calbear

I have tried rebooting the controller. Interestingly I do have some custom experience buttons for certain rooms. I haven’t been paying enough attention but it could actually be that only the rooms with custom function buttons are the ones having this periodic problem. If that’s the culprit, is that a “known issue?” Any known resolution? I could try removing/re-adding them, or even f that doesn’t work just fully removing to see if that resolves it (though it would suck to lose those long term…)

Has anyone else experienced this? Or is this some unique issue I’m experiencing?

I've now had the "Settings icon only" issue occur on another Room page too, not just the one that had a lot of icons favorited to it... continues not to be related to connection bandwidth. Still can't isolate the pattern that results in this. Appreciate any ideas to try, or if anyone has had this too and figured this out already.

I've had it happen both on wifi or cellular. And it seems to be associated with my "primary" Room. As an experiment, I changed my default room to a different one which is loading fine on startup, and then when I switch over to my primary Room it had lost its icons. So it's not related to which room is default... it seems to be affecting this particular Room (which of course is the one I'd like as default). But if this is not a use-case affecting others, I could see perhaps that if there's some random bandwidth issue at the time of opening the app that it's not loading that room (and not caching it). Maybe it just has too many icons on it (14)? I've had this layout for several years now though and this problem only started a few months ago... That said, I've just removed a couple icons from that Room and will see if that has any effect...

Hi all, Beginning a few months ago, when I open the C4 app on my fully-updated iPhone 12, I have a particular problem: several times a day when I open the app, it launches my default room page, shows its specific custom wallpaper, but has only the "Settings" gear icon in the top left corner - none of the favorite icons that have been saved to the room. Sometimes I can resolve this by restarting the app. Sometimes that doesn't work and I need to do a "resync." I've tried deleting and reinstalling the app too, but nothing has resolved this issue and there is no predictable pattern around when it happens. Has anyone else seen this? Any ideas what could be going on and how to resolve it? Thanks!

Good to know. It’s still separate on iPhone. Is it fast in the combined app? Does the app need to be open already in the background? Perhaps they have a branch in the app that’s just for the intercom and can run without having to connect to the rest of the Director... certainly sounds like a better direction than two apps.

From my limited experience with Chime so far, the benefit of the Intercom App is how much faster it loads than waiting for the full C4 app to connect to the Director and pull in all the status info (lights, HVAC, security, etc.) So that's most likely why they went with the separate app. As for programming buttons, you first go to the Chime Intercom properties page where you'll find in the lower right this section: After entering your UI label choices (and yes, I could have used Toggle Garage freeing up a button, but reasons...) you can then go into programming under Chime Video Doorbell and those buttons will be available for any action(s) you wish to assign to them.

Follow-up: I switched on trace logging of the integration with the panel in Composer HE and found that when polling the alarm for the zones, the panel IS responding back with the new ones at the end of the list. Here's an excerpt of the log with the new sensors (and their dimensions) highlighted. Does this at least rule out an issue with the panel/integration and point to the problem being in Composer or the setup? Is there a setting in Pro that could be locking the number of sensors or preventing the refresh from updating the total number of sensors in Composer available for binding? Other ideas? Appreciate any guidance. DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): reply[01001900210100231815142B171124152B] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): Partition[1] Zone(ID[33], Type[25], State[0]) Label[SHED GATE ] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): reply[01000100220200] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): Partition[1] Zone(ID[34], Type[1], State[0]) Label[Sensor 34] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): reply[01000100230200] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): Partition[1] Zone(ID[35], Type[1], State[0]) Label[Sensor 35] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): reply[01001C002401001711221117152B1622191417152B] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): Partition[1] Zone(ID[36], Type[28], State[0]) Label[GARAGE DOOR] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): reply[01001000250100231116152B141F1F222B] DEV_MSG.ZoneData(): Partition[1] Zone(ID[37], Type[16], State[0]) Label[SAFE DOOR ] And snooping around CHE I also found that if I am in the "List View" mode and double-click on the Partition, then select Zones, I can see the two new sensors there as well: But they're still not showing up on the Properties page under Zones and therefore my dealer can't bind the new sensors to rooms for programming...

Hi all, I have the GE Concord 4 alarm panel and superbus integrated with C4 and all has been working fine for years. I have a large number of sensors bound in C4 for doors/windows, and motion. I recently added two new door/window sensors to the alarm, in the same Partition 1 with all the others, but when my dealer or I (in CHE) refresh the zones list in C4 (the "read from panel" function) the new sensors don't show up there and therefore can't be bound in C4. However, the two new sensors DO show up in the C4 app when looking in the "Security" tab (vs. the "Locks and Sensors" section which only shows the ones bound in C4). See the new sensors "Zone 36" and "Zone 37" in the image attached. And see below for more findings (the new sensors are included in the data coming from the panel). Does anyone know what we're missing? What do we need to do to get the new sensors to show up in Composer for binding? Thanks for your help!

Hi all, Good update - it's working now! Matt Lowe fixed the driver issue/binding in C4 with the GlobalCache. But throwing us a quick wrench, the GC sneakily reset itself to Even parity in the process. Once back to Odd (and I am using the "lock" feature to prevent future resets) the integration works again and C4 can see the alarm and all its sensors! It's a relief because I have some useful programming tied to those sensors and alarm states. Many thanks to Matt for being so responsive! He reached out to me within minutes of my email on a Sunday, and fixed the problem today. This was my first time working with him (after many, many years with Neil) and I look forward to working with Matt now.

Yes, here are the settings on the GlobalCache side. One can "lock" the settings to prevent them from changing but I got into trouble with that recently (somehow the IP address changed in the unit when I changed the router (even with DHCP off), and I think I damaged the unit when trying to physically reset it; that's when I realized it was busted and just replaced it). Will report back here after Matt's had a chance to look at the C4 driver bindings. Thanks!

Quick update: Even with the new board, the "Bus Error AM1" came back after a few hours (not initially on restart). I think the issue may be that with a new IP2SL (same IP but different MAC) perhaps the binding got borked and needs to be reset in Composer Pro. Matt's going to look into this as the next step...

I'd been running just fine for years with my C4 -> GlobalCache IP2SL -> Superbus2000 RS232 -> GE Concord4 panel. Then the IP2SL suffered some kind of problem and I replaced it. I set it to the exact same IP address and Serial settings as before. In Composer HE (I'm running 2.9.1) it shows "connected to Global Cache." In Lua it reports: --------------------------- Connected GC Ports --------------------------- 4998 ONLINE ---------------------------------------- SERIAL: 1 Type: RS_232 Name: Serial Port 1 Address: 1:1 ID: 1 Bound: F Port: 4999 ---------------------------------------- But when I go to connect through my iPhone app, for it says the alarm panel is "offline." And the panel is reporting the "Bus Failure AM1." Any ideas what to do? I've tried rebooting in various orders, but is there a magic sequence? Or is my issue needing a dealer to do something in Composer Pro? Thanks in advance for any suggestions...

And just when I thought CV19 was the worst thing to happen this year... will miss you Neil. All the best, Dan

So true, so true on every point about Neil and the impact that has. And yes, my wife now loves the system too!

True -- I was reflecting on that. Apple's supported ecosystem may be smaller, but then they could have complications from the diversity of apps out there. That said, not trying to suggest a close relationship between these two. I just hope C4 truly appreciates the burden on their customers and dealers when these significant bugs arise. Take the time to get it right. I'm sure they feel the competitive pressure to release more and more features quickly to compete with the DIY stuff coming out now, but I think that the best way to compete with those is reliability and quality that will strengthen and grow their base. Give people a reason to pay up for stability and be glad they did.

Please know I don't think anything is malicious or intended. Of course not. But sloppiness or lack of investment in quality is an issue, particularly in a system that limits people's ability to help themselves. For example, 2.8.1 might be a "free" update, but I can't do it myself. And even if a dealer isn't charging for the update, it's still their time to go around doing it. So in that environment and context, I would just like C4 to place much more emphasis on quality control and testing.... It's a business decision, since they could be more bug free if they wanted to -- other industries are -- like Autos. Remember when iPhones used to "just work," and then since Steve Jobs died, you've seen more frequent iOS updates with increasing major bugs and problems. iOS9 so thrashed my out of warranty iPhone6 that Apple actually gave me a new one!

And why/how was backup broken in 2.80!?!?! That's a major function. They just introduced cloud back up. That's probably how they broke it, but you'd think that in releasing the new capability someone would have tested it and seen it doesn't work (cloud or PC!) before releasing 2.8. Or remove the feature from 2.8 until it's working. Not roll it out and break everyone's ability to do backups! It's called regression testing. Breaking things that were working before is a serious engineering failure. C4 needs to care more about their quality or they fully risk their reputations. Competition is only increasing. Anyway, that's for another forum. This post is about how great Neil has been helping us out with these messes! :-)

I understand what you're saying about not "running" the security -- I don't use C4 as the means to run the alarm or do self monitoring. I have a separate monitoring service for that. But there are many other features that are squarely in C4's responsibility that touch on the integration working as expressly sold by them and working just fine before the updates. For example, I expect to get the notifications and alerts that the security integration provides. I expect to be able to run outdoor security lights / pathway lighting and get text alerts when a fence is opened unexpectedly, based on the sensors and triggers set up in C4. When all of those things break because of bugs they introduce in subsequent updates, it has real implications on security that the alarm itself isn't set up to cover. I don't want to go back to individual motion-detector flood light units! :-)

Hi all, Just posting again how great it is to work with Neil ! He recently upgraded my system to 2.8, and helped us through a major bug in the new security drivers. (In short, on installation C4 created a phantom partition that prevented the navigators from connecting to the panel correctly. Neil investigated the problem and found the solution; he had to back out and re-do the driver installation to fix it.) Thank you again Neil for resolving this issue!! Frankly, if it weren't for Neil, I would be pulling out my hair regarding C4's bug problems with each new version. A Message to Control4: Your systems run our houses and security. They're integral to our safety as well as the lifestyles for which we've paid you and your dealers lots of money. When your updates break key components, it causes everyone headaches and wastes lots of time and money! You need to take this more seriously! Your releases need to be bullet-proof, not sloppy (like how I can't back up the project right now either!) I get you have pressure to release new features to keep up with the likes of Google, Apple and other competitors, BUT, if your quality continues to decline, then you still lose in the long run as a bad reputation shifts future customers to other solutions and your business suffers.. Nobody wants that, particularly your existing installed base or dealers. Therefore, please focus more on your testing and quality control so new releases are stable and something to look forward to, rather than nightmares that make customers nervous and cost everyone more time and money. Thanks again to Neil for his help resolving these problems introduced by C4! They should pay him for how much he contributes solutions to the dealer network and helps keep their customers happy!!

Since all my hardware is already in, I don't need a non-responsive local dealer anymore. :-) When I need programming help, Neil is the man! He continues to help me with system upgrades, occasional changes/glitches, and other programming needs. Highly recommend!

Ditto. Neil will help you enjoy Control4 instead of cursing non-responsive local dealers...

Hey all, After my first time working with Neil (see earlier in thread) I posted how great he is. Now I've worked with him several times. Very happy. As someone else noted, one's system is only as good as one's dealer. Well, working with Neil, I finally feel really good about my system. I no longer worry if it will be months before I can get something added/changed (local Dealers were unresponsive). I must also say that given how many people Neil's working with (who all have had such great success working with him), it amazes me that he still has the time, attention and focus he brings when working on my projects. Much appreciated!!

Based on the good words in this thread and other comments about Neil I found, I started working with him recently and couldn't be happier. Like others, I found my local dealer to be too hard to schedule after the first big project was done. And another local dealer was also hard to schedule. Of course Neil is both a local dealer and an excellent remote one as well. I think it's because he doesn't seem to sleep! I'm in Pacific time and yet Neil's been available to do programming with me at night, well after midnight Eastern. The quality of Neil's work has been great. And furthermore, I have to thank him for his patience as we diagnosed getting Control4 to talk with a Concord4 alarm panel through the SuperBus. We just completed that project and everything is perfect there too. On to the next items... :-) In summary, after many months of waiting for local dealers to help with remote-addressable issues, I'm really looking forward to working with Neil going forward. Most highly recommended, with no reservations.