timelinex

On 1/22/2024 at 10:53 AM, Cyknight said:

What's you ISP? Starlink by chance?

If so try adding a static route destination 192.168.100.1 mask 255.255.255.0 gateway 0.0.0.0 to your WAN interface

I don't have Starlink. I do have a WISP service, which isn't officially satellite but it uses a satellite to get internet from a tower a mile away. So it's similar in that manner (uses satilites in some part of the chain).

Is this something I should look into for me as well or is the issue you are mentioning just Starlink specific.

23 hours ago, Popolou said:

You have not said what testing you have done to singularly identify the C4 devices as being at fault here or what has been ruled out. There are far too many variables still at play and happenstance when one device does not connect to C4 is not the same thing as saying that the C4 itself is the root cause.

For example, have you checked your router/modem logs for retransmissions or reconnections? When you notice the EA5 dropping, can you still ping the device to confirm simple network connectivity. At a very basic level, when the incident occurs go into the System Diagnostics screen within Composer, select the Controller Networking tab and click "Test Internet Connection"..what happens?

Without much more detail, we are all just shooting in the dark here.

All my other services work except the C4. The only possible other thing would be my routers blocking the C4 intermittently ? I suppose that's possible. I'll try to see if I can find logs for my router.

The system diagnostics screen does show a working internet connection. A Ping to the device would always work on my network since , as mentioned, I can always reach the EA5 intranetwork. It's to the outside that doesn't work. The one or two times I have logged in to composer right after noticing the issue, the internet connectivity started working right then. I'll keep trying but typically when I catch this I don't exactly have time to go diagnose right then and there as I am doing something else. That's why I was looking for logs. For example logs have helped me solve the DS2 doorstation connectivity issues in the past.

Since my driver is 259, I only see up to 259. I would have to install 264 to see the updated change logs. Or at least, I don't know how I could see it otherwise.

Are you able to post what you see between all the iterations of 259 and 264.

My control4 ds2 is on version 259 and has been for a while now. There are still complaints I could have, but it mostly works minimally OK at this point.

I was looking at driver updates this morning and noticed that the newest version is 264. I can't seem to find a change log anywhere to see if it's worth going through all the possible issues an update could cause. The only change log I could find anywhere is in composer itself but since mine is 259 the logs only show to 259 in the driver.

Can anyone paste the change log from 259 to 264?

So no one has any suggestions on where errors like this may be logged?

I've not realized this is just some kind of intermittent issue. It doesn't just lose internet. It's off and on again all the time. I use Alexa all the time to interact with my C4 and the same times Alexa won't interact with C4 is the same times I can't connect to the C4 with the app unless on the same wifi. (alexa and everything else in my house still works and has internet)

Also, is there a way to refresh network, or similar, through programming?

On 1/6/2024 at 9:25 AM, RAV said:

Check the controller DNS, if dynamic or router, try using Google (8.8.8.8) and Cloudfare (1.1.1.1).

If indeed Pandora dies as well, than it's a general issue with the network.

Already have it set as Google.

If there are network issues, which of the logs that I can access in system manager could possibly show the errors. Is there one that would log a failure to reach either c4 or internet for any reason?

On 1/6/2024 at 9:25 AM, RAV said:

Check the controller DNS, if dynamic or router, try using Google (8.8.8.8) and Cloudfare (1.1.1.1).

If indeed Pandora dies as well, than it's a general issue with the network.

Already have it set as Google.

If there are network issues, which of the logs that I can access in system manager could possibly show the errors. Is there one that would log a failure to reach either c4 or internet for any reason?

8 hours ago, South Africa C4 user said:

Have you checked that 4sight really renewed and is showing as active?

Confirmed just now. Expires December 2024. System last checked in 1/6 (today)

Interesting thing is I didn't restart it since posting, and I can confirm access to internet is working again this morning and 5g connection with app is too. What could cause this? Is something possibly making the ea5 lag and cause intermittent connectivity issued?

28 minutes ago, SpencerT said:

It renewed last month and the problem has been occurring over the last month?

Unfortunately I can't pinpoint exactly when it started. I wasn't paying attention to it.

Anything you would chase down if this was the case tho?

45 minutes ago, SpencerT said:

Is your 4sight subscription expired?

Nope, it renewed last month. Remember , after restart, I can still connect with 4sight.

My control4 ea5 started having internet connectivity issues. I haven't fully diagnosed what works and what doesnt. But things that I see don't work is Alexa , pandora, and control4 phone app connectivity when not on the local network. 

If my phone is connected to my wifi the app connects no problem. I also don't have problems connecting to it with Composer. So it's not a network connection issue. It's just the internet.

Restarting the EA5 solves the issue. Before it would solve it for long, (happened a few times now in last month) now it only solved it for a day.

Any ideas what kind of thing could cause this. Or ideas of what logs to look at to see what could be causing it?

Thanks!

4 hours ago, alanchow said:

Why don't you use a TP-Link Kasa outdoor smart plug.  Its designed to be used outdoors.

https://www.kasasmart.com/us/products/smart-plugs/kasa-smart-wi-fi-outdoor-plug

Driver here

https://chowmain.software/drivers/control4-tplink

Thank you!!!

Looks like exactly what I need

I have a gate controller that occasionally needs the power reset. For a bit of time, I used WEMO plugs that I spliced at the gate controller itself, and that worked 95% of the time. But as most of you know WEMO is pretty garbage at always working and if there was some kind of hiccup in wifi, I would have to go manually reset it (which defeats the purpose, like when I'm out of town.)

Based on some advice from guys on here, I put in a Shelly relay instead. The flexibility and functionality of it is EXCELLENT. As far as I know they are known to be reliable as well. HOWEVER, I just immediate ran into a limitation that makes it useless for me. It turned off within a few hours from overheating. I guess it only runs till 95 degrees. It gets to 115+ here in AZ! (The switch is protected from the elements, but not temperature).

What are my other alternatives? I would prefer not to go back to relying on WEMO.....

On 4/15/2023 at 3:12 PM, Amr said:

Can u share some of your issues and dissatisfaction with C4 solutions, I found this the opposite of what I experienced since I deployed c4 in 2016.

If u need a WiFi based solution seek Shelly’s Door & Window Sensor. 2 c4 Drivers to choose from Chowmain and Domaudeo. I use both in 2 different houses, the later is used in my main house.

I didn't consider your Shelly solution at first because it looks like it's a eurpeon product. However, it doesn't look like I would have too much of an issue getting them sent to the USA, so it looks like it may be the perfect solution!

Do you have an opinion on which driver solution is better? I would guess you like Domaudeo better since you use it at your house?

Do you know if I need a relay like the Shelly 1 Pro for the drivers or do they interact directly with the Door/Window sensor just fine without the middle piece?

Thanks

21 minutes ago, TFlury said:

The driver is obsolete for a reason. But this is a work around I have had to do in the past.

Find the driver that replaces it in your my drivers folder. Delete the new one.

You will also need to terminal into the controller to remove the new driver if it was ever added to that project.

In composer right click on controller and select terminal. In the window follow these steps. Warning if you remove the wrong thing it could brick things so be careful.
type "cd mnt/internal/c4z" press enter
type "ls -all" press enter

You now have a list of all c4z drivers the controller has. find your driver and the folder

type "rm -r *folder name" press enter

type "rm *drievrname.c4z" press enter

That will remove the old files. At this point reboot controller

This should remove all items telling composer it is obsolete. In composer search for your driver with only the local selection enabled.

 

I appreciate the reply!

I think this won't work as the bigger issue is that the driver is pointing to a proxy that no longer exists (the programming for the driver isn't on the actual driver). So getting it on the controller doesn't help.

I'm still glad you replied as I'll put your technique in my pocket for other times!

3 minutes ago, Cyknight said:

The issue presumably is that the driver is based on an old proxy that isn't supported in 3.x

Unless there's a driver made for that panel under the new (well compared to) proxy, you're out of luck.

OK, I understand. That is unfortunate.

I've tried adding security.c4i back into the folder but that doesn't help. It's probably all disconnected and removed now.

Thanks for the help.

Composer 3.3.1

I wanted to connect an Honeywell Destiny 6100 security panel to it (I have in the past). It looks like the driver is obsolete so it won't let me add it. I know the usual workaround for c4i files is copying the driver and renaming it. This didn't work on this particular driver and it still recognizes the drive as obsolete. I'm pretty sure it is because it is a control4 driver and the programming isn't actually inside the c4i but it calls it from somewhere else.

It's pretty frustrating that they don't allow us to do what we want with systems that aren't owned by C4. (I would understand giving a "no longer supported" warning.

Any advice?

Thanks

1 hour ago, eggzlot said:

you can buy 3rd party harder and sometimes a driver and things will work.  that said you run the risk of that 3rd party shutting down/changing access and there goes your set up.

This sensor has native C4 Drivers

https://www.axxind.com/smarthome/contact-sensor/

if you are worried about the elements, they can fit into this box which you can mount/tape onto your gate

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07Q14K8YT?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details

no wires, non c4 branded hardware, native/free C4 drivers, no alarm system needed

Appreciate the suggestion.

Looks like it's Zigbee and not wifi/ethernet. Any brands/items I can buy on amazon and have at my doorstep in 2 days? (programming into c4 not an issue as long as there is driver).

4 minutes ago, Cyknight said:

 Yes because it's the satisfied people that post reviews the most, not to mention half of them don't even have a Control4 system but are expecting it to work with their Skybell....and complain when it doesn't.

 

That's not to comment on your experience mind you: but that line just jumped out as hilarious.

Online website and app store 'ratings and reviews' are not an indication of what is 'typical' at all.

On the one hand I agree with your point of view. I own businesses so I completely empathize with it. On the other hand, this example in particular crumbles completely when we are talking about averages over a decent sample size. Plenty of smart home apps are 4+ stars on average. Do the same forces you discuss not apply to them? You wouldn't accept that argument. 

Making a good app for new technology is a complicated problem. Especially considering how many different devices there are that could be using it. Some companies do it better than others. You can compare the aggregate reviews of intercom anywhere (the old app before they integrated) to other doorstation apps. Thats it. As everyone has mentioned, they did finally improve it and their reviews started getting better slowly.

4 minutes ago, South Africa C4 user said:

I think many of your comments on the Door Station are fair.  I’ve had plenty issues with mine but it seems relatively stable (for me) these days,

However, I struggle to understand how any fair commentary on any other C4 hardware can be all that negative.

Generally, when I pay a massive premium to buy branded things it is because I am paying for a shortcut. The shortcut is "I trust that even if this may not be the absolute best item, I know that this brand wouldn't put it's name on a bad item, and it will be more than good enough". How often do you let others cheat on you till your trust in them is broken? The trust was broken for me. Without that trust, why am I paying more? This is basic Brand theory.

This isn't just about the doorstation BTW. That's just the easiest example.

They have slowly started to get better as competition has probably been applying pressure.....I don't want to make this a control4 hate thread.....It works OK enough that it's not worth ripping out to replace with a different system.

The point of mentioning that I prefer 3rd party is: why would I pay 5x for the same thing simply for their name (when I can no longer trust having their name will prevent problems).

On 4/15/2023 at 3:12 PM, Amr said:

Can u share some of your issues and dissatisfaction with C4 solutions, I found this the opposite of what I experienced since I deployed c4 in 2016.

 

I've used a few of their products and have many complaints. The easiest one is the C4 doorstation. Heads and shoulders more expensive then all the other options on the market (at least back when I was shopping!). Looks nice and has built-in native functionality. That's where the benefits end. Install was a pain to get it going right (with 2 separate config panels, since they don't actually make their own products and are just repackaging someone else product with their brand on it so they can demand a high price tag). For the first year or two of having it they were CONSTANTLY having connection and/or notification issues in relation to it. Yea, it worked ok for some people but if you look at the average reviews of the app, it tells the actually story of the typical persons experience. Everything from video not working, to not receiving notifications when someone is calling. It took them YEARS to iron out most of it. Which they finally did. But since then there have been issues on and off as something breaks and they take weeks or longer to fix (like you can't start a call with video when remotely connecting). Lastly, the video quality is complete garbage. In the age where 4k cameras can be bought for like $20, it uses the same resolution as my 4 year old sons waterproof toy camera that I bought off Amazon for $15.

This is in contrast to nearly zero issues with most other consumer products that I buy on the market. When they have issues, it's usually resolved quickly with updates. 

On 4/13/2023 at 2:20 PM, DLite said:

Z2IO is a native C4 product with a native driver:  https://www.control4.com/docs/product/z2io/data-sheet/english/latest//z2io-data-sheet-rev-c.pdf

The C4 IO extender or controller options would only be if you already have one close by; otherwise, they are overkill.

 

ok, I see it is Zigbee. I have a regular POE Switch out there by the gate that I can tap into for internet, but the control4 controller with zigbee is far. Plus I'm generally not happy with most C4 branded solutions (expensive and don't work any better, if not worse!...like my doorstation)

Any aftermarket solutions that have drivers for c4?

8 minutes ago, South Africa C4 user said:

Z2IO, IO extender or various controllers if you have one close by

Those have native drivers or aftermarket?

My primary question would be how to get it integrated with C4

I don't have an integrated alarm, so unfortunately I can't do it that way.

15 hours ago, RAV said:

Got any wiring or network at the gate available?

could be as simple a garage door type wide gap sensor.

Yep. I have cat cable going out there to run the keypad, and I actually just put a switch on it to run cameras there as well. So I can connect something either with wires or use a leftover AP point if I needed wireless.

Is there a particular one you can recommend?

I want to have some kind of notification when my gate opens and closes. I imagine that could be accomplished using some kind of sensor like alarms use that I put either on the gate and ground itself or something inside the open/close opener mechanism.

What are my easiest options that aren't an arm and a leg? I don't need any kind of special functionality and I'm not "betting my life on it".