New Z-wave Remotes!

[outbackrob]

I have most of the Z-wave remotes I have come across. Never could get them to work well. My OLD X-10 remotes still work well. Don't even need filters on the noisy stuff as I just use the W800 receiver. You can still find the old RCA multi-remotes on eBay occasionally. They are great to leave around the house. They can control at least 8 lights/scenes and look great with their blue backlighting.... Plus they can still control most TV's etc.

[TechFan]

I have most of the Z-wave remotes I have come across. Never could get them to work well. My OLD X-10 remotes still work well. Don't even need filters on the noisy stuff as I just use the W800 receiver. You can still find the old RCA multi-remotes on eBay occasionally. They are great to leave around the house. They can control at least 8 lights/scenes and look great with their blue backlighting.... Plus they can still control most TV's etc.

Yeah, the ones I have tried haven't wanted to work well with HS3 (though I have seen some get them working with Vera, somehow "scenes" work differently).

Unfortunately, I just got some info back from an order I placed at the ByJasco site. . .apparently none of these remotes are in production yet. . .and potentially never will be unless someone orders a bunch. Maybe HS can order some for us so they actually get into production? These remotes definitely would have a place in my HA setup. . .there are a few similar Zigbee remotes in production already. . .but that is a different problem.

[drozwood90]

This one looks pretty neat:
Nexia Remote

Anyone use this brand?

Even though my HSZee is the Z-Wave "controller" in the house, I was considering putting my Z-Wave Stick back on my Desktop just to interface to a remote. I was thinking that a Z-Wave remote might work better / faster than my X10 remotes - which DO work...

--Dan

[Pete]

Here too have not had any issues with my X10 wireless remotes. Dirt cheap these days.

For the garage automation originally did wire two sensors on each garage door plus sensors on 2 doors that went to the garage and used PIR and CCTV, I used a cheapo X10 palm pad for TTS status only.

Irrigation checking zones / valves worked fine outside for me with the palm pad.

That said I am / I have been tinkering with wireless / battery Zigbee and Z-Wave on separate wireless networks. I have Zigbee PIRs, water sensors, door sensors here but wouldn't probably ever use them relating to security. I am curious about how well the Z-Wave remotes work if anybody is using them today.

[outbackrob]

I am curious about how well the Z-Wave remotes work if anybody is using them today.

For me they are not working. They were pretty expensive when I bought them and I have never been able to get one to work with HS3. They really weren't designed to work with a HA system.

[TechFan]

Yeah, the only consistent performer I have had is the Minimote. I just ordered some 3D printed minimote mounts as unfortunately, I don't see these new remotes arriving any time soon.

I do have a GE Z-Wave On-Wall Smart Remote that works okay. . .but it isn't really built to be a secondary controller, so you can only control the first 32(?) nodes from HS.

[thewizardofoz]

Yeah, the only consistent performer I have had is the Minimote. I just ordered some 3D printed minimote mounts as unfortunately, I don't see these new remotes arriving any time soon.

I do have a GE Z-Wave On-Wall Smart Remote that works okay. . .but it isn't really built to be a secondary controller, so you can only control the first 32(?) nodes from HS.

Have you tried the Remotec ZRC-90US? I have 5 of these working with HS3 3.0.0.318
You can do single press, double press, press and hold, and release (although I am not so sure how the release works, so I do not use it). The remote has 8 buttons, so I use it for 24 events

[TechFan]

Have you tried the Remotec ZRC-90US? I have 5 of these working with HS3 3.0.0.318
You can do single press, double press, press and hold, and release (although I am not so sure how the release works, so I do not use it). The remote has 8 buttons, so I use it for 24 events

I just got one of these. . .but I am not sure how best to use it. . .it doesn't have device status updated like the minimotes do. . .

[SJ Miller]

Remotes that Update Status in HS/Z2

I've recently switched from a x-10 system to all z-Wave on a Z2. I use to have multiple X10 HR12A Wireless Remotes scattered around the house. Since switching to an all z-Wave (I'm definitely a rookie with this new system) I've been using a combination of Intermatic HA09 (6 channel) and HA07 (12 channels) remotes. Not elegant, but functional.

The only issue is the Intermatics don't seem to update the HS/Z2 status, so while the light/switch maybe off events that include a status parameter cannot be reliable.

Are there any remote readily available that will update the on/off status with HS and my Z2?

Thanks.

[thewizardofoz]

The ZRC-90 does have status updates in Homeseer. If you look at the Central Scene, it will show that last button press and if it was a long press or double press.

As far as the on/off status, I rely on the device itself for that status in Homeseer.

[SJ Miller]

Thank you. Being a rookie, maybe I'm missing something. When I turn a light or other device on or off remotely using one of the Intermatic remotes it does not change the status as viewed in HS Device Management the same way as if I use the on/off button in Device Manager or if I use HS3Touch on my phone.

The reason this can be an issue, if my understanding is correct is that if I have an event which calls for action based on whether or not the light/device is on/off and HS does not know the correct status (on/off) because I used one of the Intermatic remotes then the event will not run properly.

I have all lights/devices polling at least once every 12 hours or so at 5 minutes intervals in an attempt to get the on/off status updated at least twice a day, but not so frequent as to overload the system with unnecessary "traffic".

So, my questions would be:
1). Is there a remote, besides HS3Touch, that when activated also changes the on/off status in Device Management?
2). Is there a way to have HS check the actual on/off status of a node? I thought that was what polling would do, but maybe I'm wrong.
3). How can I get HS to check a node's status before running an event?

Thanks, again.

[thewizardofoz]

Status is controlled by the device / light that is operated. the older GE light switches do not have instant status updating. Leviton does and I believe Cooper does. The Leviton patent on the instant status updating has expired. The newer GE light switches have the status updating and the Homeseer branded light switches do as well.
If your devices do not have instant status updating, then Homeseer will only find out their status when it polls them vs an instant status update that will tell Homeseer it's status changed when it operated. The remote will not have the ability to tell Homeseer that it (for example, turned on 7 different lights) operated all the devices. You need to have the devices tell Homeseer not the remote.
The reason HS Touch and the Device Manager update the status is because Homeseer knows it did the change.

If use the remote to control an event that tells Homeseer to turn on a light, then HS knows it turned it on. The Intermatic remotes pair to the lights and will operate the light independent of HS and the HS has to wait for a poll to know unless that device has instant status updating.

Say button 1 on your HA07 turns on your living room lamp. What you can do is create an event for Living Room Lamp On that is triggered by button 1 on the HA07 that turns the lamp on. Then HS would know that status immediately.
If you control the light switch manually, HS will also not know the status unless it has instant status updating.

I used to do it that way, but have been changing out devices for instant status one by one and then selling the older devices on eBay.

[SJ Miller]

Thank you. This is very helpful - your explanation is much appreciated. For the moment, to achieve what I need, I'll adjust HS polling on nodes where an instant status update isn't available.

Ultimately, like you, I'll swap devices/switches etc out for newer ones with the instant status feature going forward.

Thanks, again!

[thewizardofoz]

Glad I could help