Aeon Labs Z-Stick Series 2 (DSA02203)

[jay (support)]

This thread is for discussing the Aeon Labs Z-Stick Series 2.

Device details
How to use with Indigo

[jay (support)]

We highly recommend that you position your Z-Stick carefully. If you have it plugged directly into your Mac then the chances are that the range is reduced and you may have problems communicating with devices that are physically far away. Also, if there are any other electronics close to it (external hard drives, etc.) then you may want to try to move the stick around a little by using a short USB extension cable. We've also found that if you position it vertically and face the button side towards the most distant device you'll get better reception.

I got a stand with another device that's perfect - it positions the Z-Stick vertically so I can "aim" it.

Don't have one yet, but will likely get one when I upgrade to 6 expand options. Can I simply use a 30' powered USB cable to relocate it to the middle of the house for example?

Thanks for the new hardware based forums!

Cheers.

[jay (support)]

Honestly, I don't know. It should work - but we've had instances in the past where timing sensitive serial devices have had problems with USB hubs and extenders. I'd recommend just getting the interface and a short USB extension cable and see how that goes. If it turns into a problem then you can try other options.

[matt (support)]

I'd recommend a cable with a vertical stand, just like this one MacHomeStore carries.

Is there any difference in using the Aeon Labs Z-Stick Series 2 and the Aeon Labs Z-Stick LITE Series 2?

It appears that the LITE version doesn't include an internal battery. The question is, of course, do you need an internal battery if the device is connected 24/7 to your Mac. What is the internal battery used for? Is it to keep the associations if the main power supply (Your Mac) fails? Like if you shutdown your Mac you lose all your associations? That seems crazy to me. I would have thought it would use Flash to keep all of its settings so battery backup would not be necessary.

Anyway, just my musings.

[matt (support)]

Indigo supports only the non-LITE version. The battery is needed so you can unplug the stick and take it to the modules to include them. They often won't include at a far distance because inclusion uses lower transmission power.

Frustrated. Have Z stick, downloaded and installed driver,(gar.im/zstickdriver) and I get a unconfigurable phone device and no com with computer. No device in drop down menus. linked stick to aeotec multi sensor, I think, according to included instructions, but it never shows up in indigo Zwave window though zwave in drop down menu is no longer grayed out, making me thi the driver is seen. HELP

[jay (support)]

First, make sure you have your Z-Stick installed and configured correctly. Next, make sure you correctly added the Z-Wave device to Indigo.

Unfortunately, that's about all I can tell until you can provide more specifics around what problems you're seeing. If you have any issues performing any of those steps then please provide specifics about the problem you're seeing.

I get the following error when connecting the zwave device z-stick S2

It is connected directly to mac pro to USB or through cable, tried 2 different usb outlets, same result.

When I try to connect a device I get controller not connected or initialized

thx

Karl


Here the log file:
Enabling interface "Z-Wave 1.0.73"
Starting interface "Z-Wave 1.0.73" (pid 24734)
Started interface "Z-Wave 1.0.73"
Z-Wave Debug starting serial connection loop
Z-Wave Debug starting zwave packet parser thread
Z-Wave Debug SENT getVersion: 01 03 00 15 E9
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Debug stopped zwave packet parser thread
Z-Wave Error serial port communication error: device reports readiness to read but returned no data (device disconnected?)
Z-Wave Error Z-Wave might be disconnected
Z-Wave Error silently retrying serial connection every 5.0 seconds
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Error resending previous command (busy or unexpected command)
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Debug starting serial connection loop
Z-Wave Debug starting zwave packet parser thread
Z-Wave Debug SENT getVersion: 01 03 00 15 E9
Z-Wave Debug stopped zwave packet parser thread
Z-Wave Debug serial port communication error: device reports readiness to read but returned no data (device disconnected?)
Z-Wave Debug Z-Wave might be disconnected
Z-Wave Debug silently retrying serial connection every 5.0 seconds
Z-Wave Debug starting serial connection loop
Z-Wave Debug starting zwave packet parser thread
Z-Wave Debug SENT getVersion: 01 03 00 15 E9
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 00 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0 E0
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0 E0 00
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0 E0 E0 00
Z-Wave Error rcvd unexpected bytes (sent NAK): E0 E0 E0
Error unknown command bytes received E0 E0 (ignoring)
Z-Wave Debug stopped zwave packet parser thread
Z-Wave Debug serial port communication error: device reports readiness to read but returned no data (device disconnected?)
Z-Wave Debug Z-Wave might be disconnected
Z-Wave Debug silently retrying serial connection every 5.0 seconds

[matt (support)]

Hi Karl,

Are you sure you have the correct driver and driver version installed, and have you selected the correct serial port? The E0 bytes being returned from the device don't look correct at all. It looks like Indigo is either: trying to communicate with different hardware, the driver isn't working (older version maybe), or the Z-Stick is malfunctioning.

after installing the silicon USB drive ... it works... thank you ...
2 thermostats are in the network

I could not find the first part of the help. It is not included in the help under Interface / z-wave / help
Would be good to add a link to the first step there.

Karl

[jay (support)]

When you select "Managing Your Z-Wave Network" from the Help menu, on the browser page that opens there's a link just a few lines down that says to make sure you have connected and enabled your Z-Wave Interface - that's a link to the installation guide section that talks about installing the driver for the interface.

May be my age .. Would suggest that should not go under "adding a z-wave device".
Add a paragraph above:
first step: setup your z-wave interface...


Karl

[jay (support)]

We're not done with the docs for 6 yet so I'll be looking at them again. I suspect it's a byproduct of having the docs flow one way when starting on the main docs page and now being able to jump directly to the technology specific page from the help menu (which I just added in the last release or so).