Building Automation Knowledge Base

Issue Net Controller time is off by 5 hours. Environment Continuum LAN and StandAlone Cause Network object UTC offset did not match the Net Controller UTC offset. Resolution Ensure the Network object UTC offset matches the Net Controller UTC offset when both are in the same time zone. Right click on the Network object in the Cyberstation Object Tree to set the Network

Issue Valid card swipes sometimes successfully unlock the door and other times result in invalid attempts with the message "Bit count not supported by system" Environment CyberStation ACX7xx CX9900 CX9702 CX9680 ACX5740 ACX5720 Cause Random bit count not supported by system events typically indicate that the signal from the card swipe at the reader got corrupted on its way to the panel, this happens on very long runs (reader is too far from panel) or due to wiring issues and/or electrical noise interfering with the signal. Resolution Make sure the max distance from reader to panel has not been exceeded. (A Wiegand signal repeater may be used) Make sure the reader wire conforms to the specs in the controller's installation guide. Eliminate any source of electrical noise that may be interfering with the card swipe signal on its way to the panel.

Issue Unable to log into the Controllers web page. How do I reset the Password on  a ACX5740 from the Continuum front end? Environment Continuum  1.8X Continuum 1.9X ACx57XX Cause Password Unknown Resolution Open Continuum Explorer Expand the Network Select the ACX 57XX Select the Controller User folder Edit the ACC user and reset the password. 

Issue What voltage should be seen across conductors on an Infinet bus? Environment Infinet RS-485 Cause Communication issues on RS-485 bus. Resolution  Measuring Ground Potential Signal Potential refers to the horizontal plane along which signals are sent and received with respect to ground.  RS-485 requires that all devices communicating with each other be at a reasonable ground potential. Measuring the ground potential of any Infinet controller Use a voltmeter to measure between the earth ground connection (for power) and the Infinet shield connection.   Measuring the ground difference between the Infinet controller and the ground at the InfiLink or CX/NetController (shield grounding point). Set the multi meter to measure AC voltage; measure and record the AC voltage (ACV) between + and -. A reading higher than 2-3 volts indicates a grounding problem. Set the multi meter to measure DC voltage; measure and record the DC voltage (DCV) between +and -. A reading higher than 2 to 3V on either voltage indicates a grounding problem. Calculate the combined voltage using the following formula. (1.4 X ACV) + DCV = Combined Voltage. If the combined voltage is greater than 7 a grounding problem exists

Issue AC1 module door output is staying on instead of pulsing for the duration of the strike time. Environment CX9900 CX9940 NC1 NC2 Cause AC1 Plus module was replaced with an AC1 module without a subsequent reload of the controller. Resolution Reload controller.

Issue InfinityOutput that has been set to ON by a schedule and then set to OFF manually (or from a Graphics) randomly turns back to ON Environment All CXs All i2s All b3s Cause Anything that causes the schedule to get re-evaluated will set the output value from the schedule. Resolution To take control of the output away from the schedule set the output state to disabled. To return the output to schedule control set its value backup to the schedule value and re-enable it.

Issue When upgrading from SX8000 to Cyberstation 1.93,  with over 600 reports for SX8000 that need to be upgraded to Cyberstation. Environment Cyberstation LAN or StandAlone Cause A site has been running SX8000 and is upgrading to Cyberstation 1.93. There are over 600 reports that the customer wants upgraded to Cyberstation. Resolution There is no auto-conversion program that will upgrade the reports from SX8000 to Cyberstation. Keywords will be an issue. There are over 600 reports that must be upgraded manually. There is no automatic upgrade for reports.

Issue The DynamicText fields on the card are not displaying the correct attribute information.   The DynamicText fields that displays Info1 information is displaying the value from another attribute. Environment Continuum EpiBuilder Cause Data fields mislabeled in Personnel Manager. Resolution Correct the labeling of the data fields in Personnel Manager > Configure > Customize attributes.

Issue Installing Cyberstation on a Standalone workstation results in SQL Server errors. Environment Cyberstation Standalone. Cause Installing Cyberstation on a StandAlone workstation returns the error "Another version of SQL is installed." The Standalone had Windows 7 installed. Resolution On the Windows 7 workstation, select  Start  > All Programs > System Tools > System Restore.   Select a restore point that pre-dates the Cyberstation install. Once the system has been successfully returned to that restore point, reinstall Cyberstation.

Issue On a database with a large number of personnel records, an 'Unknown error' is received when searching personnel using Personnel Manager Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause There is a default maximum limitation to the number of records that can be display when searching for records using Personnel Manager. The default maximum is set to 50. If you attempt to increase this number in the New Search screen in Personnel Manager it reverts back to 50. Resolution In order to allow a higher number to work around this error, perform the following steps: Shut down Cyberstation Make a copy of the existing PersonnelManagerCtrlDll.Config (C:\Program Files\Continuum\Common) Use Textpad or Notepad and open the PersonnelManagerCtrlDll.Config file Change the number in the line SearchSection MaxSearchResult=50 (Change this to a larger number closer to the max search results you would expect from the site) Too large of a number can affect system performance of the search. Restart Cyberstation Note: Repeat this procedure for each Cyberstation as needed.

Issue LED on Continuum Security Key goes out after it has been running for a hours or days. Cyberstation shuts down sometime after the LED has stopped illuminating. Environment Cyberstation Continuum Security Key USB Cause Computer hardware failure. Continuum Security Key failure. Resolution Test the Security Key in another Cyberstation PC.

Issue After doing a "Find new BACnet" devices (or device discovery) none of the BACnet IP X Driver points can be found. Environment BACnet IP X-Driver As used in ACX5740, ACX5720, NC2 (Netcontroller II) to map data between Continuum points and BACnet. Cause The X Driver has 2 modes of operation: Client mode or Server mode, points can only be viewed externally in Server mode. Resolution When using the BACnet IP XDriver you must always first create a Device Self object point as a type 200, this will define the parameters for the BACnet device itself. This allows the device itself to be found in the BACnet view of any BACnet Operator Workstation.   For points with type 0 (BACnet Client), these are not seen in the BACnet view as they are Continuum points that have the BACnet data mapped into them for use within Continuum. For points to be seen in the BACnet view they have to be Type 1 or 2 in a BACnet Server mode.

Issue Need to know if Continuum account passwords are encrypted Environment Cyberstation and webClient (all versions) Cause No cause - information only. Resolution Continuum passwords are encrypted with an algorithm. Being salted and hashed before being saved in the Continuum Database.

Issue Find new BACnet devices from the root does not find bCX or b3 devices. ACCTrace reveals CyberStation is not sending WHOIS message even though Cyber is enabled for BACnet. Environment CyberStation bCX b3s Cause CyberStation not sending WHOIS message. Resolution After rebooting, CyberStation sent out WHOIS message and found the devices.

Issue When NC9900 is commissioned it does not hold the configuration settings even though the changes have been saved to the controllers configuration page. Environment 1st Generation Controllers CMX 9924 CX 9900, 9901, 9940 Cause Proper controller commissioning procedure was not followed. Resolution When commissioning a first generation network controller, the controller must be rebooted (power shut off and then power restored) once the changes have been made to the controller configuration via a PC using a terminal emulation application.

Issue Communications from CyberStation to controller is flaky, controller goes offline during reload or while an object is under edit. Controller can be pinged consistently and access via the configuration web page works fine. Opening/editing objects randomly result in communication timeout errors. Environment CyberStation All CXs Cause Controller is online with two Continuum databases at the same time. Example: In a LAN system  with the controller is configured in the SQL server DB, a lap top running stand alone Continuum is connected to perform some troubleshooting, the controller exists in the SA database residing in the lap top. Resolution The controller MUST only be online with one ContinuumDB. Close Continuum on the machine that is looking at the second database.

Issue At times there is a need to see video monitor without triggering an alarm Environment Continuum Windows XP Windows Vista Windows 7 Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2008 Cause Video Monitor is triggered by an alarm Resolution There is a work around solution to this issue that is provided as is without any additional support. By default, Video Monitor is launched by triggering an alarm. Work around: 1. Use TAC.VideoLaunch.exe arguments being the objectidhi and objectidlo. It can be launched from the Continuum shell or a graphic. The following example is from a button on a graphic. 2. Locate the objectidhi and objectidlo by right clicking on the door or point and select properties (This can be copied and pasted) 3. In the case of a graphic, paste the objectidhi and objectidlo into the text field. 4. Save the button and run the graphic.  5. Click on the button and video will be launched, but not playback an event. You will be able to search on video by time and see live video for 2 cameras.

Issue Can not save a PE Program in Continuum controller. Environment Cyberstation and CX controllers BasedOn and Case statements Cause Not all keywords and functions are supported in all controllers. Resolution When using keywords and inbuilt Plain English functions always verify it is supported by the controller you are using. The "Select CASE" statement is only supported by the Cyberstation programs, if programming a controller use the BASEDON function that has a similar format and is supported by all controllers.

Issue In the 'Make/Edit Badge' dialog of the personnel manager/editor, selecting 'Capture Photo' but nothing happens. USB camera device works fine from an application other than Continuum. Environment CyberStation Cause The photo image source has not been properly selected. Resolution In the 'Tools' menu select 'Set Photo Image Source' menu item then select the camera device and click OK. Clicking the 'Capture Photo' button works once the camera has been selected as the source.

Issue Immediately after conversion from 9900 to 9680 an attempt to edit a system variable from the Continuum Explorer causes an access denied error Environment CyberStation CX9680 Cause Conversion process was not completely successful Resolution In the Continuum Explorer change the controller type to 9681, when the warning comes up that this is irreversible click OK Change the controller type backup to 9680, when the warning comes up that this is irreversible click OK