READ 1st: Getting started & Troubleshooting with the plugin

[mnsandler]

Supported controller: PLM 2412S, PLM 2412U, PLM 2413S, PLM 2413U, USB Adapter 2448A7, and the Insteon Hub 2245-222 (except Hub Pro).

Special Note: PLMs and Hubs must be plugged directly into an outlet...not a power strip or surge protector. you will have problems if you do.

How is the Insteon Hub used with the MNS Plugin
The plugin does not use any of the existing configuration written by the Insteon app. The plugin will only use the internal PLM to store links to your devices and groups, and to send and receive insteon messages. All insteon configuration is stored in an insteon.ini within your HS4 platform.

***** If you have troubles along the way, please read the Troubleshooting Insteon Issues post below and post the requested information. We can't help without details.

You must have either an Insteon Hub or an Insteon PLM to use this plugin with Homeseer. if you have a PLM, you must connect it with the provided cable (either the RJ45 to DB9 serial cable or RJ45 to USB cable), then skip down to Step 1.

Step 0: Before you begin with the plugin, test access to your hub from a browser:

• Login into http://x.x.x.x:25105 and use the credentials on the bottom of the Insteon Hub. x.x.x.x is the local IP address of the hub. if you don't know the IP address of your insteon hub, see the next bullet. for the username and password, an upper case eye can look like a lower case L. an Oh looks like a zero. Try different letters until you get it right.
• There are a number of methods you can use to find the IP address of your Insteon hub. Here are two:
  • Log into your home router and look in your router dhcp server (or ip address mappings) to find the IP address associated with the mac address (e.g. 00-0e-f3-34-27-85) similar to the hub insteon id [look on the bottom] (the last 3 pairs of numbers of the mac address is your hub insteon ID)
  • If you don't have easy access to your router or are unsure how to gain access, you can use a network scanner instead. Click here for instructions on how to do this using a Windows PC.

Continue only if you get a hub information page after successfully logging in. Otherwise something isn't right.

Once you have the plugin installed in HS4

1. Go to the Plugin Manage page, and enable the plugin
2. Go to the More/Settings plugin page
3. In the Interface Port field:
   • If you’re using an Insteon hub, enter its local IP address, then a colon, then 25105 (which is the http port number).
     Example: 192.168.1.83:25105
   • 
   • If you are using a PLM on a Windows system, enter COM1, COM2, etc.
   • If you are using a PLM on a Linux system, the port names are /dev/ttyUSB0, /dev/ttyUSB1, etc
4. Click Save at the bottom and allow the plugin to contact the interface.
5. if you are using the Hub, you will need to enter the username and password on the Settings page. Click Save and wait a few seconds.
   • This user and password can be found on the bottom of the Insteon Hub. This is not your old Insteon app login info, or any Homeseer license or account information.
   • 
6. If all goes well, you should see a message on the page or in the hs log (tools/log menu) that indicates the plugin found the interface on the correct port. It will identify the insteon ID and firmware version.
   • Do not continue if you do not get a similar message.
   • Hub contacted on 192.168.1.83:25105 with an Insteon address of 34.27.85 and firmware version A5
     **** Restart the Insteon Hub if you get errors ****
7. Navigate to plugin’s Interface page and click the DISPLAY INTERFACE LINKS button to see all links in the hub’s database. Copy and paste this information to a document
8. (Optional) Run the plugin Interface/Reset Interface routine to clear out the Insteon hub link database. To erase old Schedules, perform a Factory Reset to the Insteon hub.

Notes: The plugin creates two devices automatically:

• A Global Insteon Group which can control all dimmers and switches
• An Insteon plugin device that contains all your device and group registration information as backup. See the MNS Insteon tab on that device.

To register devices: (BUT DO NOT REGISTER THE INSTEON HUB AS A DEVICE; ITS NOT NECESSARY AND WILL FAIL)

1. Go to the plugin Devices page,
2. Click Add Device, enter the insteon id, and other info, then click Add device.
3. Go to to the HS Devices page to try and control the new device.
4. if the device doesn't respond, please restart HS4.

To Tap-Add a device (if you don't know the Insteon ID)

1. Go to the plugin Devices page,
2. Click Tap Add Device, and follow the instructions.
3. Remember to run Program Device for Homeseer function on each device you tap add to complete the programming

To Delete a plugin/Insteon Device

1. Select the checkbox for the device from the plugin Devices page, then click the Delete Device button below

• Do not delete any devices from the HS Devices page, the plugin will manage those.

If you have Troubles and need help in the forum, I need the following:
- Summarize the problem; what you were doing when the problem occurred
- Post the HS Log that shows the problem: Goto to the hs tools/log menu, Export the log of the transactions, download it and attach it to your post
- If the hs log indicates an insteon error was written to the insteon log, Post the Insteon error report log (from the plugin interface page)
- Post the HS Tools/about page info
- Post a list of steps that can help recreate the problem/error; keep it simple and too the point.
- A screen shot of the issue might be helpful
- See the Troubleshooting section below

To create scenes or groups in the plugin:

1. Go to the plugin Groups page
2. Click Add
3. Select an optional Controller device (ie a switch, or KPL button)
4. Check the participants to include in the Group and the set the on level and/or ramp rate settings
5. Click Save Changes

To create Events and Schedules, see the HS Events page
- there are Insteon Triggers and Insteon Actions you can use as needed

- Create the following Event using the Insteon trigger and Insteon action; this will make several backups of your insteon setup



To post an HS log if you have issues or get errors (Do not copy and post the log, its unreadable)
- Goto to the hs tools/log menu, Export the log of the transactions, download it and attach it to your post

To Control devices with Alexa

• https://homeseer.com/amazon-alexa-integration/
• See the following forum for support:
  • https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/ho...art-home-skill

To control devices with the Homeseer App
https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/ho...seer-mobile

**** Please start your own thread for each new topic/question; please do not hijack someone else's thread.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Existing documentation:
https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/li...on-plm-plug-in

------------------------------------------------------------------------
also check out https://docs.homeseer.com

[macromark]

Lessons Learned Along the Way

1. Make regular backups from the HS Tools/Backup menu
2. Internal hub schedules may continue to run. You will eventually need to factory reset the hub to clear these out. No configuration data will be lost (its stored in HS4). Run the Interface/Update Interface routine to reprogram the Hub's link database.
3. Insteon thermostats require the new beta Insteon Thermostat plugin. see this forum Insteon Thermostat
4. Scenes can be rebuilt using Groups. There is no import.
5. The plugin does not read any configurations in the hub written by the insteon app.
6. The username and passwords on the bottom of the hub can be upper or lower case: an upper case eye can look like a lower case L.
7. you can get a list of your insteon IDs after you connect the plugin and display the interface links from the plugin Interface page. look for links that start with E2 00 or EA 00, and possibly A2 01. Copy the entire list to a document for reference later.
8. If you are having trouble controlling devices after setup, please restart HS4.
9. Consider setting up a static IP (or IP reservation) on your home router's DHCP server to give the same IP to your hub after a reboot; you will need the full mac address to set this up. It will look something like this 00-0e-f3-34-27-85. Otherwise, If the hub's IP changes, you will need to change it in the plugin Settings page.
10. After you register a device and want to control via Alexa, set the Alexa Discovery option on the HS Devices pages. You need to install the Homeseer Smarthome skill on your Alexa app.
11. Once you have registered all your devices, you can deleted links from devices that reference an "unregistered" device or unknown group.
12. To restart HS4: For the HomeTroller Plus you can restart from the windows start menu. You can do this with a monitor attached, or you can use remote desktop to access the unit. For the PI-HUB you can restart from the tools menu.
13. Please disable any Z-wave plugins from the Plugins/manage page if you are not using any Z-wave devices.

[mnsandler]

To Factory Reset the Insteon Hub
This will erase any Schedules and clear the hub link database, but will not delete any plugin data. the last step will reprogram the insteon hub link database

1. Stop the plugin from the Plugins/manage page
2. Disconnect Insteon Hub from power
3. Press and hold the set button while reconnecting power. Insteon Hub will emit a long beep.
4. When the long beep ends, release the set button. Insteon Hub will double-beep and after 30 seconds, Insteon Hub will beep again.
5. Power cycle Insteon Hub by disconnecting and then reconnecting it to power.
6. Restart the plugin
7. If you have already Added devices to the plugin, Goto the plugin Interface page and run Update Interface

To Reset Network Settings on Insteon Hub (2014) Square
For Insteon Hub (2014), a network reset will perform these actions:

• Clears the Hub and server connection cache
• Resets the Hub user name and password to match the label on the bottom of the Hub
• Restarts the Hub

1. With the Insteon Hub powered on, quickly tap the set button three (3x) times
2. Insteon Hub will beep three times
3. After several moments, Insteon Hub will restart and the status LED will turn steady green.
4. Unplug Insteon Hub and wait for about 30 seconds
5. Reconnect power to the Insteon Hub

To Reset Network Settings on Insteon Hub (2012) Rectangle
For Insteon Hub (2012), a network reset will perform these actions:

• Clears the Hub back end user name and password
• Clears the Hub IP Address and enables DHCP

1. With the Insteon Hub powered on, press and hold the set button until the Hub beeps
2. Slowly tap the set button six (6x) times
3. Unplug Insteon Hub and wait for about 30 seconds
4. Reconnect power to the Insteon Hub

To Factory Reset the PLM

• This will erase everything in the unit! The plugin can rewrite the necessary information.

1. Pull the PLM out of the wall for at least 10 seconds.
2. Press the black set button and continue to hold it while you insert it back into the 120 VAC line.
3. A long beep will sound; continue holding Set button until beep stops, then release.
4. After several seconds, status LED will turn on to indicate reset is complete.

[mnsandler]

Troubleshooting Insteon Issues (please do this if you previously had everything working)

1. Power cycle the Insteon PLM or Hub
2. Restart the plugin
3. Confirm that plugin contacted the Insteon hub; fix any Settings (make sure the Insteon hub ip didn't change)
4. Confirm all your Devices and Groups are listed on the plugin pages.
   • If not, do not proceed to Step 4
   • You need to restore your system via the HS tools menu (ie the insteon.ini file)
   • Start a New Topic in the forum for help.
5. Enable detailed logging on the plugin Settings page
6. Retest
7. Verify
8. Restart HS4 and test again
   • Restarting HS4 requires closing the windows HS4 app or service, or using the Restart menu option on a HomeTroller hub. Closing the browser does not restart HS4. It must be shutdown and restarted.
9. If this doesn't fix the issue, please see the next section about posting information to the forum.

Posting a Screen shot to a forum Post (for windows)
Use the Shift-Windows key-S to start the screen capture. Then select the screen section you want to capture. then use the Paste (ctrl-v) function in the body of the forum post to paste the capture.


Posting an Issue/Problem to the Forum for support

- Enable detailed logging on the plugin Settings page
- Retest
- Post the HS Log that shows the problem: Goto to the hs tools/log menu, Export the log of the transactions, download it and attach it to your post
- If the hs log indicates an insteon error was written to the insteon log, Post the Insteon error report log (from the plugin interface page)
- Post the HS Tools/about page info (delete the WAN IP)
- Post a list of steps that can help recreate the problem/error; keep it simple and too the point. A screen shot of the issue might be helpful

Update The Plugin
it might help if the release notes indicates the exact problem you are having. (you might need to disable the plugin, and restart HS4 before the update will install.)


- Do Not delete and reinstall the plugin (that never helps; it is a waste of time; and may create more problems)
- Do Not make a lot of changes to your setup trying to fix the problem; making too many changes makes it difficult to replicate the issue and follow what has happened.
- Do Not copy and paste the hs log into a Post, its unreadable in the format pasted
- Do Not delete any HS devices created by the plugin; the plugin manages those.
- Do Not factory reset the hub unless directed to.
- Do Not power cycling your Hometroller. you must restart it from the HS menu

[mnsandler]

Swapping the Insteon Interface

Here are the basic steps:

1.shutdown the plugin

2.connect the new plm or hub

3.restart the plugin

4.On the Settings page, set the new port for the new Interface (for a PLM on Windows: COM1, COM2, etc, for a PLM on HT Pi or Linux: /dev/ttyUSB0, /dev/ttyUSB1, etc)
- if swapping to a different Hub, you will need the new IP address and credentials on the bottom.

*** check the hs log and verify the plugin found the new interface ***

DO NOT CONTINUE IF THE PLUGIN DOES NOT FIND THE NEW INTERFACE

5.execute the plugin Interface/Swap Interface function (you will need to enter the insteon address of the OLD device; the plugin already knows about the new ID)
- the plugin will run through the devices and update them. this will be slow depending on the number of devices, groups, and links.
- you will get a report based on the results

6. you may run the swap again if it wasn't successful on certain devices. the routine only programs devices with the old interface id. The plugin will wait for you to put RF devices into link mode, and then ask you to press a Continue button. Turn off linking mode OFF for the RF device after the routine moves onto the next device.

7.once the swap is complete, goto the plugin Groups page

8. reprogram existing groups from the Groups page. select all the groups and click Reprogram

9.click the plugin interface/update interface to update the address database from main config page (this may not be necessary; will add missing links)

10.visit existing devices and delete any unnecessary links or run the "program device for homeseer" if it is still referencing the old PLM address and not the new one.

Done.

Troubleshooting if communications is not working as expected

1. click the reset interface btn from the plugin interface page
2. reread and verify the links for the devices in question. reprogram using the 'program device for homeseer' button as necessary.

[mnsandler]

Setting up a Fanlinc with a 6 btn KPL

1. Add the fanlinc device to the plugin from Devices/Add Device page
2. Add the 6 btn KPL to the plugin
3. configure the A-D buttons into a single radio button group per the setup below. click Save Changes
   
4. create links from the KPL Device edit page

1. KPL On/Load to control the fanlinc light
2. KPL A to control the fanlinc fan off
3. KPL B to control the fanlinc fan Low
4. KPL C to control the fanlinc fan Medium
5. KPL D to control the fanlinc fan High

5. Enable the sync linked responder devices option from the Edit Settings page




Test control of the fanlinc from the HS UI page. click the KPL buttons to test control. there will be some delay

if you control the fanlinc HS device directly from the HS UI, the KPL will not stay in sync. you would need to create HS events to update the KPL. the plugin can't be configured to do this.

Alexa control:
If you want to control the fanlinc from alexa, do the following

create four groups, one for each fan speed: include the associated kpl button and the fanlinc fan speed
create one group to control the fanlinc light: include the fanlinc light and the kpl on/load button

[mnsandler]

Restoring your insteon setup if it disappears after a power failure on a Pi

Note: all linux commands are case sensitive!

If you lose your insteon setup, you may be able to restore it, if the Insteon.ini.tmp file is good.

To check the files:

From the Linux command line or from Linux tools in HS4 under Tools > System > Linux Tools, you can run the following command:

ls Config

look for an Insteon.ini.tmp file in the list. There may be other files listed as well you cna check: insteon0.ini, insteon1.ini, etc

To check the contents of the Insteon.ini.tmp file:

From the Linux command line or from Linux tools in HS4 under Tools > System > Linux Tools, you can run the following command:

cat Config/Insteon.ini.tmp

check the output and see if it contains your setup, devices, and groups.

To restore the tmp file:

1. disable the plugin from the Plugin/manage page

2. From the Linux command line or from Linux tools in HS4 under Tools > System > Linux Tools, you can run the following command:

This will remove the main .ini file and replace it with the backup.

sudo mv -f Config/Insteon.ini.tmp Config/Insteon.ini

3. enable the plugin

4. verify the plugin connected to the insteon hub in the hs log, and that your devices and groups are displayed on the plugin pages.

[mnsandler]

Comparison of my insteon plugins vs the unsupported HSInsteon plugin

https://forums.homeseer.com/forum/ho...insteon-plugin

[mnsandler]

Updating the Plugin

1. From the Plugins/Manage page, disable the current MNS Insteon plugin
2. Click on the cloud icon which will show you the latest version available.
3. Click on the Update button.
4. Enable the plugin to start the new version.