Get rid of Insteon and switch to Zwave ? Need help

[upstatemike]

The other option is capture the best of all worlds and use some of each of X10, Insteon and Zwave where they excel in their category. For instance for low voltage lighting control Insteon at $45 a dimmer sounds too hard to pass up compared to a $150 Vizia switch. Am I crazy to think this is even a sane solution to an otherwise complex decision ?

You might get to benefit from the unique features of each but you would have to deal with the cumulative shortcomings of all... and Bog help you if Homeseer or whatever you are using to make it all work together ever goes down (but that will never happen, right?)

 

[KenM]

The other option is capture the best of all worlds and use some of each of X10, Insteon and Zwave where they excel in their category. For instance for low voltage lighting control Insteon at $45 a dimmer sounds too hard to pass up compared to a $150 Vizia switch. Am I crazy to think this is even a sane solution to an otherwise complex decision ?

I have two X10 flood light fixtures, still working, after about ten years. I also still have a X10 battery operated 'hand controller' for those two lights along with a X10 transceiver module.

I cannot speak for the interoperability of all of those devices, other than saying, I have had an INSTEON PLC and a Z-Wave HA22 controller on the same XP machine, working happily together, using HS2. I am now using a Z-Troller for Z-Wave.

To a person asking the same question that is in the quote above; No, you are not crazy, but be careful as some of the device failures will make you crazy

Ken

 

[KenM]

The other option is capture the best of all worlds and use some of each of X10, Insteon and Zwave where they excel in their category. For instance for low voltage lighting control Insteon at $45 a dimmer sounds too hard to pass up compared to a $150 Vizia switch. Am I crazy to think this is even a sane solution to an otherwise complex decision ?

You might get to benefit from the unique features of each but you would have to deal with the cumulative shortcomings of all... and Bog help you if HomeSeer or whatever you are using to make it all work together ever goes down (but that will never happen, right?)

In my case, if HS goes down, the programmable, battery Z-Wave remotes will still execute (and have already). I have set up a
'small form factor' XP machine ( I purchased refurbished for $350.00) to just reboot and, ... carry on. This has worked well for me. I have already remotely rebooted a 'stuck' computer with good results.

My dear old dad, once told me, regarding amateur radio communications, to "mistrust unkind reports". I just thought I would pass that along as it seems to still apply.

k

 

[MiB]

upstateMike, Ken

Thanks for your thoughts. I had a couple more questions for you and some ideas I wanted to discuss, but it's Friday afternoon where my wife and I both get home early to take care of home stuff. Right now she's waiting for me to finish putting up some outside xmas decorations. I have to climb a 28ft ladder in the snow to get a giant wreath up on the 2nd floor of the house....but at least it lights up automagicly ! ho ho ho

be back soon....and not in a body cast I hope.

 

[TeleFragger]

upstateMike, Ken

Thanks for your thoughts. I had a couple more questions for you and some ideas I wanted to discuss, but it's Friday afternoon where my wife and I both get home early to take care of home stuff. Right now she's waiting for me to finish putting up some outside xmas decorations. I have to climb a 28ft ladder in the snow to get a giant wreath up on the 2nd floor of the house....but at least it lights up automagicly ! ho ho ho

be back soon....and not in a body cast I hope.

I took advantage of the 68 degree thanksgiving day weather.. got all my lights up then.. well the up high ones.....

YAY!!!!

 

[Herdfan]

I'd purchased several of the Leviton Vizia RF switches for my spouse to try out. Amazingly, the WAF is higher than our older non-HA switches. My biggest concern was going from the older toggle style to a Decora style with a bottom press only would be a reduction in the WAF, but it turned out to not be the case.

Yes, it took a while for my wife to get used to the Lutron toggle switches. But the one nice thing about them is they allow presses on top, bottom and middle. So if someone is used to pressing the top to turn on, that still works unless the light is already on, in which case it turns it off.

I am at the point now that I can just press any part of the device without thought. Its just part of the learning curve but who though there would be learning curve to using a light switch? :

MiB,

Vizia was my chosen Insteon replacement, but there were some limitations in the way Leviton implemented some things that would have meant I would have had to make some compromises I didn't want to make, so I ended up with Lutron.

 

[Digger]

I know I said I would not post but I ahve to ask.....

Has anyone been allowed to swap the PLM for the new firmware (besides Mike B.). Jason and Wendy in CS both told me no. Did anyone get told a yes this week?

Some people over on Techmall were also asking about the keypadlinc V1.5 ( I have about 10 keypadlincs some still new in the box).

Thanks!

 

[MiB]

MiB,

Vizia was my chosen Insteon replacement, but there were some limitations in the way Leviton implemented some things that would have meant I would have had to make some compromises I didn't want to make, so I ended up with Lutron.

Thanks Herd, I'll read up on the Lutron stuff as well.

 

[MiB]

While pondering whether I should try out the idea of integrating both insteon and Zwave, got me thinking how would you program a scene onto one of the Insteon Keypadlinc buttons if part of that scene included some Zwave switches ?

 

[MiB]

I know I said I would not post but I ahve to ask.....

Has anyone been allowed to swap the PLM for the new firmware (besides Mike B.). Jason and Wendy in CS both told me no. Did anyone get told a yes this week?

Some people over on Techmall were also asking about the keypadlinc V1.5 ( I have about 10 keypadlincs some still new in the box).

Thanks!

Digger, I'm surprised they're giving you grief over the replacement. Didn't yours also have a problem locking up ?

I didn't get chance to call SH today as planned (got busy), but I will on Monday. I'll ask nicely for them to replace my 10 day old defective PLM for one with the new firmware that came out a few days after mine shipped. I can't imagine a reason why they wouldn't agree, but if they don't...that would be enough for me to return the entire order and walk away from Insteon for good.

 

[MikeB]

While pondering whether I should try out the idea of integrating both insteon and Zwave, got me thinking how would you program a scene onto one of the Insteon Keypadlinc buttons if part of that scene included some Zwave switches ?

You'd have to use some kind of outside controller. Right now, I use my ISY-26 to trigger scenes based on KeypadLinc presses because it gives me more control. My scenes aren't stored on the KeypadLinc.

So, I have a program on my ISY-26 that runs like this:

If KeypadButtonA is switched ON
then set Scene 'DinnerTime' ON

Currently, with the ISY-26, you could add X10 commands to it as well, like:

If KeypadButtonA is switched ON
then set Scene 'DinnerTime' ON
and Send X10 A5/On
and Send X10 A6/On


In the future, if and when the ISY-26 supports other lighting controls (or other things even - wholehouse audio, etc...), you could integrate them as well.

I would imagine HomeSeer has similar capabilities.

 

[macromark]

Just for clarification: With Z-Wave the term 'master controller' is often interpreted wrongly. Z-Wave only allows one controller to add or delete devices from the network. That is the master controller. The master does not control routing and if it is destroyed you can just reset your devices and add them with a replacement controller. If you are an installer, it is an excellent way to prevent future headaches. I have read posts of toddlers, running around, hitting INSTEON switches and causing some really weird (links) results. I understand that some of the newer Z-Wave devices allow saving and creating a new master device via software.



Ken

Hi Ken - I noticed from a later post you're using our Z-Troller and HS2 software. The latest HS2 update (.66) includes a new feature that will backup and restore your Z-Wave network information. So, if the dog does manage to turn your Z-Troller into a chew-toy, you can replace it with another one and restore your network in a couple secs.. This new feature will work with any other Z-Wave PC interface, provided it (1) is operating as a primary controller and (2) includes the Z-Wave 'installer' code. This same backup/restore feature is also included in our new Z-Tool installation software... which is primary geared for folks who wish to set up their Z-Wave networks with a USB interface and laptop.

 

[upstatemike]

While pondering whether I should try out the idea of integrating both insteon and Zwave, got me thinking how would you program a scene onto one of the Insteon Keypadlinc buttons if part of that scene included some Zwave switches ?

Does this mean you have ruled out UPB? I was just looking at the PW513 on this page and thinking that if it had been available when I was making a lighting decision then I would definitely have gone with UPB. You just replace the TW513 on whatever X10 controller you are using now with the PW513 and you are instantly UPB enabled.

 

[electron]

Ok guys, No one is doing anymore attacking, this has to stop. Use the 'Ignore' function in your control panel, and everyone can keep posting their experiences and opinions without having to worry about getting attacked.

 

[MiB]

While pondering whether I should try out the idea of integrating both insteon and Zwave, got me thinking how would you program a scene onto one of the Insteon Keypadlinc buttons if part of that scene included some Zwave switches ?

You'd have to use some kind of outside controller. Right now, I use my ISY-26 to trigger scenes based on KeypadLinc presses because it gives me more control. My scenes aren't stored on the KeypadLinc.

So, I have a program on my ISY-26 that runs like this:

If KeypadButtonA is switched ON
then set Scene 'DinnerTime' ON

Currently, with the ISY-26, you could add X10 commands to it as well, like:

If KeypadButtonA is switched ON
then set Scene 'DinnerTime' ON
and Send X10 A5/On
and Send X10 A6/On




In the future, if and when the ISY-26 supports other lighting controls (or other things even - wholehouse audio, etc...), you could integrate them as well.

I would imagine HomeSeer has similar capabilities.

Thanks Mike, that's what I was thinking too but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.
A specific button press on the KPL would essentially be setup as a triggered event on the HA server running HS or mControl.

I guess that's not too bad since I could set up the same 'event' to be triggered by various different X10 (keychain remote button for instance) Insteon and Zwave commands/button presses. The more I think about it, the more I'm starting to feel like a hybrid system might be the right way to go. As long as they all play nice with each other that is