Difficulty Setting Up Insteon Bulb

[ilkgmmn00]

I am running HS3 with a USB dongle and the latest version of this plugin. I have an 8-button remote working with this plugin, but I also have some Insteon light bulbs that I can't seem to add to the plugin.
They were previously grouped in an old Insteon network of mine that is no longer active.
When going to the add device screen, it tells me
"Tap-add of Dual-Band A19 LED Bulb failed: The device properties could not be read. Communication failure. The device was not added."
I get a similar error when I attempt to manually add with the address listed on top of the bulb.
I have tried numerous times with both methods, and so far no luck.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[mnsandler]

enable detailed logging in the plugin and see if you get any responses from the bulb as the plugin sends cmds to it

post the log snippet of the registration process. please use the manual add method when doing this.

[ilkgmmn00]

Below is from my log in HS. I think I attempted to add 3 times.

Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 62 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2 06
Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon Received STX 0x50 (Raw Insteon Rec):2F 41 F1 31 18 74 22 0D 02 Debouncing repeat.
Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon Got Insteon Protocol Engine response from Insteon ID 2F.41.F1, Protocol i2CS
Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 06
Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon Received a Direct ACK from 2F.41.F1: 2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 0D 02
Feb-24 5:50:08 PM Insteon Received STX 0x50 (Raw Insteon Rec):2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 0D 02
Feb-24 5:50:07 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:50:07 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:50:07 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:50:07 PM Insteon Did not receive a response from House New Lamp Module (2F.41.F1). Try #1 failed.
Feb-24 5:50:04 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 06
Feb-24 5:50:04 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:50:04 PM Insteon GetInsteonProtocol for '2F.41.F1'
Feb-24 5:50:04 PM Insteon Got controller/responder type broadcast for Insteon ID 2F.41.F1 of type 013A, Firmware version 48
Feb-24 5:50:04 PM Insteon Received a Broadcast message from 2F.41.F1: 01 2F 41 F1 01 3A 48 8B 01 40
Feb-24 5:50:04 PM Insteon Received STX 0x50 (Raw Insteon Rec):2F 41 F1 01 3A 48 8B 01 40
Feb-24 5:50:03 PM Insteon Received a Direct ACK from 2F.41.F1: 2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 10 00
Feb-24 5:50:03 PM Insteon Received STX 0x50 (Raw Insteon Rec):2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 10 00
Feb-24 5:50:02 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 10 00 06
Feb-24 5:50:02 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 10 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:50:02 PM Insteon Sending Insteon ID Broadcast for '2F.41.F1'
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 6F 41 A2 01 2F 41 F1 00 00 00 06
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon Sending command 02 6F 41 A2 01 2F 41 F1 00 00 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:True
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon Calling AddRecord for 2F.41.F1 1 True
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon Scheduled polling temporarily stopped.
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon Attempting to add Device 2F.41.F1
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon In BackgroundUpdate Thread...
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon Launching new BackgroundUpdate Thread with job type 20...
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon Set add job data : Name:New Lamp Module
Feb-24 5:50:01 PM Insteon Confirm Add Device Selected
Feb-24 5:49:39 PM Insteon BackgroundUpdate Thread Complete...
Feb-24 5:49:39 PM Insteon The device properties could not be read. Communication failure. The device was not added.
Feb-24 5:49:39 PM Insteon Scheduled polling resumed.
Feb-24 5:49:39 PM Insteon Did not receive a response from House New Lamp Module (2F.41.F1). Try #5 failed.
Feb-24 5:49:35 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 62 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2 06
Feb-24 5:49:35 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:35 PM Insteon Received a Direct ACK from 2F.41.F1: 2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 0D 02
Feb-24 5:49:35 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:35 PM Insteon Received STX 0x50 (Raw Insteon Rec):2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 0D 02
Feb-24 5:49:35 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:35 PM Insteon **Internal transmit attempt failed for CMD: 00 00 00 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2
Feb-24 5:49:35 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:34 PM Insteon ..Retry #2 required. Pausing 300ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:34 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:34 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:34 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:34 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:34 PM Insteon **Internal transmit attempt failed for CMD: 00 00 00 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2
Feb-24 5:49:34 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:33 PM Insteon ..Retry #2 required. Pausing 300ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:33 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:33 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:33 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:33 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:33 PM Insteon **Internal transmit attempt failed for CMD: 00 00 00 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2
Feb-24 5:49:33 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon ..Retry #2 required. Pausing 300ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon **Internal transmit attempt failed for CMD: 00 00 00 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon ..Retry #2 required. Pausing 300ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:32 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 1A 2E 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 D2 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon Got Insteon Protocol Engine response from Insteon ID 2F.41.F1, Protocol i2CS
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 06
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon Received a Direct ACK from 2F.41.F1: 2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 0D 02
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon Received STX 0x50 (Raw Insteon Rec):2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 0D 02
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon **Internal transmit attempt failed for CMD: 00 00 00 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00
Feb-24 5:49:31 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:30 PM Insteon ..Retry #2 required. Pausing 300ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:30 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:30 PM Insteon ..Retry #1 required. Pausing 250ms for RF Dongle to clear...
Feb-24 5:49:30 PM Insteon ..Got NAK from the RF Dongle for command
Feb-24 5:49:30 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:30 PM Insteon Did not receive a response from House New Lamp Module (2F.41.F1). Try #1 failed.
Feb-24 5:49:26 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 06
Feb-24 5:49:26 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 0D 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:26 PM Insteon GetInsteonProtocol for '2F.41.F1'
Feb-24 5:49:26 PM Insteon Got controller/responder type broadcast for Insteon ID 2F.41.F1 of type 013A, Firmware version 48
Feb-24 5:49:26 PM Insteon Received a Broadcast message from 2F.41.F1: 01 2F 41 F1 01 3A 48 8B 01 40
Feb-24 5:49:26 PM Insteon Received STX 0x50 (Raw Insteon Rec):2F 41 F1 01 3A 48 8B 01 40
Feb-24 5:49:26 PM Insteon Received a Direct ACK from 2F.41.F1: 2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 10 00
Feb-24 5:49:26 PM Insteon Received STX 0x50 (Raw Insteon Rec):2F 41 F1 31 18 74 2B 10 00
Feb-24 5:49:25 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 10 00 06
Feb-24 5:49:25 PM Insteon Sending command 02 62 2F 41 F1 0A 10 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:False
Feb-24 5:49:25 PM Insteon Sending Insteon ID Broadcast for '2F.41.F1'
Feb-24 5:49:24 PM Insteon ..Got RF Dongle Response 02 6F 41 A2 01 2F 41 F1 00 00 00 06
Feb-24 5:49:24 PM Insteon Sending command 02 6F 41 A2 01 2F 41 F1 00 00 00 to RF Dongle, (Expecting 0 bytes extra back) Pre-Payload ACK:False, NAK is ok:True
Feb-24 5:49:24 PM Insteon Calling AddRecord for 2F.41.F1 1 True
Feb-24 5:49:24 PM Insteon Scheduled polling temporarily stopped.
Feb-24 5:49:24 PM Insteon Attempting to add Device 2F.41.F1
Feb-24 5:49:24 PM Insteon In BackgroundUpdate Thread...
Feb-24 5:49:23 PM Insteon Launching new BackgroundUpdate Thread with job type 20...
Feb-24 5:49:23 PM Insteon Set add job data : Name:New Lamp Module
Feb-24 5:49:23 PM Insteon Confirm Add Device Selected

[mnsandler]

the RF Dongle seems to be NAKing the cmds to read the A19 bulb settings

what is your Response Timeout setting on the plugin config page? try increasing it.

[ilkgmmn00]

the RF Dongle seems to be NAKing the cmds to read the A19 bulb settings

what is your Response Timeout setting on the plugin config page? try increasing it.

The response timeout was at 3s. I changed it to the max 5s and tried a few more times. Same error popped up. What does this error mean exactly?

[mnsandler]

the rf dongle isn't responding to the plugin which is prevent the plugin from finishing the registration process.

are you having this same issue registering other devices?

[ilkgmmn00]

the rf dongle isn't responding to the plugin which is prevent the plugin from finishing the registration process.

are you having this same issue registering other devices?

The only other device I've registered is the remote and it added with no problem. I will try a reboot of the computer and see if that helps.

[ilkgmmn00]

Well the restarting of the pc did not solve the problem.
So then I got to experimenting with different fixtures. It was initially in a lamp, which I was unaware of being plugged into a surge protector. I tried putting the bulb in my kitchen fixture, which is simply straight wired to power. The adding of the bulb worked from that fixture.
I then increased the number of attempts and tried to control the bulb after placing it back in the lamp. It did not work at this point.
I finally found out the lamp was on a surge protector, so then I unplugged it and plugged it into a wall socket. It seems to work now.
I knew powerline devices would have a problem with surge protectors, but I guess I just didn't think an RF device would be affected by it.
Anyhow, just wanted to share in case anyone has the same problems I had.

Edit: I apparently spoke too soon. While the initial attempts at turning off and on at the time of this post worked, it now does not reliably work. I guess maybe my setup is not ideal for insteon bulbs. So now I have 3 insteon bulbs that I can't seem to use in my home. Does anyone have a need for 3 of these bulbs?

[mnsandler]

I think the issue is the RF signal isn't making it from the dongle to the bulb reliably. you might consider one or more access points to help the RF signal.

[ilkgmmn00]

I have just ordered 2 access points. I feel like this would help my remote's function as well, since sometimes it is slow to respond. Will provide an update when I am able to test them out.

[mnsandler]

as you deploy more dual band devices across the house, the rf signal will get stronger. I don't use Access points anymore since all my switches are dual-band devices.

please report back your results

[ilkgmmn00]

If I understand the insteon protocol correctly, as I add the two access points it should also send powerline commands to the bulbs for times where the RF signal doesn't reach the device. Can this function through a simple on/off switch (IE my lamps) that aren't plugged in through a surge protector?

[mnsandler]

If I understand the insteon protocol correctly, as I add the two access points it should also send powerline commands to the bulbs for times where the RF signal doesn't reach the device. Can this function through a simple on/off switch (IE my lamps) that aren't plugged in through a surge protector?

insteon msgs will not pass through a mechanical on/off switch when the switch is off.