RadioRA2 - All LEDs solid red - what are my options?

[BlueFang]

Two days ago, my RadioRA2 stopped working. All of the status LEDs on the main repeater are solid red. I think it is also occasionally emitting a loud beep - but I am having trouble verifying if the beep is actually coming from the repeater.

It has not had any updates since at least 2012 - and has never had Apple HomeKit connectivity. I am pretty sure it has been programmed with Inclusive, as I believe I remember the installer telling me that is what he was installing.

I really want to get away from having to make house-calls for simple updates. The installer wants hundreds of dollars just for a diagnostic visit. My RadioRA2 system is less than 20 lights (with 3 dimmers & 2 wall mount keypads).

I do not care if I lose my current settings (by the looks of the LEDs - it seems my settings may be corrupt anyway - it started behaving this way after a series of thunderstorms and brownouts in my area). My RadioRA2 main repeater is connected (through ethernet) to my home network.

Here is what I am looking to do:

• Upgrade to the latest software that allows me as a homeowner to edit my own **** system (sorry - I am a bit frustrated with the whole Inclusive "commercial installers only" business model).
• Connect my Main Router to Apple's Homekit or any other Lutron compatible app so that I can control the lights on iOS devices.
• Reprogram all of my current modes
• Live in peace that I am no longer tethered to $200 house visits to change a freakin setting.

I am a software engineer by trade, so not intimidated by sofware (or hardware) complexities.

Where do I start. I have already downloaded the RadioRA2+12.10-full.exe download - but I am not sure I can install this - as I believe it is the "Esssentials" package.

Every time I try to download other material from the lutron web site, I am met with a very friendly (that is sarcasm, btw), "Sorry, this file hasn't been shared with you." message.

Documentation on some kind of getting started help file would be a good place to start I guess.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide.

[BlueFang]

I am still stuck... Here is what I have tried so far (I am Level 1 certified):

• Unplugging the repeater from power for 1 minute
• Using a different 9v power cable
• Changed ethernet cable (though ethernet LEDs on the repeater are blinking, so it is at least seeing traffic)
• Essestials software is able to find the repeater - and I can set and save IP address (which I have set to a static IP address on my home network).
• I can ping the Repeater at the assigned IP address.

Things which don't seem to work:

Tools-> Update Main Repeater Firmware
- This brings up the Find Main Repeater dialog - with the status of my repeater as "Online" and green. If I then hit Save and Close nothing happens.

Tools -> Diagnostics
- This brings up the Find Main Repeater dialog - with the status of my repeater as "Online" and green. If I then hit Save and Close nothing happens.

Transfer -> Start Transfer
- This again brings up the Find Main Repeater dialog - status of my repeater is shown as "Online" and green. When I close this dialog with "Save and Close" - I see in the Transfer Log: Starting Transfer, Transfer canceled...

Note: My main repeater randomly seems to reboot itself - maybe every 10 minutes or so - sometimes it will reboot itself several times in a row - it always boots up to the all status LEDs solid red.

I am not sure if a call to Lutron support will help. My best guess is that the internal flash memory is hosed.

I believe a swap to a RadioRA3 should be pretty easy - but it seems these are not possible to purchase as an homeowner?

I am a currently an unemployed software engineer, and currently don't have the financial capacity for an expensive Lutron delearer visit.

[randyc]

Make sure you have multicast enabled on your network.

[BlueFang]

Make sure you have multicast enabled on your network.

As far as I understand how the router works, an ethernet connection is only needed when updating the system (either firmware update or transfer of new settings), but please confirm.

Once a router has been updated with a project, it should work standalone (unless it uses NTP for time servers?)


This is not a new install. This is an existing system that just stopped working last week. I have not changed anything with my home network in years.

I see the same status LEDs on the router when I boot up with and without an ethernet cable connected.

Also, Essentials software is able to see the router, but can not perform a Firmware update or transfer.

[BlueFang]

Make sure you have multicast enabled on your network.

I am also in Raleigh. If you see this, can you send me a PM with a quote or range of prices for a simple swap of a RA3 processor for my RA 2 router? I do not want to add any fixtures - just simply replace my RA 2 with RA 3 processor.

Cheers!

[Rowdy R.]

Hi BlueFang,
If there was not any work done since 2012 there might be a conflict in which version the firmware of the Main Repeater (MR) is and the software. If you can find out the IP of the MR plug that into a browser it will bring you to a log in page. From that log in page it will show a username and password, type is admin for username and password, then click on the non excel file and about halfway down should see a version information. That will at least let you know for sure which firmware version the MR is on.

It also sounds like there may be an issue with firewall access between the computer and the system please see the networking guide as it will help you set up permissions on the computer for the software.
Networking Guide

If there are any other questions we would be happy to help if you call into Lutron Tech Support at 1-888-588-7661.

[randyc]

• Upgrade to the latest software that allows me as a homeowner to edit my own **** system (sorry - I am a bit frustrated with the whole Inclusive "commercial installers only" business model).
  - 12.10 is the latest RA2 software.
• Connect my Main Router to Apple's Homekit or any other Lutron compatible app so that I can control the lights on iOS devices.
  - You need the connect bridge (CONNECT-BDG2) hardware
• Reprogram all of my current modes
  - You have the software
• Live in peace that I am no longer tethered to $200 house visits to change a freakin setting.
  - After initial setup the only thing you should need the programming software for is adding/replacing devices.

[BlueFang]

Hi BlueFang,
If there was not any work done since 2012 there might be a conflict in which version the firmware of the Main Repeater (MR) is and the software. If you can find out the IP of the MR plug that into a browser it will bring you to a log in page. From that log in page it will show a username and password, type is admin for username and password, then click on the non excel file and about halfway down should see a version information. That will at least let you know for sure which firmware version the MR is on.

I can reach the login page. However the login (admin, admin) does not work.

It also sounds like there may be an issue with firewall access between the computer and the system please see the networking guide as it will help you set up permissions on the computer for the software.
Networking Guide

I am able to connect to the MR using the software - at least the software seems to be able to find and identify the MR (it is able to obtain a serial #). I am also able to change the IP address of the MR and disable DHCP. So I am not sure if it is firewall issue - I have read the Networking Guide - and have disabled all Windows firewall settings. I have tried the Essesentials software running Windows 11 through parallels as well as on an old Windows 7 laptop - they both behave the exact same. The only firewall setting my home network has is for the disabling of port 80.

I think the next step is to cal the Lutron Tech Support # you included. Thanks for the feedback.

[BlueFang]

I was able to login to the MR web server with lutron/lutron - and the MR is running 4.2.10 - Currently on the phone with Tech Support - we are trying to figure out the path forward to get it updated to the latest firmware.

[BlueFang]

The "Get Database Info as XML" option returns a page that simply says "DATABASE NOT AVAILABLE".

Sounds like there is not an easy path forward - I guess for now, going to proceed in factory resetting everything - and look into the a RadioRA3 upgrade - though I don't think I can purchase that directly as a level 1, right? I probably have to go through an installer?