich]

Ted,
That is correct. Let me make sure im giving you all the correct information. There are two scenarios:

1. Windows Media Center 2005 (all latest updates)
When i plug in the Z-Troller and then launch the Zwave Adapter utility, i tell it to connect on COM 1, and it communicates with the Z-Troller correctly, and even tells me what devices it found that are associated with the controller.

Then, when i go into the mControl Editor, i go to the Zone that i have added, then within the Device section, i select "ZWCTRL" from the Adapter dropdown. Then when i go to select the Device Module, there is nothing i can select. Therefore, i cannot add anything to control or associate with the Zone i created.

THis is basically the exact same behavior within MCE (as you have described in your reply).

With this installation, im using the latest production code v1.70 for .NET 1.1 (2-14-07)

2. Windows Vista MCE
With Vista, i get an error when trying to launch the Zwave Adapter Utility (wich i posted in a separate Thread and included an screen shot). And, when i launch Vista MCE, i get a page that says "No Device" and "Unknown Device Status". I have no option to add devices within MCE.

This is installed with the latest beta version 2, file dated 5-1-07.

I have sent the logs for both MCE 2005 and Vista MCE

[meich]

katrash,
The only place i even find that file is in the original install source. This file does NOT exist in the directory that i installed mControl. Do i have to re-install mControl to make that change?


UPDATE: Sorry katrash, i found it located in the "Server" directory within the Embedded Automation folder. I did a search within Vista and for some reason it did not find it there. im in the process of testing that right now.

[meich]

katrash,
after changing the mserver.exe.xml file, i can now see the available list of devices that are associated with the controller from within MCE 2005. The only thing now is, after i attempt to "Add Device" from within MCE and give it a name, and also select save, it doesnt show up for me to control when i get back to the home page within mcontrol. My zone is there, but no devices.

I cant believe it would be this difficult, so im obviously doing something wrong. When i use the mControl Editor, i can select my devices from the module drop down, but there is no way for me to save anything (no save buttons or anything). Very confusing.

While in MCE, i went to the Settings, Manage Zones, then add device. I selected ENROLL, and it started counting down from 49 seconds, after of which, nothing really happened.

[katrash]

meich,
It should be very easy to add devices. You have to select a device from the list (spinner[-|+]), give it a name and save it. If it doesn't appera in the main page after saving, then the device is not supported by mControl. Sending us you log file would be helpful in deciding if this is the cause or it is something else.

Enrol/Unenroll are just handy buttons to allow you add/remove Z-Wave devices from within the UI. You are not obliged to using them if you already added your devices to the controller through the Z-Wave utility (or any other utility).

Consult the user manual for more information about the use of ENROLL/UNENROLL buttons.

[meich]

katrash,
The devices that im using are the following, both of which im having the issue of it NOT showing up on the main mControl page to control within MCE. They are now showing up in the device list so that i can choose them by using the -\+ spinner, but nothing displays after i hit SAVE and go back to the main page to control them (ie, turn on \off or DIM)

Intermatic HA02C (appliance module)
Vizia RF RZP03 (Lamp Module)

[keifer1]

I know this does not solve your problem, but I have Intermatic HA02C (appliance module) and the camstat up and running now on xp, on Mcontrol2.0 B1. I will move to vista mediacenter after a few more tests.

[Ted Singh]

meich,

At this point in time, it would be good to send in your log files and your database - and we can determine if the devices were saved properly. The log files are located in the C:\Program Files\Embedded Automation\mControl\logs directory and the database is in the C:\Program Files\Embedded Automation\mControl\data directory. Send them to support at embeddedautomation dot com.

Ted

[meich]

keifer1 - which controller interface are you using?

[keifer1]

I am using...

Mcontrol B1
Z-Troller from HS on com1
Started out on xppro all worked..
Moved install to vista, had to do some hacks as suggested to get to work.
Most things didn't work at first, I decided to check on the little ones and came back to the system... All things started working just fine, to my supprise.
Camstat - and intermac on/off switchs and dimmers!

[meich]

keifer1,
when you say you got everything to work, i assume you can control them via the MCE Vista interface. I was able to select my devices to add, but after saving, they dont show up.

What exactly did you do? What i did was install the latest release, make the modification to the xml file so that mcontrol would see the Z Troller via COM1.

After that i could see the devices to add from within the Vista MCE interface, but again was unable to see them after i saved the changes.

thanks!

[keifer1]

Sorry to say Thats same setup I have done, I have configed two computers with vista and both worked. One thought though, I used web config from another computer. I have had the z-wave config app crash I plan to send logs to tech support. Otherwise I just added zone, named item, picked zwave, then unit, save. Pops up as expected in web and in media center. I have noticed my HVAC control does not change modes but changes temp fine.