"Can't Detect Device" UI7 on ZWave battery devices - root issue identification

[rbakley]

I posted my experience with this issue in the other thread:

http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,36482.0.html


In summary, the conclusion I have come to is that there may be a hardware issue with the Z-wave radio receiver in the Vera Plus.  It is either extremely insensitive, or the Zwave network is not able to route commands effectively.   If it is a hardware issue, it probably won't get fixed with a software update.

I started with a Vera Lite a couple of years ago.   Before I purchased it, I also purchased the parts to add an external antenna and did the mod right away.   I have many battery powered devices and have never encountered a problem with them.   Perhaps the added antenna helped with the Vera Lite.  I don't believe that it is a simple matter to add an external antenna to the Vera Plus and have not looked into doing it.   I pre-ordered the Vera Plus before it was available and have been running it ever since it was released.    I have always had the "Can't Detect Device" error.    I am reluctant to upgrade the firmware on ANY Vera device, I have never had a problem free firmware update.  Currently I am running 1.7.1754.

My solution/work-around is to use an Aeon Labs Aeotec Zwave Extender/Repeater.   It is $28 dollars on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K7QZUZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I believe the reason it works is because the weaker devices are able to talk to the Extender/Repeater and it in turn relays the messages to the Vera Plus.    I have been using the Extender/Repeater for 3 weeks now and ever since adding it, my system has been error free.    Previously, I had ALWAYS had a problem with the "Can't Detect Device" error.   Nothing I had tried up until now has worked.      Within a couple of hours of adding the repeater, I finally saw the Dashboard's System Status with a .     I have a small one floor house with a basement and a bedroom located in the attic.    The Vera Plus is located in the center of the house on the first floor.    The Extender was added in the basement and is located only about 10 feet below the Vera Plus.   I imagine that in larger houses more than 1 extender may be required, perhaps one on each floor.   

I would be interested to hear from other people that either already have an Aeon Labs Extender or users that purchase it to add to their systems.    I have no affiliation with Aeon Labs, I am just a happy customer.

-bob

[Sender]

I posted my experience with this issue in the other thread:

http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,36482.0.html


In summary, the conclusion I have come to is that there may be a hardware issue with the Z-wave radio receiver in the Vera Plus.  It is either extremely insensitive, or the Zwave network is not able to route commands effectively.   If it is a hardware issue, it probably won't get fixed with a software update.

I started with a Vera Lite a couple of years ago.   Before I purchased it, I also purchased the parts to add an external antenna and did the mod right away.   I have many battery powered devices and have never encountered a problem with them.   Perhaps the added antenna helped with the Vera Lite.  I don't believe that it is a simple matter to add an external antenna to the Vera Plus and have not looked into doing it.   I pre-ordered the Vera Plus before it was available and have been running it ever since it was released.    I have always had the "Can't Detect Device" error.    I am reluctant to upgrade the firmware on ANY Vera device, I have never had a problem free firmware update.  Currently I am running 1.7.1754.

My solution/work-around is to use an Aeon Labs Aeotec Zwave Extender/Repeater.   It is $28 dollars on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00K7QZUZM/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I believe the reason it works is because the weaker devices are able to talk to the Extender/Repeater and it in turn relays the messages to the Vera Plus.    I have been using the Extender/Repeater for 3 weeks now and ever since adding it, my system has been error free.    Previously, I had ALWAYS had a problem with the "Can't Detect Device" error.   Nothing I had tried up until now has worked.      Within a couple of hours of adding the repeater, I finally saw the Dashboard's System Status with a .     I have a small one floor house with a basement and a bedroom located in the attic.    The Vera Plus is located in the center of the house on the first floor.    The Extender was added in the basement and is located only about 10 feet below the Vera Plus.   I imagine that in larger houses more than 1 extender may be required, perhaps one on each floor.   

I would be interested to hear from other people that either already have an Aeon Labs Extender or users that purchase it to add to their systems.    I have no affiliation with Aeon Labs, I am just a happy customer.

-bob

These can't detect device issues are introduced in UI7. They are on lite, edge and plus. On UI5 I had no issues. Ibam sure it is a firmware issue. This also has been confirmed by MCV to me in several cases and also on this forum in numerous threads.

What disturbs me the most is that in every answer MCV says it will be fixed in "the next firmware", but for about 16 months there was only 1 update...

[rbakley]

The only change to my system was the addition of the extender.   I have tried various experiments with placement and changing parameters on the devices with issues.  Nothing helped, the problem has persisted for 7 or 8 months now.  We may have been told it is a firmware issue because they don't want to admit to a hardware issue and have to recall thousands of units.

I would like to see if anyone else duplicates my experience by adding the Extender.    While 28 dollars isn't exactly cheap, it was worth it to me to see if it would help.    My system consists of a wide variety of devices, about 65 in total with probably 70 percent AC powered and 30 percent battery powered.

-bob     

[Sender]

It could offcourse be a HW error, but again, with UI5 these issues where NOT there on the same hardware.

[rbakley]

It could offcourse be a HW error, but again, with UI5 these issues where NOT there on the same hardware.

I ran both UI5 and UI7 on my Vera Lite and did not encounter this issue, so perhaps my external 3db antenna mod helped.    The Vera Plus was released with UI7, so I have not attempted to load UI5 on it, if it would even work.   As I stated previouly I have ALWAYS had an issue with upgrading Vera devices.   I avoid at all costs.

So perhaps there are two issues at play.   A problem with the Zwave routing in UI7 firmware AND a hardware issue on the Vera Plus.   

-bob

[Sender]

On lite I had the mod as well. No issues on UI5, Yes on UI7.

[Aaron]

Not sure what Vera is doing but seems like they aren't doing anything to fix major bugs like this one...
I'll stick with UI5 until I'm ready to move to Homeseer or something else.

I've given up on Vera ever being the great platform they could be

[shadee]

Guys, this issue should be resolved with the today's BETA.

https://goo.gl/rqjyBF

my issues with can't detected with Fibaro devices and general battery operated devices has been resolves.

I did not see any changes at first but an hour later or so, all the can't detect messages gave disappeared. Ofc, I'm talking about devices that are in range and operating. Range issues will still be market with can't detect. I would say this is a legit message now.

[hax0rmort]

I pulled my repeater when I installed the beta (I wiped my network)as I had relocated my network block to the center of my home along with the vera box,  I assumed I wouldn't need it along with the mesh.  I'm going to re add it and hopefully see if ANY of my motion sensors start working again,  I'm not hopeful because my wired (USB mains) Multisensor 6 won't even trip/untrip and it's right in front of me!

[Don Phillips]

This may not be ideal but I have a DVR plug-in always in error, and 1 of those door sensors. I added this in the startup lua:
luup.set_failure(false,88)
luup.set_failure(false,73)
return true

In my case, device 88 is the DVR, and device 73 is my garage man door sensor. Now, no "can't detect device" error.

[Don Phillips]

Today, I set the polling of my 2 battery sensors to default polling (z-wave polling is set to 60) and I have had NO can't detect device errors for a couple of hours.

[JackTheMan18]

Hello Don Phillips.
Did your changes of setting the default polling work?

[Don Phillips]

It is better, but I still get the "error" from time to time. No errors at the moment.

[Sig]

Bumping this somewhat old thread, as I have been experiencing "Can't Detect Device" issues constantly - I can't remember when they started, but I'm pretty sure they started when I upgraded to Vera Plus.  In any event, I've tried the various suggestions mentioned in this thread, including updating batter device polling and I've also installed two (2) Aeotec repeaters.  Right now, I have three door/window sensors and a Schlage lock, all undetectable.  Normally, this isn't a huge issue because the door/window sensors seem to become detectable as soon as they're tripped (waken up).  However, the Schlage lock has gone red on me and, because of this, today I couldn't add a PIN code to give a repair person access to my back yard - extremely frustrating.

Repeaters? Polling? Firmware updates?  Has this issue been resolved for others (given the last entry here is about nine months old)?  Or are you still experiencing it, and it's yet another of those "quirks" we're forced to live with as Vera users?

[Mai Pensato]

I still have these errors on my Veraplus. Sometimes the devices still work, sometimes they don't work anymore. So for sure still NOT solved.