I am running a C8 (2.3.5.124). I have a scene that issues commands to turn lights on in the evening. All of the commands show up in the log as "Command-called: on", however the devices sometimes do not turn on. Some nights it works for all devices, some nights it doesn't. I was not having this problem on my C5.
When it works properly, each "Command-called: on" log entry is paired with a corresponding log entry such as "Front Door Lanterns was turned on [digital]"
When it doesn't work, there is only a "Command-called: on" entry and that's it...no other corresponding log entry to confirm the light was turned on.
To me, this seems like the C8 is issuing the command and the device isn't receiving it. The light switches are only about 15 feet from the C8, so I don't think it's a range or Z-Wave network problem. I have tried rebuilding the Z-Wave network several times to no avail. And the problem spans multiple devices of different brands - Inovelli, GE, etc.
Also peculiar, I have it configured to turn ON my Porch Ceiling Lights as part of this same Evening scene. It worked fine last night and many nights before. Tonight, it issued an OFF command instead of ON.
That definitely sounds like the issue to me as well. Can you post a screenshot of your Z-Wave network in case there might be an issue that some of the community members could help identify?
Please have the hub running for at least 12 hours during a time the devices are in use, and then get screenshot(s) of the entire Zwave Details page. You can use https://getsharex.com/ "Scrolling Capture" feature if you want to try and get it all in one screenshot.
Please state how long hub has been running when you post the screenshot.
Hub has been up since 4AM ET, which is 14 hours from the failed event. I just enabled the rebooter for 4am because I wanted to see if that would solve it. It also has the issue when it's been running for a week straight. So the reboot has no impact.
Ok usually the topology map is useless but I am glad you posted it, because it is very curious.
If I am understanding it correctly the vertical 01 nearly all blue is telling us that most devices can "see" the hub. But The horizontal 01 is telling us the hub does not "see" many of the devices.
The Z-Wave details looks pretty good. I think this problem shown on the topology is causing the issues. How to solve it I have no idea.
Maybe try running a FULL Z-Wave repair?
Going to look harder at the zwave details and then update this post.
UPDATE: Nothing really stands out in Zwave Details. You have two unplugged outlets but they are showing only 1 neighbor (themselves) so they should not be causing any damage.
After you try the full zwave repair you probably will not see changes immediately, but would be good to try that and let it sit overnight, then check the topology again.
Ahhh I see, I had never really known how to interpret this visualization. Ok yeah clearly that top line 01 seems wacked. I have done a Z-Wave Repair several times. But....you said "FULL Z-Wave Repair". Is that different, and if so, how do I invoke that super powered activity?
You can either repair single devices or the whole thing, so sounds like you have done it before. You don't want to over-do that repair either, as it causes some strain on the mesh when it is going.
I am seeing an abnormally number of devices taking Hops as well, with the C-8 I would expect most devices to direct connect. This is probably a result of the strange topology findings, the hub is taking hops because it doesnt see the devices, so then the devices respond back on that same path with the hop.
Are you by chance using a POE splitter for power? Could you test with a regular quality power block at least 1Amp if so?
Could also try swapping the two antennas around (in case one is somehow defective), and make sure they are both vertically orientated (perpendicular to the ground).
I am using the power supply that the C8 came with, nothing fancy. Yes I've run the full Z-Wave Repair several times over the past week trying to solve this. Although I hadn't looked at the topology map before vs. after, that would have been useful. I just ran it again just to see how it changes the topology map. No change really. Top line red except for 02 and 44 blue.
The antennas are both vertical and are both tight. I will swap them to see if it makes any difference.
It breaks down the topology on a per device level, would would help to verify I am reading the topology correctly (despite confirming via tool tips I am still not confident in myself on that thing).
You just expand the little arrow for a device and it shows all the neighbor info for both directions.
Ideally the HUB should be in both tables for the device to directly connect:
The Topology Map is not a "live" display in that it's displaying historical data and could easily be an hour behind the data shown in the ZWave Details page...
However, I'm seeing a high degree of asymmetry and would highlight nodes 1, 16 and 17
Row 1 horizontally SHOULD be symmetrical with Column 1 vertically. You've got a nearly opposite display.
Column 16 and 17 are completely empty (no blue) and yet 2D is the only blue in those rows. 18 is also asymmetric but harder to see at a glance... and so on.
A bit of asymmetry is ok because at the edge of reception, one end or the other isn't going to be equal RF sensitivity. Having lots of neighbors is mostly the solution because the hub can find a path that works in both directions and stick itself to that. Your ZWave Details page looks encouraging by comparison. It's indicating no Ghosts other than your portable outlets... however, I'd encourage you to plug them back in, even if they are Holiday lighting holdovers. There's no simple rule to know which ghost is going to cause a problem. Alternatively, remove them til this issue gets more settled.
I will try to plug in 16 and 17 to see if it solves it. But I didn't have trouble on my C5 with those unplugged - to your point, yeah those are Christmas light plug-ins and I haven't used them in over a year. I can try it. Still, I'd like to understand what the heck is going on.
I think you've done enough full Z-Wave repairs, maybe one too many?
You've done the "shut down, pull power, wait, plug in" dance recently? If not, I'd do it and let things sit overnight and see how things look the next morning.
Are you able to add and remove Z-Wave devices from your hub? Wondering if you have normal Z-Wave functionality in general.
Having to mains repeaters like that unplugged will definitely cause mesh issues, If they are seasonal you need to exclude them not just unplug them. Plug them in. Shut down the the hub from the settings menu and unplug for a few mins and power back up. Let things settle and see how it behaves.
