Z Screen FAQ
The Z Screen has different display options that indicate different display modes or connectivity issues. This article goes over some of the common questions you may encounter.
Why won’t the Z Screen (DS-SCREEN) display both Port 1 and Port 0 (internal Z Sensor)?
The table below lists sensor input conditions and the corresponding displays for DS-SCREEN firmware version 1.33:
Condition (sensors) | Z Screen Display |
No external sensors | Port 0 temp (I=Internal) |
Temp sensor on port 1 only | Port 1 temp (E=External) |
Temp sensor on port 2 only | Port 0 and Port 2 temps |
Temp sensors on port 1 and port 2 | Port 0, Port 1, Port 2 temps |
Temp+Humidity sensor on port 1 | Port 1 temp+humidity |
Temp+Humidity sensor on port 2 | Port 0 temp, Port 2 temp+humidity |
Temp+Humidity sensors on port 1 and port 2 | Port 1 temp+humidity |
Temp sensor on port 1 and Temp+Humidity sensor on port 2 | Port 0 temp, port 1 temp, port 2 humidity |
Temp+Humidity sensor on port 1 and Temp sensor on port 2 | Port 1 temp+humidity |
How do you get a Z Screen to stop beeping when it displays "alarm"?
To stop the Z Screen from beeping until the next Z Sensor reporting interval:
- Hold the power button on the Z Screen (DS-SCREEN) until you hear a short beep.
- To turn off the Z Screen, hold the power button for 15 seconds until the Z Screen powers off.
How often do the minimum & maximum display on the Z Screen? Can this be reset or force updated?
The minimum & maximum values on the Z Screen represent the minimum & maximum over the last 24 hours. Pushing the button on the Z Sensor (Z Node) will refresh the 24-hour minimum & maximum on the Z Screen. However, there are two downsides:
- The node is forced to rejoin the Zigbee network
- The screen will need to resynchronize its radio with the node
Why are the minimum and maximum values incorrect on the screen?
The minimum and maximum values are calculated each time the sensor reads temperature or humidity. To calculate the minimum and maximum values, the sensor must have the readings for the last 24 hours stored on the sensor. If the sensor is showing incorrect minimum and maximum on the screen, the readings have been lost.
My Z Screen is continually losing sync with the Z Sensor and entering Sleep Mode. What is going on?
If the Z Screen is losing sync with the Z Sensor and entering Sleep Mode, there could be radio frequency (RF) interference at the location. If a Z Screen misses a broadcast, it will sleep and then try to resync in a continual sequence until it enters "eternal sleep" (the home screen with our logo).
When a Z Screen is sleeping, pressing the power button will force the screen to enter Searching Mode as it attempts to resync.
Another factor that can impact the synchronization is nearby equipment that radiates around the 2.4GHz range.
How often does the Z Screen (DS) update and receive its LCD broadcast (reporting interval) from the Z Sensor?
The Z Screen will ping its respective Z Sensor every 5 minutes to check for an update, and the Z Screen will update whenever the Z Sensor has new information. This typically takes up to two LCD broadcasts as the Z Sensor’s broadcasts and the Z Screen’s update requests are often slightly out of sync.
Most Z Screens display “Age <10min.” Example: If the Z Sensor is set to a 5-minute interval, then the Z Screen will update every 5-10 minutes.
How far away can a Z Screen be from its Z Sensor to maintain steady connectivity?
The maximum range recommended for the Z Screen to be from the Z Sensor is 150' (there must be a clear path without any obstructions).
Can a Z Screen be tied to display specific Z Sensor ports (i.e., a Z Screen tied to Port 1 and a Z Screen tied to Port 2)?
No, this is hardcoded to the screen to display specific ports based on how many ports are active. See the table above for more details.
What does the "x" on a Z Screen represent?
The "x" represents a loss of connection or poor connection between the Z Sensor it is paired with and the Gateway. Signal strength between the paired Z Screen and Z Sensor is indicated by the bars in the top left of the Z Screen.