Insteon Keypadlinc Relay????

[eufreka]

...I could really use an Insteon switch to control my ceiling fan speeds.... There's got to be a decent market for them...

Yep, you would think so. As I and others have said repeatedly, most every bedroom in America is currently wired with a doublegang switch setup.

But I can't/won't go into every box TWICE--once to install a dimmer...and later for the fan control.

So every bedroom (4)...the dining room, and the game room WAITS. So that 12 (6/6) switches in my house alone that I won't buy. Worse, since they won't release such a switch, nor explain why they can't/won't...I don't think I will buy any others either...

I already have 20 installed switches...along with 3 controlincs, 8 lamplincs, 6 appliancelincs, 4 signalincs...NOT counting the dead ones, either...

So I cannot really imagine how much business they have left on the table...and now I am gunshy on any generation 1 new products.

Heck, do I need/want to buy a PLM to replace my replacement PLC?

 

[upstatemike]

I wouldn't rush out and get a PLM unless you have a specific application in mind such as Homeseer. As for KeypadLinc Relay delays, it is frustrating but probably no more so than waiting so long for UPB to fix the double tap delay issue. (Or come out with a screw-in module, or some switches with level indicators).

Companies build products to match the imaginary markets they told their investors is out there, not what the existing customer base actually wants them to produce.

 

[Digger]

But I can't/won't go into every box TWICE

Try going into the box 3 times in one day listening to their tech support. I lost track of my failure rate and it peaks every once in a while and then everything is fine again for a month or so. I have to STOP calling them and just live with the fact that when they die just chuck them. Its to frustrating to deal with them on the phone.

 

[Digger]

2007-05-20 09:48:43.734: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 09:48:51.609: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) verified as OFF
2007-05-20 09:48:55.687: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) directly remote controlled to ON
2007-05-20 09:49:01.953: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-20 09:49:08.921: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)
2007-05-20 09:49:18.921: Katelyns Lights (04.50.CA) could not be communicated with (NAK)


Wife and kids are out and not much on in the house. Tried again and it worked for about a minute. Maybe its a weak signal?

 

[Digger]

oops... wrong thread............ deleted and moved.

 

[Just Another Joe]

As for KeypadLinc Relay delays, it is frustrating but probably no more so than waiting so long for UPB to fix the double tap delay issue.

Hi Mike,

IF Smarthome would say, "The KeypadLinc Relays are in the queue, but will take two years to get here," or "The KeypadLinc Relay idea has been abandoned, so forget about them," then at least we would know one way or the other. As it is, we have no idea whether a KeypadLinc Relay will ever materialize . I know (the other) Mike can't make an official statement, so I'm trying to get a handle on the meaning of the (very) vague statement he did make.

From your statement above, I take it you feel that Mike was saying that they will eventually appear, however long it may take. Did I get that correct ?

 

[upstatemike]

As for KeypadLinc Relay delays, it is frustrating but probably no more so than waiting so long for UPB to fix the double tap delay issue.

Hi Mike,

IF Smarthome would say, "The KeypadLinc Relays are in the queue, but will take two years to get here," or "The KeypadLinc Relay idea has been abandoned, so forget about them," then at least we would know one way or the other. As it is, we have no idea whether a KeypadLinc Relay will ever materialize . I know (the other) Mike can't make an official statement, so I'm trying to get a handle on the meaning of the (very) vague statement he did make.

From your statement above, I take it you feel that Mike was saying that they will eventually appear, however long it may take. Did I get that correct ?

I think they will appear because the strong acceptance of CFL lighting and other new lighting technologies will require it. I think PCS was wrong in believing a triac was good enough for any load and I think that eventually there will be more UPB relay offerings as well. I have over 160 Insteon devices now and I can only think of 12 places where I have loads controlled by dimmer switches. Maybe another 15 lamp modules and that is it for dimmers. It's a new world coming (with respect to lighting) and relays are going to rule it.

 

[Digger]

As for KeypadLinc Relay delays, it is frustrating but probably no more so than waiting so long for UPB to fix the double tap delay issue.

Hi Mike,

IF Smarthome would say, "The KeypadLinc Relays are in the queue, but will take two years to get here," or "The KeypadLinc Relay idea has been abandoned, so forget about them," then at least we would know one way or the other. As it is, we have no idea whether a KeypadLinc Relay will ever materialize . I know (the other) Mike can't make an official statement, so I'm trying to get a handle on the meaning of the (very) vague statement he did make.

From your statement above, I take it you feel that Mike was saying that they will eventually appear, however long it may take. Did I get that correct ?

When a company fails to make a milestone it looks bad. SH appraoch is not to make public the milestones so nobody knows if they fail or not. What they dont realize is that it is worse to HIDE from customers then to give honest explanations why things might be late. We CAN handle the truth (no matter what Jack Nicholson says .

They announce the wireless remote months ago so they had to release it. Its released but not available. Not a perfect situation but we can live with that. I already ordered my trade in for the accesspoints It may be another month before I see them. I can live with that also.

What is hard to live with is if the KEYPADRELAYS are 1 month, 1 year, 1 decade, or 1 century away. So do I invest a fortune in a workaround and find out the Keypadrelays are coming out in July (and waste a ton of money because SH wont give a straight answer)? Or do I wait and wait and wait and they never surface?

SHMike cant give us an answer and thats not his fault. He is doing what his company wants him to do. I respect that and I also appreciate that he does what he can on here.

 

[Just Another Joe]

I think they will appear because the strong acceptance of CFL lighting and other new lighting technologies will require it. I think PCS was wrong in believing a triac was good enough for any load and I think that eventually there will be more UPB relay offerings as well. I have over 160 Insteon devices now and I can only think of 12 places where I have loads controlled by dimmer switches. Maybe another 15 lamp modules and that is it for dimmers. It's a new world coming (with respect to lighting) and relays are going to rule it.

Thanks for clarifying. I hope they will appear, but don't think it will be on account of CFLs. People want to be able to dim lights. The legislative push towards CFLs will, I hope, lead to improvements in incandescent, fluorescent, and LED lighting which will be dimmable, affordable, efficient and healthy. But there are many, many loads which simply aren't dimmable by triacs. For these we need relays, as you say. And we want KeypadLincs. I just wish we could be more certain of Smarthome's intentions.

 

[Just Another Joe]

When a company fails to make a milestone it looks bad. SH appraoch is not to make public the milestones so nobody knows if they fail or not. What they dont realize is that it is worse to HIDE from customers then to give honest explanations why things might be late. We CAN handle the truth (no matter what Jack Nicholson says .

Agreed.

What is hard to live with is if the KEYPADRELAYS are 1 month, 1 year, 1 decade, or 1 century away. So do I invest a fortune in a workaround and find out the Keypadrelays are coming out in July (and waste a ton of money because SH wont give a straight answer)? Or do I wait and wait and wait and they never surface?

This is exactly my dilemma, and presumably that of many others besides you and I .

SHMike cant give us an answer and thats not his fault. He is doing what his company wants him to do. I respect that and I also appreciate that he does what he can on here.

Again, agreed.

 

[MikeB]

It's a new world coming (with respect to lighting) and relays are going to rule it.

I predict the opposite - I think dimmable CFLs (or some other technology) will be the norm before they reach full acceptance.

 

[upstatemike]

It's a new world coming (with respect to lighting) and relays are going to rule it.

I predict the opposite - I think dimmable CFLs (or some other technology) will be the norm before they reach full acceptance.

LED lighting will be dimmable but truly bright and affordable LED units are still a ways off. I'm not sure dimmable CFLs will ever get all the bugs worked out before the technology becomes obsolete.

 

[Digger]

It's a new world coming (with respect to lighting) and relays are going to rule it.

I predict the opposite - I think dimmable CFLs (or some other technology) will be the norm before they reach full acceptance.

LED lighting will be dimmable but truly bright and affordable LED units are still a ways off. I'm not sure dimmable CFLs will ever get all the bugs worked out before the technology becomes obsolete.

Your probably right..............

 

[MikeB]

LED lighting will be dimmable but truly bright and affordable LED units are still a ways off. I'm not sure dimmable CFLs will ever get all the bugs worked out before the technology becomes obsolete.

I've never used a dimmable CFL. What kind of problems are there?

 

[Digger]

LED lighting will be dimmable but truly bright and affordable LED units are still a ways off. I'm not sure dimmable CFLs will ever get all the bugs worked out before the technology becomes obsolete.

I've never used a dimmable CFL. What kind of problems are there?

I find that they can hum. Also I think that they do not last as long as a regular CFL but that may not be necessarily true for everyone.