@PurdueGuy,
I have Simon XT from FrontPoint and I bought a VeraLite today. I plan to add zwave lights and thermostats but don’t need a zwave lock. Can you please help me with the following questions please.
- Can you please give a quick run down on the process of setting VeraLite as Primary and Simon XT as secondary?
- Should I add zwave devices to VeraLite first or to Simon XT first and then do a transfer?
- Do I have to pay for the Frontpoint Ultimate plan or I’m OK with the Interactive plan to use zwave?
Thanks!
[quote author=lintravis link=topic=6981.msg111843#msg111843 date=1367946287]
@PurdueGuy,
I have Simon XT from FrontPoint and I bought a VeraLite today. I plan to add zwave lights and thermostats but don’t need a zwave lock. Can you please help me with the following questions please.
Link to the steps to this earlier in the thread.
Add all devices to the primary (Vera), then transfer. Hope/dance/pray they all get transferred! Have fun figuring out which light is “Device 1” vs “Device 2” vs “Device 3” to rename them on the web. It can be done, but takes forever.
[quote=“lintravis, post:81, topic:168620”]3. Do I have to pay for the Frontpoint Ultimate plan or I’m OK with the Interactive plan to use zwave?
Thanks![/quote]You need Ultimate if you want Thermostat control via the panel (change temps when armed/disarmed/etc.), but you might be able to get around that…
Unfortunately, Vera will have NO direct knowledge about the state of the alarm. You could setup a real physical switches/outlets to mirror the alarm state (such as 1on=armed/1off=disarmed, 2on=breach/2off=nominal), and have Vera act appropriately (change thermostat, etc). Might not be realtime however. And you can’t arm/disarm the panel from Vera.
It has been a while since I gave up, so things might be better, but I am not hopeful.
PurdueGuy,
I just spent the last 30 minutes reading all the threads, sorry if I repeat a question. I am also a computer guy (System Engineer). I use the GE Simon XT with frontpoint (alarm.com) I travel a lot for work so I have been happy with the basic Zwave functions it provides so far. I am more interested in getting some basic info on GE Simon staying the primary and Verde light by the secondary. I haven’t read enough about what you lose in secondary to be smart on this.
If I add things such as "Aeon Labs Aeotec Z-Wave Multi-Sensor " to the verde, can i still access the verde thru the web interface and see the functions such as the tempature settings with in the verde
If I am reading correctly and the verde is the secodary its suppose to pass the Z-wave devices to the simon. I am curious to know if it does pass successfully such as the multi sensor but I notice all the funcations aren’t working correctly can I still access the verde thru its native website features to see whats not functing correctly thru simon GE XT.
my main goal is for ever Z-wave device I am adding on if it doesn’t function correctly thru the simon if I an just add it to the verde and what ever is lacking If I can still use those functions thru the verde.
so if the simon sees the multi sensor as a motion sensor great ! but if it doesn’t see the other abilites such as what the room temp is can I see get that thru the verde (knowning that the verde can do this naturally)
what my simon currently handles
2 thermostats
1 zwave dead bolt
2 zwave light switchs
27 - sensors, garage sensors/motion/door sensors
sstretchh,
Welcome. Unfortunately, I don’t have any of my SimonXT system any more, so anything I tell you would be a guess.
However, the SimonXT and FrontPoint/Alarm.com portal know nothing about the current state of any lights in the system. Given that, I don’t think you’d be able to tell motion sensor status.
As far as I know, the Simon will only trigger actions off the GE sensors, not Z-Wave sensors. And the Simon doesn’t expose the alarm sensors to Vera.
I also doubt that the GE Simon can really tell/use the Aeotec Multi Sensor, since it is a combo device and requires special handling.
I can’t have the verde as a secondary device and still interact with all the features thru the verde ? I can’t find an article of how devices work Z-wave wise when they are acting as secondary to what ever your main controller is.
You will just have to try it. I never have. I don’t recall seeing any indications in the Alarm.com/FrontPoint web portal that referenced -Wave motion sensors/temp sensors/etc.
See if you can add the Aeotec multi sensor to the SimonXT. Then replicate the entire set of Z-Wave items from the SimonXT to your Vera. A motion sensor will probably only be associated with the primary controller, so Vera would never know about it triggering. And if Vera isn’t the primary, I do not know if it can be used to setup the associations.
The simple fact is the SimonXT is an extremely limited, basic closed system. I wouldn’t trust it to do more than run locks and turn on/off some lights. Anything beyond that is probably going to be futile.
Purdeguy,
I am looking at the DSC system you have, i noticed it oh the homeseer webite, its pretty sweet. will my sensors from the GE simon move over to the DSC? Also any idea if i get this setup can i pay for someone to do central monitoring?
the DSC hasd really peaked my interest.
GE and DSC use different sensors. There was a thread previously about a translator device, but I don’t know of anyone that used it.
http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php?topic=12310.0
DSC panels are the “brains” behind many, many, many ADT installs. If can definitely do central monitoring via phone line or cell transmitter, etc.
If you get a DSC setup, you can also get an Envisalink 3DS. That uses your internet connection for monitoring (free and paid). Check out the DSC sub forum on here.
Hello!
I’ve been using my Simon XTi as a secondary controller in my existing network with VeraLite as my primary for 2 years now. Every time I add new devices, I put the XTi into replicate mode, then my Vera into Add mode, and it updates with new devices.
Recently I was having some odd behavior and delays with z-wave devices on my XTi, so I went into settings and ‘Reset Z-Wave’, thinking I could clear out any z-wave devices and do a fresh replication. Now, whenever I try to enter replicate mode it says ‘Unable to enter replicate mode’. All the previous devices are still in my XTi, and still performing poorly.
How can I reset z-wave entirely on the XTi, and how can I get back into replicate mode?
I submitted a trouble ticked with LiveWatch, and they tried to tell me the Simon XTi will not work as a secondary controller, which is entirely incorrect.