smart switch paired and responds, but doesn't work

I recently bought an Aeotec Smart Switch 6, and paired it with my VeraLite controller. Both the switch and the controller indicated pairing through flashing of their LEDs, and the new device shows up in my (UI7) devices list. And when I send a command to the device, I get a “SUCCESS! Transmit OK” message.

But, the device does not actually turn on or off when commanded to. And when I press the front of the switch to turn it on or off manually, the Vera UI does not update. So it’s like they’re paired and talking, but just ignoring each other’s on/off signals.

All this testing is done with the device about five feet from the controller, so I don’t think it’s a signal-strength issue.

Things I’ve tried (multiple times):

[ul][li]unpairing and repairing the device[/li]
[li]rebooting the controller[/li]
[li]unplugging and re-plugging the smart switch[/li]
[li]waiting for the next day (dunno, but sometimes that’s fixed weirdness in the past)[/li][/ul]

I’m now out of ideas. How do I go about trouble-shooting this?

Let Aeotec know: ccheng@aeon-labs.com is working on my Smart Switch 6 problems…

Thanks. I’ve opened a support ticket with them, but since the two weeks I’ve owned the VeraLite have been so filled with voodoo and mystery, I thought it worth trying here to see if there were some particular ritual or incantation I may have missed!

But yeah, it sounds like in this case the problem may not be with the VeraLite at all, but with the switch. We’ll see what they say.

Being new to Vera myself, I really appreciate your woodoo and mystery quip, nice to know one is not alone…

I’m just about to return my two Smart Switch 5 (ZW096) devices; Aeotec is not particularly quick on getting anything done from my experience. Average reply is days in coming. I do not get the feeling I’ve made it past their cafeteria staff (reboot, heal, which software version do you have). To bad, looks like nice products, but several of their Gen5 devices have problems with multiple z-wave controller brands.

They apparently do have an internal beta update, but darn, they now want me to buy a z-stick to attempt to fix their problem after wasting more than 20 hours trying to debug their stuff, I figure they make them for lot less than what I would pay. And, I thought Z-Wave 500 supported over the air updates, but apparently not. Enough is enough!

Looking for Z-Wave 500 chip based repeaters, any suggestions?

[quote=“Dansker, post:4, topic:188161”]they now want me to buy a z-stick to attempt to fix their problem after wasting more than 20 hours trying to debug their stuff, I figure they make them for lot less than what I would pay. And, I thought Z-Wave 500 supported over the air updates, but apparently not.[/quote]Z-Wave 500 series chips(Gen 5 or Z-Wave Plus) absolutely support Over-The-Air(OTA) firmware updates. That’s why Aeon wants you to get a Gen 5 Z-Stick to update the firmware. Their “issue” is that Aeon develops their update software to run on Windows(Intel) and not Vera Linux(MIPS).

Looking for Z-Wave 500 chip based repeaters, any suggestions?
The only Z-Wave Plus(Gen5 or Z-Wave Plus) device that, that I know of, on the U.S. market that is not Aeon is the [url=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00T576896/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00T576896&linkCode=as2&tag=zwavec-20&linkId=JFPWGAMIPV3YBSFI]Dragon Tech PA-100 - Z-Wave Plus - Plug-in On/Off Switch[/url]

I’ve never heard of, let alone used Dragon Tech before, so I can’t speak for their quality, but they will act as a repeater.

Jasco(GE) just had a whole line of new Z-Wave Plus products certified. They’re not yet shipping, but I’d expect to start seeing them in the next 6 months. There will likely be others as well.

Right now, Aeon is leading the Z-Wave Plus charge in the U.S. market. Unfortunately for them, bleeding edge means bugs.

Having said all that, there is a strong likelihood that you have no immediate need for a Z-Wave Plus repeater. Most likely a standard repeater like a GE Z-Wave Wireless Lighting Control and Appliance Module or any other powered Z-Wave device would suit your present needs.

Thank you for your comments and suggestions.

I have VeraEdge, Gen5 chip as I’m sure you know, why do I need a Z stick as well?

I am gunning for Gen5 repeaters for the supposedly improvement to security and range; I have 8 Schlage locks in the system.

[quote=“Dansker, post:6, topic:188161”]I have VeraEdge, Gen5 chip as I’m sure you know, why do I need a Z stick as well?[/quote]The Z-Wave Plus Z-stick can be plugged into a Windows PC and the firmware update software from Aeon can be run there, updating the firmware on your desired device. As Aeon stated, you need a Z-Stick to perform OTA updates. This will be true until such time as Vera builds in a utility to perform an OTA update and Aeon packages their firmware in a way that Vera can use it.

I am gunning for Gen5 repeaters for the supposedly improvement to security and range; I have 8 Schlage locks in the system.
The improved range and security, supposedly offered by Z-Wave plus is only available for communication between two Z-Wave plus devices. It will not be beneficial to your older generation Z-Wave devices, including your locks. Unless you have numerous other Z-Wave Plus devices on your network, you have no need for a Z-Wave plus repeater.

Has anyone got this aeon smart switch 6 working on a VeraLite? I have the same problem as the poster, the switch is paired and the Vera can send commands to the smart switch, these commands just do not operate the switch.

Yes we did test them on a VL UI5 though, not UI7. Here is a post regarding it, http://blog.haworldonline.com/adding-gen5-z-wave-plus-z-wave-devices-to-vera-ui5-controllers-veralitevera3/. As we do not have UI7 on our testing VL, we have no way to test it, sorry.

Having the same issue. Getting wattage usage and everything but no on off. Using UI7

Update: still not working.

Bought two switches, did not work.
Aeotec wanted me to update firmware, but had to buy a Z-Stick to do so.
Bought the Z-Stick, updated firmware, still broken.
Reported to Vera, opened for remote access for fix at Vera’s request, nothing happened.
Bought alternate devices.
Tested Vera beta, reported to Vera, They said it would be fixed.
Tested latest Vera, still not working.

Sigh, …, dollars and time, … Vera and Aeotec should get this resolved. And, while they are at it, fix the keyfob.

I believe that I recently saw a fix to this, although I cannot find the post right now. If I remember correctly this device has a dimmable LED indicator in it. The dimmable LED is advertised as COMMAND_CLASS_SWITCH_MULTILEVEL (38), but this causes Vera to incorrectly regard the entire device as a dimmer. This results in Vera sending it dimmer commands instead of binary switch commands.

The fix involves removing the “38” from the device’s capability string, on the Advanced tab, and saving changes. You might want to give it a try.

Thanks, saw that one and tried it.

It worked a first, then I added the second unit, and both stopped working. On one unit it puts the 38 back in after LUUA restart.

How did you get one unit to work? I added one, went to Advanced, Variables. The capabilities string had a sequence of…

…RS,|37,38:2,39,50:3,51…

I deleted the 38:2, from that string and saved the settings. No luck.

[quote=“ember1205, post:14, topic:188161”]How did you get one unit to work? I added one, went to Advanced, Variables. The capabilities string had a sequence of…

…RS,|37,38:2,39,50:3,51…

I deleted the 38:2, from that string and saved the settings. No luck.[/quote]

You just replace 37,38:2 → 37:2

That works for me.

[quote=“Dansker, post:13, topic:188161”]Thanks, saw that one and tried it.

It worked a first, then I added the second unit, and both stopped working. On one unit it puts the 38 back in after LUUA restart.[/quote]

I have two of them and they are both working when turning on and off.

[quote=“hellovn, post:15, topic:188161”][quote=“ember1205, post:14, topic:188161”]How did you get one unit to work? I added one, went to Advanced, Variables. The capabilities string had a sequence of…

…RS,|37,38:2,39,50:3,51…

I deleted the 38:2, from that string and saved the settings. No luck.[/quote]

You just replace 37,38:2 → 37:2

That works for me.[/quote]

I removed 38:2 from the string and they seem to work. HOWEVER…

If someone manually turns the switch on by pressing the face of the outlet, it seems to re-insert the 38:2 in the string and it stops responding to Vera again until you delete the characters.

Frustrating.

Heres a quick workaround that was posted not too long ago: Smart Switch 6 on Vera cannot turn ON or OFF (Workarounds) - Short and Long Method : Aeotec Help Desk

I posted this link in another thread here in which another forum member posted a fix done by Vera as well: http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php?topic=33753.0

[quote=“ember1205, post:17, topic:188161”]I removed 38:2 from the string and they seem to work. HOWEVER…

If someone manually turns the switch on by pressing the face of the outlet, it seems to re-insert the 38:2 in the string and it stops responding to Vera again until you delete the characters.

Frustrating.[/quote]
Thanks! I had noticed the 38 had gotten reinserted a couple of times and couldn’t figure out why. Now I at least know what is causing it.

Doug

It seems that not many if any of Aeon devices works out of the box. I been wanting one of their multi sensors but it seems like none of them work right either. And same issue on updating. When the new Mulotisensor 6 came out it didn;t work at all and it was recommend for update which meant you need a Aeon Usb stick. Well if you look on the forum they still don’t work fully even have manual perimeters entered. And it’s not just on VERA. same on other controllers.