So, we've finally found some answers by pouring through the 21 PDFs we have.
Answer to question 1 (why does wireless get disabled): whenever you change any zone settings, the zone attributes (which are set in a completely different section) get reset to the defaults (no wireless). I'm pretty sure it actually happens even when you don't change the specific zone's definition, but ANY zone definition. But, either way, it's kinda silly IMO. I'm about 80% confident this was the issue. Time will tell
Answer to question 2 (why does it keep prompting): apparently, it just continually prompts for zone # then type #, incrementing the zone # every other time. This behavior now, in retrospect, seems ok in that if you're setting up lots of zones you don't have to exit the zone # type # loop. The prompting on the keypad should be a LOT better (
data is the only label on either one). I'm not sure why it didn't appear to be "sticking" in some cases (specifically, we have a wired motion sensor who was in zone 3 and we couldn't seem to set it to NULL - I just removed the wires for it until I feel more like messing with it).
Monstergerm wrote:I agree, programming is confusing. Often you have to set attributes in totally different places to accomplish one particular thing. Do you have all the various user, install and reference manuals?
Yes - 21 different PDFs (and that's only the parts that we care about). Their docs, while significantly better than other company's docs, are still pretty terrible. The nugget about the attributes getting reset was in a completely different doc than where it tells you in vague terms how to set the zone types. So if we hadn't had that other doc we'd still be in the dark.
Monstergerm wrote:I do not have wireless zones. But I read that wireless zone devices have to be properly enrolled with their ESN number first, before setting the option 8. Did you do this?
Yeah, they actually make that extremely easy, at least with the TR5164-433 transceiver. When I booted the panel up with the transceiver connected, it automatically just did it's thing. The Wireless keypad also just sorta worked after that. Adding the sensor seemed pretty simple though I didn't do it. This is definitely one area where they got it right.