Creating a New Radio RA3 or HomeWorks System without Internet

This article provides instructions and best practices for setting up a new Radio RA3 / HomeWorks system without an active internet connection. 
 
Connect your processor to a router with an active internet connection to enable additional features, such as control via the Lutron app and Cloud Services. 
 
<h3 style='margin: 2pt 0in 0in;line-height: 107%;break-after: avoid;font-size: 13pt;font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif;color: #2f5496;font-weight: normal;'></h3>
 
 
<h3 style='margin: 2pt 0in 0in;line-height: 107%;break-after: avoid;font-size: 13pt;font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif;color: #2f5496;font-weight: normal;'>Before you Begin </h3>
<hr></hr>
<ul style='margin-top: 0in;margin-bottom: 0in;'><li style='margin-top: 0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom: 8pt;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;color: #3e3e3e;'>Ensure you have the included PoE Injector or a compatible third-party PoE Injector/Switch for powering the Processor and an Ethernet cable to connect the computer to the Processor. (For Ra3 Processors, Type-X Gateways, and Dual Radio QSX Processors)</li></ul>
<ul style='margin-bottom: 0in;margin-top: 0px;'><li style='list-style: none;margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0px;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;color: #3e3e3e;'>
<ul style='list-style-type: circle;margin-bottom: 0in;margin-top: 0px;'><li style='margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0px;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;color: #3e3e3e;'>Ensure you have a USB-to-ethernet adapter if your computer does not have an ethernet port.</li></ul>
</li></ul>
<ul style='margin-top: 0in;margin-bottom: 0in;'><li style='margin-top: 0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom: 8pt;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;color: #3e3e3e;'>Confirm you are running the latest version of Lutron Designer. New versions of Designer can be found in the Resources tab on <a target='_blank' href='https://mylutron.com/' style='color: #3e3e3e;'>MyLutron</a></li><li style='margin-top: 0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom: 8pt;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;color: #3e3e3e;'>Processors must be running the latest firmware. We recommend doing this before going onsite.</li><li style='margin-top: 0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom: 8pt;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;color: #3e3e3e;'>Ensure you have an Ethernet Switch/Router to use when working with Multiple Processors.</li><li style='margin-top: 0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom: 8pt;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;color: #3e3e3e;'>Design the Project file while connected to the internet with Cloud Services Enabled whenever possible.</li><ul style='margin-top: 0in;margin-bottom: 0in;'><li style='margin-top: 0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom: 8pt;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;color: #3e3e3e;'>Use File > Export to File in Designer to save a local version of the project. When prompted to save your work to the Cloud, Select Yes. This ensures the project file is recoverable with a Cloud Backup, and the project file will backup when reconnected to the internet, opened, and saved.</li></ul><li style='margin-top: 0in;margin-right: 0in;margin-bottom: 8pt;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;'>Ensure <a href='https://www.apple.com/itunes/' target='_blank'>iTunes</a> is installed if using an iPhone to activate Clear Connect Type-X devices.</li></ul>
<ul style='margin-bottom: 0in;margin-top: 0px;'></ul>
 
 
 
<h3 style='margin: 2pt 0in 0in;line-height: 107%;break-after: avoid;font-size: 13pt;font-family: 'Calibri Light', sans-serif;color: #2f5496;font-weight: normal;'>Creating a New System without Internet Access</h3>
<hr></hr>
1. Open Lutron Designer and select View > Switch to File-based view. This will prevent Cloud-related or Places-related warnings from appearing.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…;
 
 
2. Choose your system type. 
 
 
3. Select Create New Project, or select Open and Existing Project.
 
Note: An error message may appear stating you are working on an older version. This is normal.
 
 
4. Add the rooms, controls, device names, dimming settings, zone names, and related options to the project via the design tab. 
 
Important: Give your devices, controls, and zones unique, location-specific, names to easily identify them during the activation process.
 
 
5. Program the buttons, scenes, schedules, and HVAC settings in the program tab. 
 
 
6. Hardwire the processor to your PC via Ethernet. Ensure you are using a Lutron PoE Injector or a compatible PoE-enabled source if you are connecting to a Ra3 Processor, Type-X Gateway, or Dual-Radio Processor.
 
 
7. Navigate to the activate tab and select Processors from the drop-down menu to reveal connected processors.
 
 
8. Click Identify Selected Processor at the bottom left of the activate tab to flash the processor's indicator light green. Leave DHCP enabled or apply a Static IP Address at this time. 
 
 <img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…;
 
9. Click Activate on the right-hand side of the activate tab, then w<span style='font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;background-color: var(--slds-g-color-surface-container-1, var(--lwc-colorbackgroundalt, #fff));color: var(--slds-g-color-neutral-base-10, #181818);'>ait until the Status displays <b style='font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;background-color: var(--slds-g-color-surface-container-1, var(--lwc-colorbackgroundalt, #fff));color: var(--slds-g-color-neutral-base-10, #181818);'>Good<span style='font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;background-color: var(--slds-g-color-surface-container-1, var(--lwc-colorbackgroundalt, #fff));color: var(--slds-g-color-neutral-base-10, #181818);'> with a check mark to proceed to device activation. 
 
 
 
Activating Devices While Offline
<hr></hr>
Clear Connect Type-A (CCA) Devices
Follow the steps in the <a href='https://support.lutron.com/us/en/product/radiora3/article/programming/R…; target='_blank'>Activating Clear Connect Type-A Devices Guide</a>. No additional steps are required to activate CCA devices while offline. 
 
 
Clear Connect Type-X (CCX) Devices
Activating CCX devices while offline consists of 4 tasks each with its series of steps. 
<ol style='margin-bottom: 0in;margin-top: 0px;'><li style='margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;'>Manually sync activation information from Designer to the Lutron app.</li><li style='margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;'>Activate CCX devices through the Lutron app.</li><li style='margin: 0in 0in 0in 0px;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;'>Sync the updated app activation information to Designer.</li><li style='margin: 0in 0in 8pt 0px;line-height: 115%;font-size: 12pt;font-family: Aptos, sans-serif;'>Perform a transfer to save the changes.</li></ol>
 
Due to the Processor being offline, and unable to receive activation information directly from the app, follow the steps below to activate CCX devices:
 
 
1. Navigate to the activate tab then select clear connect type x devices from the drop-down menu.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='729' height='145'></img>
 
 
2. Click No Wi-Fi? Sync with the App directly from the bottom left-hand corner of the activate tab.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…;
 
 
3. Select a manual activation mode from the list below to expand it:
 
<details class='mce-accordion'>
<summary style='padding-left: 40px;'>Syncing Activation Information via USB (Recommended Method)</summary>
1. Connect your phone to your computer via a USB cable.
 
 
2. Login to the Lutron App as Professional (Pro Installer Mode).
 
 
3. Select your system type.
 
<strong style='background-color: var(--slds-g-color-surface-container-1, var(--lwc-colorbackgroundalt, #fff));color: var(--slds-g-color-neutral-base-10, #181818);font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;'><img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='245' height='469'></img>
 
 
4. Select More Options at the bottom of the screen.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='245' height='476'></img>
 
5. Tap Sync from Computer.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='245' height='470'></img>
 
 
6. Return to Lutron Designer and confirm that the Sync Data with the App drop-down menu is set to Using USB. Then, click Sync Connected Device.
 <img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; alt='Manual Sync option via usb in Lutron Designer' height='453' width='345' style='color: var(--slds-g-color-neutral-base-10, #181818);font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif, 'Apple Color Emoji', 'Segoe UI Emoji', 'Segoe UI Symbol';font-size: 13px;'></img>
 
7. Click Done to finish syncing.
 
</details>
 
<details class='mce-accordion'>
<summary style='padding-left: 40px;'>Performing a Manual File Transfer</summary>
1. Select Using Manual File Transfer from the Sync Data with the App drop-down menu in Designer. 
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='320' height='510'></img>
 
2. Click Export Data then save the password displayed in the password generator pop-up. The password is required in Step 11.
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='326' height='245'></img>
 
 
3. Select Continue to save the activation data file to your computer.
 
 
4. Transfer the activation file to your phone via email, AirDrop, or a USB connection.
 
 
5. Login to the Lutron App as Professional (Pro Installer Mode).
 
 
6. Select your system type.
 
<strong style='background-color: var(--slds-g-color-surface-container-1, var(--lwc-colorbackgroundalt, #fff));color: var(--slds-g-color-neutral-base-10, #181818);font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;'><img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='245' height='469'></img>
 
 
7. Select More Options at the bottom of the screen.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='245' height='476'></img>
 
8. Tap Sync from Computer.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='245' height='470'></img>
 
9. Tap Cannot Connect Phone?
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='245' height='459'></img>
 
10. Select Import File to open the saved activation file. 
 
 
11. Enter the saved password from Step 2 and tap Continue. 
 
</details>
 
4. Follow the steps in the <a href='https://support.lutron.com/us/en/product/radiora3/article/programming/R…; target='_blank'>Clear Connect Type-X Activation Guide</a>. 
 
5. Open the Lutron app and tap Save & Done at the top right corner of the screen. 
 
6. Follow the steps below for the manual activation mode you completed during Step 3:
<details class='mce-accordion'>
<summary style='padding-left: 40px;'>Syncing Activation Information via USB (Recommended Method)</summary>
1. Reconnect your phone to your computer.
 
 
2. Select Sync Connected Device from the activate tab in Lutron Designer. Device serial numbers will appear for each activated device.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='305' height='418'></img>
 
</details>
 
<details class='mce-accordion'>
<summary style='padding-left: 40px;'>Performing a Manual File Transfer</summary>
1. Select Cannot Connect Phone?
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; alt='Sync with Computer menu in Lutron App' height='501' width='245'></img>
 
 
2. <span style='font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;background-color: var(--slds-g-color-surface-container-1, var(--lwc-colorbackgroundalt, #fff));color: var(--slds-g-color-neutral-base-10, #181818);'>Select <b style='font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;font-size: 16px;background-color: var(--slds-g-color-surface-container-1, var(--lwc-colorbackgroundalt, #fff));color: var(--slds-g-color-neutral-base-10, #181818);'>Export File then save the activation data to your phone.
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; alt='Manual Sync option to Import or Export.' height='503' width='246'></img>
 
 
3. Transfer the activation file to your computer via email, airdrop, or a USB connection then return to Lutron Designer on your computer.
 
 
4. Click the Next button twice (located at the bottom left of the activate screen in Designer) to reveal the Import Data button.
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; width='305' height='304'></img>
 
5. Click Import Data then select the activation data file.
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…; alt='A successful import with serial numbers in Lutron Designer' height='801' width='1346'></img>
 
 
 
</details>
 
7. Wait 15 minutes after device activation is complete before performing a transfer. This allows all Clear Connect Type X devices to sync to the processor and build their mesh network.
 
8. Perform a transfer in Designer by following the steps below 
<ol style='margin-bottom: 0in;margin-top: 0px;list-style-type: lower-alpha;'><li style='margin-right: 0in;font-size: 16px;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;margin-left: 0px;'>Select the transfer tab.</li><li style='margin-right: 0in;font-size: 16px;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;margin-left: 0px;'>Click Advanced Options.</li><li style='margin-right: 0in;font-size: 16px;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;margin-left: 0px;'>Check Yes for the Force Full Transfer option</li><li style='margin-right: 0in;font-size: 16px;font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;margin-left: 0px;'>Select Start Transfer.</li></ol>
 
<img src='https://lutron.my.salesforce-sites.com/publicknowledge/servlet/rtaImage…;
 
9. Click File from the top navigation pane and select Export to File to save the Project file after you transfer. When you are next able to connect to the internet, use the Browse Local button in Places to open the file, then select File > Save to upload a copy of the project to the Cloud. 
Important: If this is not done, and the project file is lost on the computer, there is currently no way to extract a project file from the processor.
 
Note: This workflow gives local control to keypads, dimmers, switches, and other installed devices. To gain full wireless control and system capabilities, later connect your processor to a network. Additionally, we recommend ensuring the Processor is set to DHCP to avoid issues with adding a network in the future.