Hi,
I have some Gen5 Z-wave plus devices that I included from a distance well over 6 feet (2 meters) from my VeraEdge box. They function as far as I can see. They are switches and I can toggle the switch and the wattage readings are working as well. However, in the log file I see this all the time
got CANe <0x768e2520>
ZWaveSerial::Send m_iFrameID 27433 got a CAN -- Dongle is in a bad state. Wait 1 second before continuing to let it try to recover.e<0x76ee2520>
ZWaveNode::DecryptMessage node 7 dev 59 failed and backup nonce is 0 <0x76ee2520>
I do not always get the DecryptMessage line, but I only see them for the few Z-wave+ devices I have.
Could this be because I did not include the device within 6 feet like locks should be? I think I saw this mentioned in one tread I can no longer find. If this is true it would be truly annoying actually. Would moving it close to the Vera for a few hours help? Or would exclude/include be required?
@reneboer - It depends. Many old Z-Wave devices can include at distances greater than 6 feet. But some, especially those that do only low power include, like door locks and Leviton controllers, need to be really close. For these devices even 6 feet can be too far. For this reason, Vera has historically recommended a “fool proof” distance of three feet.
Z-Wave Gen 5 has a feature called Network Wide Inclusion(NWI). It allows you to include a new Gen 5 device from anywhere within the Z-Wave network. Possibly tens of meters away from Vera.
But, NWI only works effectively when the entire network, or at least the entire path between the new device and the controller are all Gen 5 devices.
This means that sometimes you may be able to include a new device from a great distance and other times you’ll need to move the device close to Vera. It will depend on the types of devices in your network and how they are arranged.
I am not certain about the cause of your logged messages. However I do not think that they have anything to do with your inclusion distance. The distance will more likely be a matter of the device includes or it does not. If the device includes and seems to work then it is almost certainly fine and there is no need to consider distance. It is only when the device will not include that distance is a consideration.
@vosmont - When unable to acheive secure inclusion mode, does the Aeotec bulb include and then throw errors, or does it fail to include at all?
FWIW, my vera is in the basement, and the only devices I have ever had to have had the thing close to it for were the door locks. Everything else included perfectly, even from the 2nd floor.
Many old Z-Wave devices can include at distances greater than 6 feet. But some, especially those that do only low power include, like door locks and Leviton controllers, need to be really close. For these devices even 6 feet can be too far. For this reason, Vera has historically recommended a “fool proof” distance of three feet.