Does anyone know what Insteon 2 as added features etc

[upstatemike]

When I read this I feel like we were all beta testers. Insteon works very well in it's current form but I am now thankful that I didn't dump the cash that I initially wanted to into a bunch of devices that I would have to change out to get 'features" that , in some peoples mind, should have been included in the initial release, especially the hardwired ones. My device count is about 9 devices, 4 of which are hardwired. I might order one more KPL to make life easier when exiting the house but that's it for a while. I want to see what happens with the newer functionality. I don't want to "beta test" anymore. I want to install and forget about it.

As I said, I am happy with Insteon. It's much more reliable than x-10. I have some reading to do in the developers manual...

I don't think this situation is unique to Insteon... What about the UPB folks who now wish they had waited for GEN II to get the quicker paddle response and other new feateures? Or the Z-Wave folks who now wish they had waited for the switches with the faster transmission speed and support for the scene class? If you always wait for the new features "coming soon", you will never end up buying anything!

 

[gatchel]

I don't think this situation is unique to Insteon... What about the UPB folks who now wish they had waited for GEN II to get the quicker paddle response and other new feateures? Or the Z-Wave folks who now wish they had waited for the switches with the faster transmission speed and support for the scene class? If you always wait for the new features "coming soon", you will never end up buying anything!

As for the other systems I haven't done much following due to the fact that Insteon has been acceptable to this point. Whe I was ready to buy Insteon was the better contender.

You make a good point about buying things but I just seems that this is the business model for these types of industries. Maybe these examples are a bit different but I have never purchased a microwave to find out that they now make a more efficient magnetron for the same model. I have never purchased a ...you get the point.

At the bare minimum, there should be a way to upgrade the existing firmware in these devices. Sure, some of the fixes are hardware, but in todays world where everything is flash upgradeable, I don't see any excuse. (maybe relaibility is one of them I don't know)

It would take a while over the powerline but it would still be better than removing and playing the "we charge/refund your Credit Card game".

I know Microwaves are a throwaway appliance and are designed that way. If Insteon switches are going to be a throw away consumer product every 3 to 5 years then they can keep them at $30 to $70 a pop.

The reality is that if more development was done before hand they would have a stronger product line and we would not be having this discussion.


Ex: KPL's that already have a PWM drive for the LED's brightness that only have two settings, bright and sunshine!

If we were in the days of DOS and Kb chips I could see not using the memory. I carry 8gig's in my pocket!


I know, hindsight is always 20/20.

 

[upstatemike]

At the bare minimum, there should be a way to upgrade the existing firmware in these devices. Sure, some of the fixes are hardware, but in todays world where everything is flash upgradeable, I don't see any excuse. (maybe relaibility is one of them I don't know)

I have to agree with you on this one! I think it is an outright crime against the consumer to sell firmware based products that are not field upgradeable!

 

[Digger]

At the bare minimum, there should be a way to upgrade the existing firmware in these devices. Sure, some of the fixes are hardware, but in todays world where everything is flash upgradeable, I don't see any excuse. (maybe relaibility is one of them I don't know)

I have to agree with you on this one! I think it is an outright crime against the consumer to sell firmware based products that are not field upgradeable!

I once suggested on another forum that Sh upgrade the firmware for $5 a piece. So you send your device in and they reflash it and you get the SAME one back. You would have to have a few spares on hand at all times but it could be workable for some people.

Well I dont have to say what the reaction was and I will leave it at that. But I still think it would be a nice "option".

 

[KenM]

When I read this I feel like we were all beta testers. Insteon works very well in it's current form but I am now thankful that I didn't dump the cash that I initially wanted to into a bunch of devices that I would have to change out to get 'features" that , in some peoples mind, should have been included in the initial release, especially the hardwired ones. My device count is about 9 devices, 4 of which are hardwired. I might order one more KPL to make life easier when exiting the house but that's it for a while. I want to see what happens with the newer functionality. I don't want to "beta test" anymore. I want to install and forget about it.

As I said, I am happy with Insteon. It's much more reliable than x-10. I have some reading to do in the developers manual...

I don't think this situation is unique to Insteon... What about the UPB folks who now wish they had waited for GEN II to get the quicker paddle response and other new feateures? Or the Z-Wave folks who now wish they had waited for the switches with the faster transmission speed and support for the scene class? If you always wait for the new features "coming soon", you will never end up buying anything!

I mostly agree.

INSTEON is much more reliable than X-10 as far as protocol goes and sooner or later you do just need to buy something.

I joined the 'INSTEON Developer's Network' early on and read the developer's guide front to back, several times. Much of this info is now public information in the INSTEON white paper http://www.insteon.net/pdf/insteondetails.pdf.

In my case, when I purchased the original INSTEON devices, I 'sort of' expected that they would be built in accordance with the published specs. For the devices I had, I did not locate any published reference to 'future upgrades'. Maybe I read the thing wrong.

Z-Wave was mentioned as a comparison to the INSTEON growth experience, I have never used UPB so I cannot comment on that. Enhancements are indeed being made to Z-Wave devices. The neat thing about Z-Wave, is that if a device bears the Z-Wave logo, it has been tested by a third party and meets the published Z-Wave requirements. The original INSTEON specifications did specify 'extended messaging' as part of the protocol. No third party certified any of that. I guess that I needed to trust them on that.

As far as fear and that goes, all of the current INSTEON devices will keep on doing whatever in the heck they are doing now. It is just that they won't be able to do all of the things specified in the 'original' spec. The SDM is still officially 'beta', after a couple of years.

This whole thread does sound like some sort of 'flame war'. I only added this post because it reminded me of 'The Emperor’s New Suit' by Hans Christian Andersen (1837). http://hca.gilead.org.il/emperor.html

But that is just me No offense meant to anyone.

Ken

edit corrected grammar
k

 

[Herdfan]

This whole thread does sound like some sort of 'flame war'.

And it really didn't need to get there. A legitimate, and it turns out accurate, question was asked and the OP was crucified.

If FUD exists with regards to Insteon, having fanboys defend it at all costs only helps perpetuate the FUD.

 

[SnyperBob]

Hey guys,

I just wanted to post up and say thanks for the great convo. I learned more about Insteon from this thread alone, then anything else I have read (not much yet).

Reading from first to last post, I can't believe how aggressive Wayne got about this subject, but it was interesting to see the outcome.

 

[wuench]

In my case, when I purchased the original INSTEON devices, I 'sort of' expected that they would be built in accordance with the published specs. For the devices I had, I did not locate any published reference to 'future upgrades'. Maybe I read the thing wrong.

Not only was it in the spec it was implemented in every switch. It just did not work properly because of a bug in the firmware. SH's response: "Ah, you guys don't need that anyway". They feel it is ok to wait 30min, 60mins+ to discover all of your devices and links on your insteon network.