Z-Stick problem

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  • Last Post 10 April 2014
Axial-User posted this 22 January 2014

I have been having an issue with my Z-stick 2 (essentially brand new) apparently locking up. The light goes off, and inControl can't find it any more. I have to remove it and plug it in again, then it's OK. Log error is:

1/21/2014 7:06:02 PM: Non-critical error: Unable to query USB stick version. Continuing. - Zensys.ZWave.Exceptions.Requ
estTimeoutException
Exception of type 'Zensys.ZWave.Exceptions.RequestTimeoutException' was thrown.

at Zensys.ZWave.SerialPortSession.SessionLayer.EndRequest(Int32 timeout)
at Zensys.ZWave.SerialPortSession.SessionLayer.EndRequest()
at Zensys.ZWave.SerialPortSession.SessionLayer.ExecuteRequest(Byte commandType, Byte[] parameters)
at Zensys.ZWave.SerialPortApplication.Devices.Device.GetVersion()
at MLS.HA.ZensysController.ZController.connect(String portName, Boolean retryConnections) in z:\work\mls\MLS.ZWave.C
ontroller\MLS.HA.ZensysController\ZController.cs:line 179
1/21/2014 7:06:05 PM: Error during controller start up process - Zensys.ZWave.Exceptions.RequestTimeoutException

The exception repeats as inControl keeps trying.

This has happened every 24-36 hours.

Any suggestions? Do I have a bad Z-Stick?


The first thing you could try is to flash the firmware on the USB stick - get it from the Aeon Labs website. Also, I've seen a USB stick get funny like this in cases where you are polling out of range devices -- especially with the "smart poll" feature; so double check that you don't have any of those and if you do either don't poll it or add in some more devices to boost communication to the device.

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Ryan-Scott posted this 22 January 2014

I have been having an issue with my Z-stick 2 (essentially brand new) apparently locking up. The light goes off, and inControl can't find it any more. I have to remove it and plug it in again, then it's OK. Log error is:

1/21/2014 7:06:02 PM: Non-critical error: Unable to query USB stick version. Continuing. - Zensys.ZWave.Exceptions.Requ
estTimeoutException
Exception of type 'Zensys.ZWave.Exceptions.RequestTimeoutException' was thrown.

at Zensys.ZWave.SerialPortSession.SessionLayer.EndRequest(Int32 timeout)
at Zensys.ZWave.SerialPortSession.SessionLayer.EndRequest()
at Zensys.ZWave.SerialPortSession.SessionLayer.ExecuteRequest(Byte commandType, Byte[] parameters)
at Zensys.ZWave.SerialPortApplication.Devices.Device.GetVersion()
at MLS.HA.ZensysController.ZController.connect(String portName, Boolean retryConnections) in z:\work\mls\MLS.ZWave.C
ontroller\MLS.HA.ZensysController\ZController.cs:line 179
1/21/2014 7:06:05 PM: Error during controller start up process - Zensys.ZWave.Exceptions.RequestTimeoutException

The exception repeats as inControl keeps trying.

This has happened every 24-36 hours.

Any suggestions? Do I have a bad Z-Stick?


The first thing you could try is to flash the firmware on the USB stick - get it from the Aeon Labs website. Also, I've seen a USB stick get funny like this in cases where you are polling out of range devices -- especially with the "smart poll" feature; so double check that you don't have any of those and if you do either don't poll it or add in some more devices to boost communication to the device.

Axial-User posted this 22 January 2014

Thanks again Ryan. I do have quite a few distant devices, and I will try the flash update, but my stick is new and the date on the update is 2012 so I'm thinking it is already current.

I looked into the Windows device settings this morning, and found that "Allow windows to turn off this device to save power" was checked in the device options for the Z-Stick, so I turned that off. That may have been the problem, but I won't know until it's been stable for a few days.

What are the implications of turning off polling for the distant devices? Will that make it so I will no longer know their status?

Andy

Ryan-Scott posted this 22 January 2014

Thanks again Ryan. I do have quite a few distant devices, and I will try the flash update, but my stick is new and the date on the update is 2012 so I'm thinking it is already current.

I looked into the Windows device settings this morning, and found that "Allow windows to turn off this device to save power" was checked in the device options for the Z-Stick, so I turned that off. That may have been the problem, but I won't know until it's been stable for a few days.

What are the implications of turning off polling for the distant devices? Will that make it so I will no longer know their status?

Andy


Yes, you won't know the status of the device if you turn off polling; however, if your device supports associations, you can associate it to your USB stick so that it will send automatic device updates when operated manually. Though, if it's out of range for optimal polling, it may also be out of range for auto updates and still miss communication attempts.

Axial-User posted this 22 January 2014

I do have them associated with the controller, but that brings up another question. When I bring up the Associations list for a device I have previously set, nothing is ever checked. Is it supposed to show that, or is it normal for it to come up with nothing checked even though there actually are associations?

Ryan-Scott posted this 22 January 2014

I do have them associated with the controller, but that brings up another question. When I bring up the Associations list for a device I have previously set, nothing is ever checked. Is it supposed to show that, or is it normal for it to come up with nothing checked even though there actually are associations?


If nothing will remain checked then whatever device you clicked the "associations" button on likely doesn't support the feature. What kind of devices are they?

Axial-User posted this 22 January 2014

Mostly GE/Jasco dimmers, and one Evolve FSM-20

Ryan-Scott posted this 22 January 2014

Mostly GE/Jasco dimmers, and one Evolve FSM-20


The Evolve should support associations. The GE/Jasco likely do not. You can also check this device library for supported command classes: http://www.pepper1.net/zwavedb/

Axial-User posted this 22 January 2014

I looked at the Evolve, and I also have a Schlage door/window switch. Nothing shows the controller checked when I open the Associations dialog a second time after checking it the first time.

I have polling turned off for the Schlage (per recommendations here), but it has been associated, and does report when it is tripped. If it was neither associated or polled would it still report?

I hope I'm not asking too much, but I am replacing a fairly large X-10 "network" that I have depended on for a long time so I have a lot to do.

Thanks :-)

Ryan-Scott posted this 22 January 2014

I looked at the Evolve, and I also have a Schlage door/window switch. Nothing shows the controller checked when I open the Associations dialog a second time after checking it the first time.

I have polling turned off for the Schlage (per recommendations here), but it has been associated, and does report when it is tripped. If it was neither associated or polled would it still report?

I hope I'm not asking too much, but I am replacing a fairly large X-10 "network" that I have depended on for a long time so I have a lot to do.

Thanks :-)


In the case of your lock, it uses something other than associations to report state changes back. When you initially click on the associations button of the Evolve switch, how long does it take to load the device list? If it takes more than 4-6 seconds, then it's either out of range or the Evolve switch itself isn't responding to your request for associations.

Axial-User posted this 22 January 2014

I confirmed that I only own one device that supports associations, and that is an Aeon Labs smart dimmer. It does retain the checkbox.

Is anyone aware of any in-wall dimmers that definitely support association? Apparently none of the Jasco stuff does.

Andy

n0vtn posted this 27 January 2014

I am curious about your issue with the Z-Stick going off line.
Is it exposed to the cold?
If it is installed in an area where it gets cold it will likely behave as you describe.
I have two Z-Sticks both flashed with current firmware. One was installed in my garage and would go off line as you describe when it got cold. The other was connected to a USB extension cable and run through a wall to a weatherproof plastic electrical box on the outside of my cabin, and it also would go off line in cold weather. Both are stable now that I have brought them into temperature controlled environments.
I installed the one in the outside electrical box trying to increase the coverage of distant devices.
I have found that if I am polling distant devices even nearby devices don't poll reliably.
I have also found that snow on trees between your Z-Stick and remote devices interferes with communications.
I will watch this thread as I too struggle with distant devices. I have some ideas on increased coverage but they will have to wait for the weather to moderate where I live.

Good Luck!

N0VTN

nicklbmx posted this 10 April 2014

I'm having similar problems to where the program loses connection with the S2 stick that I just bought a week ago and the program stops responding. I have to narrow down what the problem is still (firmware update / too many wireless devices in one area). I will post when I find the answer.

Ryan-Scott posted this 10 April 2014

I'm having similar problems to where the program loses connection with the S2 stick that I just bought a week ago and the program stops responding. I have to narrow down what the problem is still (firmware update / too many wireless devices in one area). I will post when I find the answer.


I've seen cases where the z-stick locks up if it's polling locks or battery powered devices too often -- or devices that are out of range. One way to check is to watch the light on the zstick over a spam of 2-3 minutes and if it goes dark for 10+ seconds, it means you are polling something which isn't responding quickly.

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