Control4 not working with new mesh system

[Kstrash]

Since the day we built our house, haven't been able to get WIFI in some parts of our 4 year old, 6,000 sqft house even though our Control4 company that did the initial wiring installed 2 Akarnis access points.  Last week we had an independent tech take the access points out and install the EERO Pro6.  Now that the wireless signal is great, the Control4 app doesn't work.  We can't control our shades, garage doors, lights, locks and security system, etc through the app.  Our Control4 remote doesn't work but yet we can control the TV thru the Control4 app.  After our independent tech talked to our Control4 technician, they decided that the Control4 tech would need to come out to reprogram our system.  Something about the ip address, I think?  Bottom line, am I wasting my money, (the Control4 company charges $180 for the 1st hour and $140 for each additional hour) will this EERO Pro 6 system work with the Control4 system?  

[Topfox]

I’d suggest reach out to one of these remote programmers. They will probably offer themselves up. @msgreenf and @chopedogg88 are ones I’ve worked with before. Lots of others around too. If something just like an ip needs to change, or a zigbee channel, which is most likely the case it, would be much cheaper to do that than to have your dealer come on site. 

[msgreenf]

2 aps was never enough for 6000 sqft! Mesh or not. It wasn't properly designed. 

Yes you probably need some DHCP reservations and IPs updated as likely the IP scheme has changed. 

[Steelermedallion]

100% agree with the recommendation to hire a reputable remote programmer here on the forum.  It’s a great group here. I’m a big fan of c4. It’s rock solid when designed properly.

note- I’m just an end user but my c4 experience is fantastic once I’ve got a trusted expert

[-defunct-]

Just a note on Mesh WiFi and why it is never recommended:

A Control4 system relies on multicast and most Mesh systems disable or extremely restrict multicast.

You might have internet, but that uses unicast.

Mesh APs are okay when not configured in mesh, and instead are configured as individual APs with a wire going back to a central switch.

I'm not at all surprised you have issues because your phone likely can't find the Control4 system due to the multicast being blocked. (The app uses multicast to find the system).

Most IT specialists hate multicast because they don't know how to properly configure a network for it and they don't use products that need it. If you ask any corporate IT specialist, they'll tell you they disable multicast and set up specific routes for unicast traffic. Smart home systems require a significantly more capable network engineer to set the network up properly.

[therockhr]

1 hour ago, Dunamivora said:

Most IT specialists hate multicast because they don't know how to properly configure a network for it and they don't use products that need it. If you ask any corporate IT specialist, they'll tell you they disable multicast and set up specific routes for unicast traffic. Smart home systems require a significantly more capable network engineer to set the network up properly.

There is definitely some truth to this but if you think the average Control4 installer is knowledgeable in multicast you are dreaming. 

[-defunct-]

2 minutes ago, therockhr said:

There is definitely some truth to this but if you think the average Control4 installer is knowledgeable in multicast you are dreaming. 

I'll agree to that as well. PCNA is supposed to address that a little, but setting up good networks is an advanced art and finding that specialist can sometimes be difficult.

[RAV]

The Control4 people likely put in an Araknis router.

The Eero people should have left said router in place, added the Eero and put the Eero in bridge mode (which would have turned it into WiFi APs rather than routing devices), and you'd be done.

Eero is not recommended as stated to run a Control4 system.
2 APs is way under designed for 6000sqft.

[mstafford388]

18 hours ago, therockhr said:

There is definitely some truth to this but if you think the average Control4 installer is knowledgeable in multicast you are dreaming. 

Is that a fishing term?

[Neo1738]

Agree probably changed router and I have 5 indoor 1 outdoor AP for 6300 sq ft.

[therockhr]

2 hours ago, mstafford388 said:

Is that a fishing term?

Yes

[tekki70]

just as someone else has stated eero should be put in bridge mode, if not it will create its own network and everything on the eero mesh will be on a different ip scheme and wont communicate with the wired devices running on the other ip scheme