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    z-NET V1 vs V2

    I just got a second Z-NET to potentially experiment with helping extend homeseer's reach in my z-wave network (even though a lot of forum posts seem to indicate this is hell and not to do it)...

    But I noticed that the new one I got says V2 in the web based config page? (See attachments) What are the differences between V1 and V2?
    Attached Files

    #2
    V2 firmware is based on a newer version of the Raspbian OS, so it can support the Raspberry Pi model 3 which has integrated WiFi.

    The V2 will run on the older hardware (rpi model 2), but V1 won't run on the model 3.

    Featurewise, the two are identical.

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      #3
      Thanks! That would explain why I saw WiFi settings without the WiFi USB adapter!

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        #4
        So the latest Z nets have wifi built in? That would help. Is upgrade from v1 unit to v2 explained anywhere here
        HS3 , Zwave, HometrollerS6, ELK M1G Ultra; mcs sprinklers; WGL800; BLRF; BLNetCallerID; BLSpeech

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          #5
          - Pete

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            #6
            The original Z-Net was a Pi 2. The V2 firmware was released initially on a Pi 2 board, but toward the end of July last year, Z-Nets started shipping with a Pi 3 board. As zwolfpack stated the V2 firmware (software) is based on a newer Rasbian release and will run on any Z-Net. The V2 will support the built in WiFi on the Pi 3.

            I had two of the original Z-Nets since the beta release and purchased one of the Pi3 based units in July last year. I changed out the Pi board on the 2 older units replacing the Pi2 with a Pi3 on both. I am running V2 software on all three. I also ditched the Transcend SD cards for high quality SanDisk cards. I had 3 separate SD card corruptions in the first year of running the 2 original Z-Nets. Rumor has it that the Pi3 is less prone to that corruption, though I do not know that to be a fact.
            Running this configuration since September last year with 0 problems with any of the 3 Z-Nets.
            HS4 Pro, 4.2.19.0 Windows 10 pro, Supermicro LP Xeon

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              #7
              Originally posted by gfs View Post
              So the latest Z nets have wifi built in? That would help. Is upgrade from v1 unit to v2 explained anywhere here
              What do you mean by upgrade? As far as I know there is no upgrade path as provided by HST. You could replace your original Z-Net with a V2 by backing up your original and restoring to a new V2. You can also do what I did and purchase a new V2 and clone the SD card when you receive it, then replace your original Pi2 with a Pi3 and use the cloned software.

              The Z-Wave network is NOT stored on the SD card or anywhere on the Pi board, it is all in flash memory on the GPIO Z-Wave card. The entire network follows the GPIO card, so you can put an old GPIO in a new Z-Net and your network will be intact.

              The GPIO card is the smaller board on the left in this photo.

              Click image for larger version

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              I also notched my lower housing, to make it easier to swap the SD card. I keep a spare card with each Z-Net to install if one ever fails.

              Click image for larger version

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              HS4 Pro, 4.2.19.0 Windows 10 pro, Supermicro LP Xeon

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                #8
                Originally posted by gfs View Post
                So the latest Z nets have wifi built in? That would help. Is upgrade from v1 unit to v2 explained anywhere here
                I upgraded my v1. Bought a rpi3 from Amazon, then built up my own OS. Subsequent to this, znetv2 version 1.0.17 was posted which you can burn to an SD card.

                If you undertake this, I'd advise not reusing the SD card that came with the original znet. My original failed to boot up fairly frequently (no problems though once started). Once I replaced the original card (Transcend brand), I don't recall any failed boot-ups over three different pi's -- and some of these I boot frequently. I've used Samsung EVO and Kingston brands.

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                  #9
                  Originally posted by rprade View Post
                  What do you mean by upgrade? As far as I know there is no upgrade path as provided by HST. You could replace your original Z-Net with a V2 by backing up your original and restoring to a new V2. You can also do what I did and purchase a new V2 and clone the SD card when you receive it, then replace your original Pi2 with a Pi3 and use the cloned software.

                  The Z-Wave network is NOT stored on the SD card or anywhere on the Pi board, it is all in flash memory on the GPIO Z-Wave card. The entire network follows the GPIO card, so you can put an old GPIO in a new Z-Net and your network will be intact.

                  The GPIO card is the smaller board on the left in this photo.

                  [ATTACH]61052[/ATTACH]

                  I also notched my lower housing, to make it easier to swap the SD card. I keep a spare card with each Z-Net to install if one ever fails.

                  [ATTACH]61054[/ATTACH]
                  Thank you!
                  Duh me - I found the micro SD card underneath the board. Dang, my glasses are wearing out!

                  When you say "..you can put an old GPIO in a new Z-Net and your network will be intact." Are you meaning I could buy a second PI 3 to use as a hardware backup and then just switch out the GPIO and SD cards to bring it back up should the old ZEE fail? Also, if I don't need or use Z-Wave do I even need the GPIO board? Sorry for the NOOB questions.

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                    #10
                    Originally posted by avpman View Post
                    Thank you!
                    Duh me - I found the micro SD card underneath the board. Dang, my glasses are wearing out!

                    When you say "..you can put an old GPIO in a new Z-Net and your network will be intact." Are you meaning I could buy a second PI 3 to use as a hardware backup and then just switch out the GPIO and SD cards to bring it back up should the old ZEE fail?
                    Yes. Though I have seen SD cards fail a number of times, but have never seen a Pi board failure. For that reason I keep a preconfigured cloned SD card attached to each of my Z-Nets. If a board was to fail, putting the GPIO and SD card on a new Pi board will bring the network back up.

                    If the GPIO board fails (which I also have never seen or heard of) you could replace that and restore from a Z-Wave network backup. I have one spare Z-Net in the workshop, just in case I ever have a Pi or GPIO board fail. I also run a nice little automatic network backup python script that zwolfpack was kind enough to post.
                    HS4 Pro, 4.2.19.0 Windows 10 pro, Supermicro LP Xeon

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                      #11
                      Originally posted by avpman View Post
                      Also, if I don't need or use Z-Wave do I even need the GPIO board? Sorry for the NOOB questions.
                      Correct, the GPIO board is only for zwave; you don't need it if your not using that.



                      Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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                        #12
                        Originally posted by avpman View Post
                        Thank you!
                        Duh me - I found the micro SD card underneath the board. Dang, my glasses are wearing out!

                        When you say "..you can put an old GPIO in a new Z-Net and your network will be intact." Are you meaning I could buy a second PI 3 to use as a hardware backup and then just switch out the GPIO and SD cards to bring it back up should the old ZEE fail? Also, if I don't need or use Z-Wave do I even need the GPIO board? Sorry for the NOOB questions.
                        You added a question after I answered your post. Like zwolfpack stated, the GPIO is only for Z-Wave, so it won't mater - though I see no advantage in removing it. This thread was initially about the Z-Net, its only purpose is Z-Wave
                        HS4 Pro, 4.2.19.0 Windows 10 pro, Supermicro LP Xeon

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                          #13
                          Originally posted by rprade View Post
                          The original Z-Net was a Pi 2.
                          Actually, the original Z-NET was based on the Pi-1 B+ board. When supplies of that board dried up, we moved to the Pi-2 board. When those supplies dried up, we went to the Pi-3 board. The only feature change of any consequence is the Pi-3 board does have built-in WiFi. Otherwise, each revision uses the same 500 series Z-Wave module and the Z-Wave performance has remained essentially the same. The "V2" designation denotes the image that runs on the Pi-2/3 boards.
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                            #14
                            Originally posted by macromark View Post
                            Actually, the original Z-NET was based on the Pi-1 B+ board. When supplies of that board dried up, we moved to the Pi-2 board. When those supplies dried up, we went to the Pi-3 board. The only feature change of any consequence is the Pi-3 board does have built-in WiFi. Otherwise, each revision uses the same 500 series Z-Wave module and the Z-Wave performance has remained essentially the same. The "V2" designation denotes the image that runs on the Pi-2/3 boards.
                            Can a Z-Wave GPIO board be purchased for a backup? $?
                            Thanks!

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Originally posted by macromark View Post
                              Actually, the original Z-NET was based on the Pi-1 B+ board. When supplies of that board dried up, we moved to the Pi-2 board. When those supplies dried up, we went to the Pi-3 board. The only feature change of any consequence is the Pi-3 board does have built-in WiFi. Otherwise, each revision uses the same 500 series Z-Wave module and the Z-Wave performance has remained essentially the same. The "V2" designation denotes the image that runs on the Pi-2/3 boards.
                              I forgot about that. The original I purchased under the beta program was a Pi1 B+. It was replaced under warranty a few months later just after I purchased a replacement. Both the one I purchased and the warranty replacement were Pi2 boards. The third one I purchased in early July last year was a Pi2 but was a V2 software version. I gave it to my brother when his original Z-Net failed. He gave me the replacement he received in late July and it was a Pi3.
                              HS4 Pro, 4.2.19.0 Windows 10 pro, Supermicro LP Xeon

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