Vera and Qees Ring: or how to configure a remote seen as a scene controller?

Community Playground General Discussions
1

Hi all,

I had asked questions regarding the configuration of the QEES Ring (a EU Z-wave mini remote with 4 buttons) and Vera.
I finally found a way to configure it: after creating a scene related to a “scene activation” (nr 1 to 4), Vera tries to update the Qees Ring, I launch the learn mode on the Ring (short + long press on config button), and all is set.

The problem is that this only works for “ON” orders…but the Ring has 4 ON/OFF buttons. I have of course tried to create scenes where the event is linked to “a scene is deactivated”, but this never works (no command seems to be received).

Now I am suspecting that the Ring shouldn’t be considered by Vera as a “scene controller” (which I am guessing only has “ON” buttons for X numbers of scenes), but rather as a regular remote.
The device type (auto configured by Vera) is for now: urn:schemas-micasaverde-com:device:SceneController:1

Is there any way I can configure the device to be configured as a device so that OFF orders also trigger scenes?
I am on UI4, and found an online manual (based on UI2) that says I should select the “Treat scene buttons as events” option… maybe this option is the key to my problem, but it’s not there in UI4 (nor was it in UI3).

Any help is welcome! I am attaching the detailed config of the ring

2

I wonder if this works like my Leviton scene controller… It has four buttons that are not on/off but just four instant contact buttons. For the Leviton, there needs to be something that remembers the state of the controlled devices. If it remembers them as being “on” then the next press of the button would activate the “off” scene. I wonder if this would work for the Qees ring. I don’t know how the Aeon Mini Remote will be implemented in Vera, but it might be similar…

3

Well this would do the trick…but it would be a bizarre workaround. The reason I am confused is that the Ring is a very normal remote control with ON/OFF buttons, it is not a scene controller.
I was more hoping for a way to force Vera to consider the Ring as a remote, rather than a “scene controller”… :slight_smile:

4

“Unless I’m wrong, and I’m never wrong…”

As I read it, this device has five momentary contact switches. You create “associations” for each button and then press once for on and twice for off. That is exactly how our Leviton scene controllers have worked up til now.

5

Well, indeed, 4 contact switches, 2 presses for OFF function…but I may well be wrong, despite the “input method”, from a dumm end user perspective, this still is a 4x On/Off switch ;D

The problem here is I want to run a scene related to the OFF command…which I can’t get to work at all. Following your post I tried some other thing: associating an event to scene #5 (thinking if 1-4 are “ON” events, maybe “5-8” would be the “OFF” commands): no luck, the Qees refuse to accept the association, which does confirm it only considers 4 scenes.
In any case, the Ring does not have a “save state” function, so if I understand well, that means I have no hope right?

6

I have really been fighting setting up Qees Ring with 4 buttons on my vera. My version is 1.0.939 of vera. I was wondering which version you are using ?

I’v been trying to update my vera - but then the Qees does not work. Maybe your info is my solution.

regards
Rob

7

A tip regarding QEES Wall is to send a “Send info (node info)” at the end of the setup. (Service button 1 press - 1 hold.)

8

I’ll give it a go. However my qees ring works fine with the version 1.0.939 after I upgraded to 1.0.996 it does not respond to the buttonpress anymore. Do you still think it will help ? i mean the device is configured once do I have to config again ?

thank you regards Rob

9

It should not need it. But if it dosn’t work, I would try to add it again. :expressionless:

What about the battery? The original battery is not a good one.

Regards
Morten

10

Ahh - all of my sensors and Qees ring works with the new beta test version. It is a beta test but Iam trying it out. I have been strugling quite a bit getting Qees ring to work with the right firmware and all the other devices at the same time.

However the only problem I have is notifications - how to setup country outside USA … Iam from Denmark. anybody nows. Using findvera did work fine with dk. If even posible - what should i choose and prefix

i think it should be 011 45 and then the 8digit number.

regards
Rob

11

Hi mhn, I had actually figured that out (although it is indeed hard to find). So I can program my Ring to launch scenes. What I don’t succeed in, is to get to use the “off” button function of the ring (simulated by a double button click, but that should be a regular “off” command for Z-wave).
Basically, I’m using 4 functions, although the Ring has 4x2…

12

I haven’t found that out either.

I don’t think it is possible. The ring is in another mode when controlling scenes.

ezhome.nl had something about it ones, but I never succeeded with it.

13

Thanks Mhn, this is reassuring. But then, is there a way to configure the ring as a simple direct remote for a single device? (In which case, in theory, the ON/OFF buttons would work).
The problem obviously is that the ring is recognized as a scene controller…how to change that?

Thanks!

14

I just tried this:

Add a QEES Wall with the stick. (Adding it as a device, not a controller.)

I shows in dashboard as _Scene Controller

Associate Smartdimmer to button on Wall direct. Service - button on wall - one push on smartdimmer. (Ignoring Vera.)

I works fine.

I can now use all 4 button functions with my smartdimmer. (On/off, Dim up/down.)

And Vera still controls the Smartdimmer.

I then tried to add a scene to another button. As expected I did not succeed.

I still think it is scenes OR “normal” functions.

Regards
Morten

15

I just got my qees ring and am still struggling just to get it into vera. Anybody that can write a little tutorial on how to get it into vera?

16

UI4 - Vera 1

ADD/Remove devices (4. button from left i toolbar.)

Add Z-wave devices - next

For battery operated handheld remotes and scene controllers you have 2 options:
Recommended: Add the device to remote Vera’s network, letting Vera be the primary controller - Add One

This tells you to use the dongle, must be different on Vera 2.

Quick push on dongle (starts blinking)

3 times service on ring (blinking green)

Red LED on, it i now included

Dongle back in Vera

There is a new _scene controller in dashboard

Add scene (5. button from left i toolbar.)

In New scene go to events, set up scene controller, A scene is activated, give it a name, Which scene number - button number e.g. 1

In New scene go to Commands, find the device you want to control and set it up

Close windows

Save (upper right corner)

On QEES Ring Send wake-up Service 1 quick - 1 slow.

(I had to send Wake-up twice, when i wrote this.)

No it is not easy. :wink:

Regards
Morten

17

After some googling I found a PDF explaining how to add it in to Vera. Except this is for the old interface and not the latest 1.1.1047 which I am running.

I got the Qees Ring in Vera now, but I do not understand how to configure scenes to the buttons of the Qees Ring. I just see a controller.

In the PDF they speak at step about an option “Mark the check box “Treat scene buttons as events”.” I cant find this option in 1.1.1047.

18

That button went away a log time ago.

I used 1.1.1047 on the above.

19

[quote=“mhn, post:16, topic:166396”]UI4 - Vera 1

ADD/Remove devices (4. button from left i toolbar.)

Add Z-wave devices - next

For battery operated handheld remotes and scene controllers you have 2 options:
Recommended: Add the device to remote Vera’s network, letting Vera be the primary controller - Add One

This tells you to use the dongle, must be different on Vera 2.

Quick push on dongle (starts blinking)

3 times service on ring (blinking green)

Red LED on, it i now included

Dongle back in Vera

There is a new _scene controller in dashboard

Add scene (5. button from left i toolbar.)

In New scene go to events, set up scene controller, A scene is activated, give it a name, Which scene number - button number e.g. 1

In New scene go to Commands, find the device you want to control and set it up

Close windows

Save (upper right corner)

On QEES Ring Send wake-up Service 1 quick - 1 slow.

(I had to send Wake-up twice, when i wrote this.)

No it is not easy. :wink:

Regards
Morten[/quote]

Thank you for the detailed instructions. I have come a bit further but its still not working. I have a working scene controller in Vera. Which I called it Qees Ring. It seems to work well cause it is showing the battery status (my first device to do this so its quite cool :wink: )

I then edited an event an go to the tab “Events”. I then selected the below options:

device = my new scene contoller now called “Qees Ring”
trigger=A scene is activated
Name for this event=Qees_B1_On
Which scene number=1

I saved the dashboard and did a quick/long push on the Qees Ring until the green light lights up.

When I run the scene manual my lamp goes off, but no matter which button I press on the Qees Ring it does nothing

20

Try Send Wake-up once more or wait a while.

It looks right.

Button 1 is the one opposite the hole for the key ring.

Only one off the four functions on button 1 works with scenes, hence your push on the button have to be quick. If it is long, it is dim up, and that doesn’t work with scenes.

Regards
Morten