ControlThink Forums

As the subjects says what are the steps, if supported, do I need to follow to add this remote to the ThinkEssentials environment?

 Thanks,

John K.
 

John,

Portable remotes don't show up on the ThinkEssentials GUI (since they can't be "operated" from the software).

Chris

So am I able to add a device to the ThinkEssentials GUI and to the 890 remote also?  Would this be adding the device's to a current network or am I heading down the wrong path?

 
Thanks,

John K.

 

John,

If the Harmony 890 can add Secondary controllers to the network, then you can set up the network the the 890, add in ThinkEssentials, and then control the devices in both places.

If the Harmony 890 can _become_ a Secondary controller, you can set up your network with ThinkEssentials, put the 890 in "join network/replication receive" mode, and then press the "Add Device" button in ThinkEssentials...

I have heard rumors that only the 890 Pro could add in Secondary controllers.

Also, one more note: with ThinkEssentials Pro, there is another way to deal with this situation.  If you have the Home ID from the 890, you can fully "recover" the network with the software.  You'll need to remember to only use the 890 as your Primary, and to re-recover the network on the PC if you add/remove any devices with the 890...

Chris

I just received an 890 Pro and when I go into System Options > RF Network Tools > Set Learn Mode it will go into "Waiting for command..."  When I then go into ThinkEssentials 2.0 and click Add Device it will find and add the remote.  However, on the remote it says "This unit is now a Primary controller."  Why is it saying it is a primary controller?  Also, how does the remote know what devices are in the house?

The message that you're getting on the remote (regarding being a primary) is most likely just a bug.

The remote should get a list of all the devices in the network when it's added in.  How it presents those to the user is up to the remote manufacturer.  If I remember right, the Harmony remotes may require you to do all of that online...

Chris

According to Logitech tech support the 890 MUST be the primary controller, pro or not.  It can, however, allow secondary controllers, in this case being ThinkEssentials.  I was able to successfully get it so the 890 is the primary with ThinkEssentials is the secondary and everything works great.

Don't expect the logitech to work as secondary or as primary in conjunction with any software or other z-wave controller.

 Logitech didin't implement the proper z-wave standards, It's unusable in most situations in my experience. I recommed that you mail logitech and get your voice heard, like i've been trying for the last months now. I have 2 895's and one Pro none of them work properly with primary/secondary.

I agree, the Z-Wave support with Logitech seems horrible, but I have gotten everything successfully working in my house with ThinkEssentials 2.0 and 890 Pro.  I was not able to get the Hawkings HomeRemote working however, not sure if it was due to the 890 Pro or not.

 I've created a topic at the logitech forum: http://forums.logitech.com/logitech/board/message?board.id=general_remotes&thread.id=7485

 Post your thoughts there, i've forwarded the topic to logitech in the hope they will check it out. A poster in that topic talks about logitech fixing this in december, but i don't know how reliable that info is.

 The problem i face is that when i use my logitech to control my z-wave modules i can't pair the modules to any other remote or usb interface. Primary/secondary mode should be implemented soon, especially when the have an z-wave compatible logo on the box/site.

 But if you succeeded to pair think essentials and the logitech together in one network, it seems that the pro supports some kind of replication to secondary controllers.

Bartdesign_b,

Does the Harmony have any diagnostics info to tell you your Home ID?  If so, you can use the Professional edition of ThinkEssentials to add your PC to the network...

Chris

i think you guys are going to have serious problems with the harmony remotes and z-wave since they are no longer supported by harmony.  see the link below.  stay away from the firmware updates if you can still control z-wave on them.

http://board.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=124655 

Chris, no there's not really any diagnostic utility with the remote at all.

Bartdesign, are you on an 890 or 890 Pro?

syner, thanks for the link, but per the thread at Logitech it states that only the 1000 is losing Z-Wave capability, the 890 and 890 pro work just fine.  I'm running the latest firmware on the 890 pro and just turned on a light in my bedroom

Actually i'm using the 895, thats the european version of the 890 non-pro. There is no abilty to check out the zone-id on my remote.