Anybody Got An Idea On This Easy Light Linker Problem? (resolved)

[Guest guest]

I shot a note to LOR support on this, but I'm pretty sure they're completely overwhelmed right now. So I'm wondering if anyone here has any thoughts that would help me avoid being one more noob clogging up their support if there is something simple I'm overlooking. Here's the situation:

I have four Easy Light Linkers which I tested this summer, indoors from one room to another. But now that I have my display up I can't seem to be able to figure out how to get them to work at all. The one I have hooked to my inside controller started with LED #1 blinking as it should and the second one flickering here and there. (Neiither LED lights at all at this point.) But Hardware couldn't see any of the three groups of controllers I had attached to the other three Easy Light Linkers outside. (Inside ELL was plugged into the right-hand data-out "plug-in" of my indoor controller. Outside ELLs were pugged into the center "input" ones.)

I hard-wire from my indoor controller to the closest group of controllers outside and Hardware could then see that group of controllers. I then moved the ELL associated to that group to the output plug at the end of that chain to see if I could connecte to the input ELLs of the other two controller groups -- still nothing (Hardware couldn't see them), so it wasn't just the indoors ELL. I plugged the indoors ELL back into my indoor controller and now the LEDs don't even blink. Not even when I plug it directly into the USB 485B.

Any thoughts on what I am most likely doing wrong? And thank you in advance.

[Guest guest]

Dave:

You definitely have something going on with the ELL connected to the computer. LED1 must flash, indicating it has power. Cable problem? Do you see the USB serial com port in your hardware list? If yes, then try another cat 5 cable between the 485B and the inside transmit ELL. If no, try another USB cable. You need to see LED 1 flashing and then LED2 pulse.

I got my ssytem installed this weekend with 3 outside "islands" and one inside ELL. Works perfect.

Mike

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Mike. I will definitely try those things when I get home tonight after class. Really appreciate the help!

[Guest guest]

Dave:

Once you get this little glitch figured out you'll love them. Just make sure you get the firmware updated to 2.8 if it is not already there.

Mike

[Guest guest]

No luck so far, and support no doubt still overwhelmed after a noob-filled weekend of setting up (of which I am one). So as a backup I bought some long cables to connect directly and took tomorrow off to keep things moving forward. I'll work on it more once I get everything else done.

Thanks again. LOVE the LOR controllers.

[Guest guest]

Dave Sanderson wrote:

No luck so far, and support no doubt still overwhelmed after a noob-filled weekend of setting up (of which I am one). So as a backup I bought some long cables to connect directly and took tomorrow off to keep things moving forward. I'll work on it more once I get everything else done.

Thanks again. LOVE the LOR controllers.

It looks like the email I sent you last night was lost. I've attached it below:

The USB485B must be plugged directly into a port on the computer. If you use a USB hub (like those built into some monitors) it will limit the power available to the USB485B. With no LOR software running, disconnect and connect the USB485B -- does Windows make the two tone sound in each case as expected?

Verify that the ELLs boot. Plug each one, one at a time, into a controller that is powered up -- LED1 should flash approximately once/second. If this doesn't happen, try another controller and/or cable. If the ELL doesn't flash LED1 approximately once/sec, it's dead.

Make sure you have the latest Hardware Utility --> http://www.lightorama.com -> Support -> (bottom of the page) download Hardware Utility 1.5.10 -> This is an installer program, just run it to install the HWU. Verify that the HWU works with a cabled controller. Stop the HWU.

Disconnect the cabled controller from the HWU and plug in an ELL. It does not matter which RJ45 jack you use on the ELL or controller. Use a Cat5 that's 10' or less. Make sure LED1 flashes once/second. If LED1 does not flash and it does when the ELL is plugged into a controller, the power supply in the USB485B is not working. In this case it will have to be replaced. If you want to continue, you can also try cabling up a local controller to the ELL in addition to the USB485B to supply power to the ELL.

If the ELL is alive, start the HWU. The HWU should see the ELL and show the little ELL icon on the lower right of the HWU window. Go to the "LOR RF" tab and get the configuration of the ELL. Make sure all of your ELLs have the same configuration. (same frequency, speed and power level) Also, be sure they are all ver=2.8 (in the current parameters window). New firmware is at http://www.lightorama.com -> Support -> RF-V4 firmware.

Going through walls significantly decreases the distance an ELL can reach -- How many walls does it take to get to the outside ELLs and what is the distance inside to outside?

Let me know how far you get.

[Guest guest]

John, THANK YOU, and know that I had no critical intent whatsoever. I'll definitely follow your insights before drilling any holes for cable.

[Guest guest]

:waycool::waycool:

Got it! And thank you again, John! You guys are amazing.

Between the HWU upgrade and swapping out TWO bad cables (that one didn't make things any easier) we're golden! These things are SOOO cool! Anybody not using them should really think about it. If nothing else, antennas around the yard look really high tech to the neighbors.