Preset Dim and Smartgroup

[1080iAddict]

Can someone help me here. I am trying to create a simple event whereby our home theater lights (these are Switchlincs on codes B4, B5 and B6) will all Preset Dim to 20% at the same time, i.e., during the coming attractions of the movie. I can create this event and it works if I do not check Smartgroup, but each light Preset Dims one at a time, as expected. Whenever I turn Smartgroup on, however, only B4 Preset Dims and the other lights don't respond at all. I tried this repeatedly and it only works with Smartgroup off, but the lights respond one at a time which is visually displeasing. However, I can get all the lights to turn off with Smartgroup on as a separate event and that works fine.

It seems Preset Dim on multiple lights with Smartgroup is not compatible - at least with Swichlincs. Is this true? If so, is there a workaround?

Thanks,

ach

[1080iAddict]

Not to be a pain, but, can someone test this for me so I know if I am missing something? Am I to assume I cannot set multiple Switchlinc addresses to Preset Dim at the same dimming level at the same time using Smartgroup? Sounds pretty simple, but it does not seem to work.

[bdickhaus]

I'll take a look at it this weekend. I might want to do the same thing once I get all my new switches installed.

Bill

[Will McQueen]

Sorry I can't answer your question directly, but I use scenes to have multiple Switchlincs dim to the same level simultaneously.

[1080iAddict]

Bill, thanks so much. Please test that for me. All you need to do is create 3 devices based on the Switchlincs you install (BTW, are you installing 2 way Switchlincs or the 1 way Switchlinc Plus devices???), make sure you pick Switchlinc as the devicetype and select 'preset dim' as the dimming type. Then, create a simple event and drag the 3 devices into the event, set the 3 devices to preset dim the devices to 50%, and select Smartgroup. Then run the event.

When I do that, only one Switchlinc will preset dim to 50% and the others remain off - no matter how many times I try it. But, if I un-select Smartgroup, all three will preset dim to 50%, albiet one at a time.

I will anxiously await your results.

Will -

My devices are not scene capable - they are Switchlinc Plus devices, I have 40 installed in my house, so I could not do 2 ways due to signal drain.

p.s. Anyone got a workaround for this?

[bdickhaus]

If they are SwitchLinc Plus then they are scene capable. Mine are 2-way and scene capable, I just didn't want to go through the hassle of programming them. I wish HomeSeer had a 'Linc scene plugin. I'm tempted to write one myself.

Bill

[1080iAddict]

Bill -

THANK YOU. You may not believe this, but I never tried scenes - I always relied on HS for this task!! Never knew 'dem switches could do that!!! You were right - it works perfectly.

Still, HS should allow this but it does not seem to work. Must be a perfectly good reason, but thanks for the workaround!

[1080iAddict]

OK. I just need to vent and say that I am the biggest loser and idiot on the Board here. I had HS for 2 years now and I have 40 Switchlincs. Never tried a scene via programming at the switch in my life.

I never tried scenes although I heard of them. I always used HS events triggered by an X-10 command to set my scene lighting. It was painfully slow, smartgroup worked sometimes (see above) and it took, at times, 30 seconds to set the house, light by light. Now I find out it can be instantaneous house-wide using scenes. And, each switch can support 64 scenes. Unreal.

Bill (and Will), I owe you guys big. Now I am a scene monster running around the house with my new toy I never knew I had.

Only problem is, now I only use HS for automating the outside lights at night. I need to graduate to the next level. I need to try, dare I say it, a ...... script!!

-ach

[Eug]

I have some LampLincs which aren't scene-capable. Unfortunately, I had the same problem you experienced when trying to Smartgroup preset dim commands to them.

I assume that it's just not possible, but if anyone knows otherwise, I'd love to know about it.

[1080iAddict]

Are we talking hardware limitation or software limitation? Can this feature be fixed in HS?

[HAHobbiest]

I am so glad to hear someone else is having this problem. I have a ton of SwitchLincs and did not notice this post until today. Turning off SmartGroup finally fixed the same problem I've been having for forever.

Would be nice if I could still use SmartGroup with my older (non-preset diming capable) wall switches. Oh well.

[Jim Doolittle]

I believe the SmartGroup issue is an X10 protocol limitation involving the use of preset dims. I do not have Switchlincs but I suspect that they use extended "X10" commands to overcome preset-dim limitations. That suggests that HomeSeer should be able to duplicate the scene functionality but would likely require a plug-in. I believe HomeSeer already has a plug-in(s) for other scene capable lighting.

[bdickhaus]

It is an X10 protocol limitation. SmartGroup uses the non extended X10 on/off/dim/bright commands which include the ability to specifiy multiple units for one house code in a single X10 command. The preset dim command format does not allow for this. It is not possible to do with X10, it is not a HomeSeer limitation.

For the same reasons, if you issue a command like:

hs.ExecX10 "A1+2+3+4", "Preset Dim", 15

Four individual X10 commands will be sent out in sequence. But if you issue this command:

hs.ExecX10 "A1+2+3+4", "On"

One X10 command will go out turning all four lights on at once.

However, it does sound like a "bug" in SmartGroup, although it might be how it was designed. Like ExecX10, it should figure out it has to send 4 commands, rather than just one, but it appears it sends only one, for the first device in the group.

Bill