Anybody familiar with the ISY and it's X-10 capabilities?

Moving to CQC which doesn't have a driver for the Ti103, I will need to move to a new method of sending X-10 commands.  Dean has suggested the ISY, and is currently working on his new driver for it.
 
I don't know anything about the ISY or what else it might do for me, but I do need to be sure it's X-10 capabilities are adequate before I invest in one.
 
Anyone have any comments on what it's all about?
 
Thanks
 
Deane

Deane Johnson said:

Moving to CQC which doesn't have a driver for the Ti103, I will need to move to a new method of sending X-10 commands.  Dean has suggested the ISY, and is currently working on his new driver for it.
 
I don't know anything about the ISY or what else it might do for me, but I do need to be sure it's X-10 capabilities are adequate before I invest in one.
 
Anyone have any comments on what it's all about?
 
Thanks
 
Deane

Click to expand...

Deane, If you haven't been to the UDI forum you may want to check it out. Here's a link to the X-10 Forum
 
http://forum.universal-devices.com/forum/19-x-10/

Excellent dbuss.  Thank you for posting it.

I still use about 30 X10 devices with my ISY.  9 MS units, with some wireless receivers, some lamp modules and appliance modules. Most of my X10 stuff has been converted to Insteon now and the two systems are totally compatible using the ISY.
The reach on the ISY is better than the Smarthome X10 units.
 
The ISY is the best X10 controller I have ever used, including HomeSeer 2, Hc2000 and other  X10 software. I ended up writing my own back in the 1980s. The box is slightly larger than a credit card, draws about 2 watts and has never crashed or hung since installation last November with about 6-7 upgrades so far. All accessible via browser and many other devices. Mine is stuffed with weather data from my WebControl board and my Raspeberry Pi board. I have cell phone access to all parameters via Mobilinc. My cell phone tells it I am home or charging.
 
The ISY sends me text messages and email for
  - dryer didn't shut off and no motion in that room
  - away and the doorbell rings
  - motion detected and away
  - high winds or gusts
  - house below 40 F - two locations
  - house over 99 F - two locations
  - water leak in the basement - 2 locations
  - motion in my separate workshop at nights
  -
 
 
 
The Pro model only adds the capability of more Programs, more devices and is a software enable switch for the same price as buying it at new. I don't have it and will probably never need it with about 100 devices so far.
 
The X10 module only adds X10 module nameability but is not needed is you want to use House-Unit addressing.
 
All modules are upgradeable from within the ISY.
 

Larry:
 
Thanks for your detailed explanation.  Is this what I need to use it with my CQC software?  This extra interface isn't clear to me so I don't want to order the wrong thing.  My only use of these items, so far as I know now, is to control existing X-10 and there won't be anymore of that added.  i would prefer being able to do the module nameability.
 
http://www.amazon.com/ISY994i-INSTEON-Compatible-Automation-Controller/dp/B007JM29LU/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416049731&sr=8-2-fkmr1&keywords=isy994i+insteon+internet+enabled+controller
 
http://www.amazon.com/Insteon-2413U-PowerLinc-Dual-Band-Interface/dp/B002XA8XNQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1416050114&sr=8-2&keywords=2413s+plm&pebp=1416050117070

Moving to CQC which doesn't have a driver for the Ti103, I will need to move to a new method of sending X-10 commands.  Dean has suggested the ISY, and is currently working on his new driver for it.

Click to expand...

 
 
Here personally went to using Jeff Volp's XTB X-10 booster many years ago.   It uses standard old X-10 communication methodologies.  IE: I am guessing that CQC already has this included in his software (I didn't check).
 
IE: The Leviton HAI OPII panel talked X10 via the XTB booster while concurrently went to using the Insteon PLM just to talk Insteon to the original combination Insteon / X10 switches.  Worked just fine like this for many years (with my original Insteon switches).
 
The Insteon PLM did OK talking to X10 via the XTB but only OK; a direct CM11A / TW-523 (well Ocelot) connection worked way better (more like there was absolutely no comparison to the two).
 
Today it is working perfectly and you can connect it to an old technlogy CM11A serial X10 controller.  Today's replacement is an XTBR.
 

 
XTBR
 
Personally here kept my XTB amplifier online and it is today connected to Linux stuff talking X-10.
 
A couple of years ago purchased Jeff Volp's XTB-IIR  2-Phase Repeater.  It is connected to my Leviton HAI OPII panel today and works great.  (IE HAI OPII panel is connected to X10, Z-Wave and UPB - next may be Zigbee as I am playing with this today).
 
It is more than just a repeater.  Its an X10 booster and a TW-523 dual phase controller.
 

 
XTB-IIR
 
Look here for an overview of Jeff Volp's stuff
 
JVDE.US
 
Did a little test here sending Jeff's newest wares over to the UK along with a TI-212 X10 controller.  While the TI worked fine; Jeff's device had a better X10 footprint using the old standard X10 serial TW-523 or CM11A connectivity.  I used to have a TI-103 many years ago and went back to the CM11A as it worked better for me at the time. (> 10 years ago).  Not personally sure today.
 
BTW using the above mentioned stuff I have 100% connectivity of my X10 stuff today Inside and outside of my home. 
 
Note that this is only referring to pure X-10 stuff using CM11A / TW-523 controllers or boosters.

Larry:
Thanks for your detailed explanation. Is this what I need to use it with my CQC software? This extra interface isn't clear to me so I don't want to order the wrong thing. My only use of these items, so far as I know now, is to control existing X-10 and there won't be anymore of that added. i would prefer being able to do the module nameability.

http://www.amazon.co...bled controller

http://www.amazon.co...p=1416050117070




Just get the basic ISY94i unit. The enabling of the X10 module is built into the ISY to add in from inside the ISY unit. That's what I did and it avoids the 13% taxes in Canada.
You will need a PLM for it also but not the one you listed. You need a 2413S with the serial port, not the USB.
 
I have no idea what CQC is. The ISY works completely stand alone without any other computer. A browser with Java is required to access it with the Administration Console (self loading from the ISY).
 
The ISY has a Rest interface so it can be controlled and read by external software. This opens the door to many people writing their own software to interface into it and their is much out there and more coming every week.

http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Developers:API:REST_Interface

If you could pick up an obsolete ISY99 unit the company was upgrading them to ISY994i for $99.
 
BTW: Insteon uses a similar frequency over the powerline so that most X10 phase couplers work with it also.

Larry:
 
CQC is the home automation software I will use to drive the ISY.  I won't be using any ISY software that I know of.  I'm actually in learning mode at the moment, there can be a need to correct my thinking at any time.
 
Basically, I'm currently using an ACT Ti103 to communicate with my X-10 from my old software.  As I move to CQC, it doesn't have a driver for the Ti103, but does recommend the ISY as an interface.  I'm just wanting to be sure I get the right components for the ISY to communicate with X-10  from CQC.  To my knowledge, the ISY won't need to do any thinking for itself.
 
FYI, CQC stands for Charmed Quark and is one of the leading DIY choices of automation software in the same marketplace as HomeSeer, Elve and perhaps MainLobby.
 
Hopefully, I didn't muddy this up further.  I really appreciate your commentary.
 
I guess this is the module I need? 
 
http://www.amazon.com/Insteon-2413S-PowerLinc-Dual-Band-Interface/dp/B002X8W4SI/ref=sr_1_16?s=lamps-light&ie=UTF8&qid=1416059444&sr=1-16
 
[SIZE=14.3999996185303px] I still don't have a fix on why it's needed in addition to the ISY or what it does that the ISY by itself doesn't.  Does it plug into the ISY and also the powerline to provide the communication path for the X-10 signals from ISY to the powerline?[/SIZE]

Years ago (not sure today) I had issues talking X10 and Insteon via the Insteon Serial PLM. 
 
I then went to just using the Insteon Serial PLM to Insteon control only.
 
The ACT Ti103 works but personally no better x10 signal footprint than the older CM11A or TW-523; such that I abandoned it's use over 10 years ago. 
 
Today the ACT Ti103 might work better but again a side by side comparison of the ACT controller versus the XTB stuff indicated to me that the XTB stuff was levels above the ACT TiXXX stuff. 
 
Tested here using an X10 signal checker comparing the two. 
 
The XTB stuff X10 signal buried the signal meter stuff. (IE: I couldn't measure it).
 
That is me and that is why I went to back to using a dedicated serial X10 controller / booster.  Note too that a recent test was done in the UK using the newer ACT Ti213 versus the XTB stuff.  Hands down the XTB stuff won over the ACT controller in the UK.  I did personally purchase (and waited for it) send the first generation ACTTi213 controller over to the UK for testing and comparing to a new XTB X10 controller.
 
Best and easiest to try a side by side comparison of the Insteon serial PLM (x10 mode), TW-523, CM11A, Ti103 and XTB to see for yourself using a remote appliance / light switch module and signal checker.
 
Note that lowest priced X10 is still a CM11A / TW-523, then an ACT Ti103, then the XTB stuff.  (note that the Insteon serial PLM is excluded from this list for a reason).  Truly though the Ti103 is no better device than a reasonably priced TW-523 / CM11A.  Note this is my opinion playing with this stuff now for many years.

The ISY99i is discontinued but would do X10 fine.
If you plan on using Insteon in the future. The present ISY994i is the better choice. As the ISY99i will not support the new model Insteon Modules. Due to the firmware being frozen.

BLH:
 
So, does the ISY994i due X-10 by itself, or do I need to also have the Insteon 2413S Powerlinc Modem Dual Band Interface.  I don't plan to originate any X-10 within the ISY I don't think, but I'm having trouble getting a focus on the structure of the system as it is driven by me CQC software.

Both the earlier ISY99i and present ISY994i. Need a Dual Band 2413S PLM to interface with the power lines for both Insteon and X10 power line messaging. The 2413S also does the Insteon RF messaging but no X10 RF.
 
The earlier 2412S power line only PLM could work and it will supply the power to the ISY controller. On the RJ45 serial connector.
The 2413S does not supply power and the ISY controller then used a external power supply.
 
I would use care if you find a used PLM. The 2413S has a reputation to fail at about 2 1/4 years. The power supplies seem to have poor brand capacitors in them. I rebuilt mine with good brand low ESR caps and there is a thread on the UDI forums on rebuliding them.
 
You can find all kinds of good information in the UDI Wiki.
 
http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Main_Page

Thanks BLH.  I will be ordering both the 2413S and the ISY994i new from Amazon.  I just wanted to be sure I was getting the right things.
 
Deane

Deane Johnson said:

Thanks BLH.  I will be ordering both the 2413S and the ISY994i new from Amazon.  I just wanted to be sure I was getting the right things.
 
Deane

Click to expand...

Deane, I saw on another post you are interested in a Z-Wave controller. UDI has a Z-Wave daughterboard for the ISY. Information here.
 
http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Z-Wave:_Ordering/Assembly_Instructions

The CQC driver (a V2 one just completed) talks to the ISY via the REST interface (and a couple of things have to be done via the older SOAP interface.) So whatever bit provides that support is what CQC talks to. I've never had one here physically, so I'm not too hip on the actual hardware. All of the driver development was done remotely on other people's machines. You can ask about it on the CQC forum (use the V2 driver thread in the main support section) and get a definitive answer from some existing CQC/ISY users.