Motion Sensor no firmware update beyond 2.8

[McGreggor 0]

Currently trying to update firmware on 4 motion sensors to the latest available, (3.2 i think?) but really struggling.

 

I'm doing this on a recently reset HC2, freshly set up on v4.540.  I'm joining the motion sensors on my test bench, 1m away from my HC2.  I've tried reconfiguring, removing/re-adding, powering one from 3.3v bench power supply, reset of the motion sensors memory but HC2 refuses to state anything other than firmware 2.8 being latest available.  I've been prompted to upgrade from 2.7 to 2.8 with one module, and done so successfully so this appears to be an issue with HC2?

 

Any ideas what else I can try?

[jakub.jezek 353]

Hi @McGreggor,

 

Version 2.8 is last firmware version for Fibaro motion sensor on Z-Wave chip 300. Motion sensor with Z-Wave chip 500 has firmware version 3.2. And to change to new Z-Wave version, you need completely new Motion sensor as change of Z-Wave chip is change of HW. So different HW means different firmware in this case.

 

Hope it helped,

Jakub

[McGreggor 0]

Thanks Jakub,  that explains it then.  Is there any technical info on what the GEN5 chip provides over the GEN3 chip?  I'm wondering if GEN5 model might allow for network-wide inclusion which I don't seem to be able to do with these ones.  

[jakub.jezek 353]

@McGreggor, check this link: 

Please login or register to see this link.

 

With Fibaro products based on Z-Wave 500 you should be able to use NWI.

[McGreggor 0]

3 hours ago, jakub.jezek said:

With Fibaro products based on Z-Wave 500 you should be able to use NWI.

 

Good news, looks like i'm going to be upgrading to gen5 motion sensors then.  

 

Last point on this, sightly off topic, but what would your thoughts be on leaving one or two gen3 sensors on the network vs upgrading them all to gen5.  I've read somewhere there's benefit to having all Gen5 devices, but if Gen3 devices are mixed in with Gen5 it's detrimental to radio range?

[jakub.jezek 353]

1 minute ago, McGreggor said:

but what would your thoughts be on leaving one or two gen3 sensors on the network vs upgrading them all to gen5.

I do not think that leaving few of them would be an issue. Z-Wave 500 is backwards compatible with Z-Wave 300. In my trainings here in CZ i still use Z-Wave 300 micro modules for Associations and scenes and everything runs flawlessly, even tho i'm starting to replace old ones with new ones. Heck i even use FGS-2x1 during trainings and they are the oldest ones there.

 

And still HC runs on Z-Wave 300 series chip.