New to Hubitat and Home Automation

[user1444]

Hello. i am new to Hubitat and home automation so I may ask some dumb questions at times. I recently purchased a home that was setup with Hubitat but the seller took the Hubitat hub with them when they left. It took me a while but I finally got my hub connected and am now starting to learn how to set it up. Since all devices were set up before, I'm not sure how to proceed with the whole thing. I've tried excluding a few devices, outlet, Jasco/ GE 12721, but have had no luck. Keep getting must do factory reset. Any help is appreciated.

Brian

[csteele]

You need to understand the mesh building process. You are unlikely to be successful when there's a great distance between hub and device. Figure out the place where the hub will be permanently located, ideally in the Center of the collection of devices. Then find the AC powered device closest. Look it up on the internet and find the "dance steps" to put it into Include/Exclude. Put the hub into Exclude and do the dance steps. You should see a message "Unknown device excluded" and that's what success looks like

If you can't exclude a device, then including won't work either. I always start by excluding because you cannot create Ghosts in the device table that way.

[coreystup]

As @csteele said, you have to do a general exclude of each zwave device to the new hub, but signals have to be able to "reach" with a non existent mesh - chicken and egg.

Some devices also have a "full reset" that will wipe out any old hub information.

You'll need to look up the manual for each device to find the button pressing/mouth holding sequence to get the device into a reset or exclude sequence as needed. Model numbers matter, so you may need to remove faceplates to get specifics. Take photos for later reference. I often print out the configuration (inclusion/exclusion) processes for later reference.

Any plug in device (portable) would be the best to start with vs hardwired, as you can bring those devices closer to the hub. Otherwise start with the closest device to the hub. The C7 isn't known as having the best Zwave antenna, so sometimes this can be challenging.

A good reference video:

How to build a solid z-wave mesh network

https://docs.hubitat.com/index.php?title=How_to_Build_a_Solid_Z-Wave_Mesh

Zigbee devices mostly just need to be paired to the hub. No exclude process exists. Some devices may have a reset procedure as well, but all mine reset as part of the pairing.
https://docs.hubitat.com/index.php?title=How_to_Build_a_Solid_Zigbee_Mesh

[coreystup]

@user1444

Jasco/ GE 12721

Also note these are Zwave (non plus) devices. Original zwave implementation had fairly limited range, and could not do "network wide" inclusion/exclusion (meaning, they can't include/exclude thru other devices in the mesh - it has to be within range of the hub). @aaiyar is the expert when it comes to original zwave devices. Others like myself ditched them long ago and only use zwave plus devices.

[Ranchitat]

You might want to get one of these Z-Wave sticks to help with your adventure.

Z-Wave Ghost Removal using a UZB-Stick - How To

Putting this here to make it easier to find/refer folks to. Below is the link to the "Who You Gonna Call?!" Z-Wave ghost removal guide I wrote w/extensive collaboration/support from the amazing @erktrek. Following the steps in this guide can help you resolve problems w/your Z-Wave mesh caused by Z-Wave device "ghosts." Link to the guide: Ghost Removal - Who you gonna call?! Z-Wave "Ghosts" are Z-Wave devices that have not successfully joined your mesh, leaving an entry in your Z-Wave device …

[aaiyar]

@coreystup

@aaiyar is the expert when it comes to original zwave devices.

True dat.

Half my 60 zwave devices are 300-series. Three are 100-series. But they’re all things like sensors and button controllers, so I don’t need to poll.

[coreystup]

@aaiyar

Half my 60 zwave devices are 300-series. Three are 100-series.

[user1444]

If I ditch all of the old devices currently installed in my home, must I exclude them first?

[coreystup]

If you're removing them, no. Only if you planned on using them as part of your mesh on your new hub. They are benign.

[erktrek]

I realize you are referring to the old hub but wanted to reinforce the point that one should never remove a Z-Wave device from their "working" hub without excluding first or they will run into potential mesh issues which can be a pain to resolve.

On a side note if thinking about slowly migrating things over then the above would apply to the old hub as well. The way I've done this pre-migration service (and for non HE hubs) has been to set up a skeleton framework of new repeaters in an outward pattern on the new hub first then working inwards exclude each device farthest from the old hub and pairing it on the new hub. This way I could keep the functionality of the old while implementing the new. If I ran into trouble I could always back out with less of a hassle. ymmv of course..

[user1444]

Thank yo