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The Homey Community has been moved to https://community.athom.com.
This forum is now read-only for archive purposes.
Optimal sequence for including components?
cbh
Member
Hi everybody,
Homey came into my life a few months ago - and the hardware transformation of my home started...
New all relevant sockets and switches are equipped with z-wave units (mostly Fibaro Dimmer 2, ZHC-5010, and Powernode 6).
No new components have been introduced for some weeks now and the z-wave mesh should have had time to reconfigure by now (?)
However, I experience long delays without obvious reasons :-(
Going through the log I've found several occasions where it says "Queue full" and looking at node-ID's I've identified, that most of the times it is when a signal goes through epecially one of my Powernode 6s.
Looking at the map over the devices in the settings page shows, that some units have a very central role in the mesh, especially my three Powernode 6s. One of them have a very large number of connections (17!). However, this Powernode 6 is actully one of the z-wave components with the longest distance to Homey physically.
A possible explanation could be, that this device is paired to the Homey recently (compared to other devices) and that I moved Homey
As the delays are really annoying, I'm thinking about going through the process of deleting all devices and start over again (including re-programming all flows etc).
Now my question:
Which sequence should devices be added in to make the optimum mesh?
I think about leaving Homey stationary where it will be in the future and then make a setup where each device in turn will be removed from its present location, power it up and pair it to the Homey using a temporary installation just in front of the Homey and then install the device where it should be.
Should I start by pairing it with the units that end op furthest away? Or should I start with units that will end up close to Homey and work my way "away"?
All suggestions on how to make a solid and proper z-wave mesh are very velcome!!!
Chr.
Homey came into my life a few months ago - and the hardware transformation of my home started...
New all relevant sockets and switches are equipped with z-wave units (mostly Fibaro Dimmer 2, ZHC-5010, and Powernode 6).
No new components have been introduced for some weeks now and the z-wave mesh should have had time to reconfigure by now (?)
However, I experience long delays without obvious reasons :-(
Going through the log I've found several occasions where it says "Queue full" and looking at node-ID's I've identified, that most of the times it is when a signal goes through epecially one of my Powernode 6s.
Looking at the map over the devices in the settings page shows, that some units have a very central role in the mesh, especially my three Powernode 6s. One of them have a very large number of connections (17!). However, this Powernode 6 is actully one of the z-wave components with the longest distance to Homey physically.
A possible explanation could be, that this device is paired to the Homey recently (compared to other devices) and that I moved Homey
As the delays are really annoying, I'm thinking about going through the process of deleting all devices and start over again (including re-programming all flows etc).
Now my question:
Which sequence should devices be added in to make the optimum mesh?
I think about leaving Homey stationary where it will be in the future and then make a setup where each device in turn will be removed from its present location, power it up and pair it to the Homey using a temporary installation just in front of the Homey and then install the device where it should be.
Should I start by pairing it with the units that end op furthest away? Or should I start with units that will end up close to Homey and work my way "away"?
All suggestions on how to make a solid and proper z-wave mesh are very velcome!!!
Chr.
Comments
Not sure if I understand the last sentence you wrote - do you mean, that the mesh is beyond the control of Athom/Homey?
I'm experiencing something similar as you describe. I have not yet found a way to rebuilt the mesh in a way that other device connections are used. I have about 4 z-wave devices not graphically connected anywhere, but working perfect...
Normally I don't experience long delays. I have one abnormality, 3 z-wave sockets in a garden house, 2 next to each other the other only 1m away. Sometimes it works perfectly, other times one of the switches (next to each other) just doesn't work...
This is definitely not a range issue at a distance of about 2cm. That is when all 3 switches run over the mesh. It looks more that the mesh doesn't use one of the close switches but connects directly via another switch to the homey.
Does anyone know of a method to see/log which hops in the mesh are used?
I went analogue and have read most of the book "Z-wave-essentials" and I think the answer is pretty simple - but the impact of using the "wrong" method is considerable.
Each (mains powered) z-wave node store which other nodes are "best" when communicating in the mesh - as well as the central controller (Homey) keeps a table with the shortest routes to different units.
When a unit is included in the network, the table is updated according to the actual situation, that is, the sorrounding environment seen by the unit at the time of inclusion.
This means, if Homey is kept stationary and units are included in turn using a temporary setup and then moved to their final destination, the information kept in the central controller (Homey) is totally wrong...
The z-wave protocol includes automatic adjustment of the table describing the mesh - but this takes some time, at the process is based how often the communication fails and only when this happens so-and-so-much is the table updated (as Homey does not seem to have the option of forcing it to update the network).
Therefore, the most reasonable way to build the z-wave mesh must be, that you mount nodes in their final position and add 50 meters of extension cord to Homey and take a tour in the building placing Homey just next to the unit when including it...
(The extension cord is to avoid having to unplug Homey again and again and have to wait for rebooting ;-)).
Let me know if you think I'm completely wrong - I'll edit the post accordingly to avoid sharing wrong advices :-)
Chr.
But, like many others I did not know this when I started out with homey. Since the "automatic" table-rebuilt / healing does not really seem to work (at least for me), I'm left with the only choice to start all from scratch... meaning:
- delete all modules from z-wave settings > 25 modules, or even better do a full factory reset of homey
- have to redesign all my flows since module ID's will change
Then there is another catch I ran into. WiFi reception of homey should be (very) good at the point of inclusion. Since I use 2 different WiFi nodes around my house and homey only connects only to 1, reception is a real issue at some locations.
So, what to do? I would really like a table-rebuilt function in the z-wave settings. What are the issues why we don't already have such a function? Besides Athom having other priorities.
@RuudvB: I think the learning curve when automating your home is something like "steep-bumpy-falling-pair-remove-pair-remove-pair-remove-hard reset-steep-aha!-offline-no response-reboot-doh!-reset all-steep-yes!-stable" and next day you get a new idea and everything is spoiled...
And: If the mesh isn't rebuilt within a reasonable time, I will reset the z-wave network (without knowing for sure, more based on a oldfashioned wipe-it-and-reinstall-attitude, I think resetting it is better than deleting and possibly leave "debris" from the old network).
Then I will start all over while I imagine the faboulous invisible structure that will immerse during the process - oh, and what a satisfaction it would be, if all nodes were consequtively numbered ;-)
Like you describe in your 1st posting, you are using homey a relatively short time. Others like me have a somewhat longer history already. Wiping all and starting over again is not my most desired option.... Homey has come a long way and in my perception is quite stable at this time. I would very much prefer not having to do all work again.
I totally agree with you - wiping etc is a very unattractive solution - however, long delays are as well...
I'll give it some time - perhaps it will sort out :-)
Waiting for athom looks like eternity at this time, they have other priorities....
Anyone interested?
Although in Emile's Software update he mentioned:
Part of the restore function would be to re-add a Z-wave device to the Z-wave network (and heal it)...
The latter part I already read somewhere, just didn't realize the impact on healing the z-wave mesh... Very nice development indeed
Re-adding devices does not trigger a healing process at present?