Help deciding between HAI Omni LTE and Omni Pro

I'm in the middle of getting a system in my home, I need to determine if the LTE is a good product for my minimal security/automation needs.

I like that it can do security and automation, as well as integrate with the HAI audio distribution, while all being controlled through an app without a monthly subscription.
 
Both are realitively similar products and capabilities, however the LT can't be expanded...WYSIWYG.
 
I'd also toss out look at a similarly capable M1G or M1 EZ8 and compare the budget.
 
You can't upgrade later so if you decide you've outgrown the system, you have to re-purchase the main board; for the difference in cost you may just want to eliminate that variable so you have near unlimited expansion capabilities.  Many people start off small but as they get the hang of this, their imaginations go wild.
 
And the cost from going with an Omni LT vs OPII is literally 2-3X....or an M1 EZ8 (1/2 the cost of the LT before expansion) or the M1G which puts you a little cheaper than the LT and can be expanded into the territory of the OPII (that is 3X the cost out of the gate just to have the expansion built in).
 
Make sure the software you are planning to use supports the LTe. I found out after I bought my LTe that the software I was using (Elve) didn't support it. I switched to Haiku/Haiku Helper but if Elve had not become untenable anyway, I would have been sad about my purchase.
 
I have UPB/LTe/Haiku/Haiku Helper/iPad/iPhone. It works pretty well and wasn't too painful to setup but even an LTe is expensive (add power supply, battery, keypad, and UPB interface and you're over $1000) compared to a Vera or ISY. Also, Haiku/Haiku Helper requires non-trivial software skills if you want to expand it (out-of-the box satisfied most of my needs).
 
If 'minimal" is your interest, it might be worth take a look at solutions other then an HAI/ELK controller. There's a lot to be said for implementing different solutions for different problem. There are a lot of good point solutions like Sonos for whole house audio and Roomie Remote for AV that are powerful and much easier to implement if you are willing to give up the dream of an integrated solution.
 
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