Insteon Link Management

[english_1969]

It looks like I am going to purchase some form of link management software for my growing insteon network.

I'm not trying to determine which SW I should go with.

Is there a general consensus as to which is best. I'm think that auto-discovery and device swap-out capabilities would be helpful. I only have 20 devices right now and just getting started had proven to be a pain.

I was heading down the UPB path, but stopped due to cost and I didn't really like the keypad controllers.

Suggestions?

I guess I'm looking at the SmartHome houselinc as the best choice right now, but definately not sure.

Thanks,
W

 

[Digger]

It looks like I am going to purchase some form of link management software for my growing insteon network.

I'm not trying to determine which SW I should go with.

Is there a general consensus as to which is best. I'm think that auto-discovery and device swap-out capabilities would be helpful. I only have 20 devices right now and just getting started had proven to be a pain.

I was heading down the UPB path, but stopped due to cost and I didn't really like the keypad controllers.

Suggestions?

I guess I'm looking at the SmartHome houselinc as the best choice right now, but definately not sure.

Thanks,
W

You may wish to dowload a free trial of Powerhome and try it as it is in the same price range as Houselinc, has more capabilities then the current Houselinc, and in the past updated much more often than Houselinc.

If you budget permits you may want to look at the ISY series from UDI as a standalone controller as well as providing capabilities of linking and much much more.

 

[nadler1ny]

I would second Digger's suggestion to try PowerHome. By the end of the month, it should also support UPB. So with one software package you'll be able to try Insteon and UPB. In fact you will be able to run Insteon and UPB devices both from PowerHome at the same time. It also has full support for linking Insteon devices, spidering, etc.

Noel
(A former PowerHome user, now a PowerHome Advocate!)

 

[Smarty]

+1 for Powerhome. It takes some getting use to, but it IS GOOD with link management and it is SO MUCH more.

 

[fcwilt]

Hi,

Well I started with Insteon but dropped it for UPB. In any case you might want to check out Home Control Assistant. I used to use that with my X10 stuff and it worked well. I received a recent email from them about a new version which is supposed to have top notch support for Insteon and tools to handle the setting up of scenes, etc.

 

[MikeB]

Consider PowerHome for a software-only solution, or the ISY for a hardware solution that can run programs/schedules/triggers/IR/etc. without a PC.


I would stay away from HouseLinc for now - the current version hasn't had much done to it in quite a while. Smarthome is reportedly in the midst of a re-write at the moment.

 

[english_1969]

Hmmm, well it seems like the powerhome option is a solid one. I am also considering the ISY-99. Are many of who are using powerhome using any other home automation software?

I am using Cinemar's ML for a front end interface on my touch panels. I also have a homeseer install to read my 1wire network, in addition I have an elk m1 that I've yet to hook up.

I understand from the cinemar board that if I get the ISY-99 that I can fairly easily interface the elk m1's lighting control through it.

While I'm on the subject of lighting, I'd light to get some input/thoughts on where to use controllers. At first, I thought about a 6 button controller in each room, but that would really start to add up. When I built the house, I had several extra hot boxes placed for the purpose of adding a controller (this was when I was going with upb). Now that I can have a controller and switch in one, I've gotten off-track.

The other strategy I've thought about in order to minimize the switches and rely more on controllers is to use the inline modules. Are many of you doing this?

I'm rambling...

W

 

[Madcodger]

If ISY users reply, may I tag another question on, please?

Are you able to tell the current state of a device (switch on or off, for example) when using the ISY99 (or later, if they have one)? If so, is polling via the Elk required?

I currently use Homeseer and their plugin for Insteon, and after a long battle with Smarthome's quality problems, my Insteon system and Homeseer are both working beautifully now. However, we're thinking of selling this house and building another at some point, so I wouldn't mind transferring the lighting control over to the Elk and a non-software / non-PC system before then. Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[Digger]

If ISY users reply, may I tag another question on, please?

Are you able to tell the current state of a device (switch on or off, for example) when using the ISY99 (or later, if they have one)? If so, is polling via the Elk required?

I currently use Homeseer and their plugin for Insteon, and after a long battle with Smarthome's quality problems, my Insteon system and Homeseer are both working beautifully now. However, we're thinking of selling this house and building another at some point, so I wouldn't mind transferring the lighting control over to the Elk and a non-software / non-PC system before then. Thanks in advance for any info.

Yes the ISY maintains the status of almost all of the devices without polling (you have to poll the thermosat etc which is a big drawback). The ELK talks directly to the ISY and the ISY keeps the ELK up to date without either polling. The ISY will do a 3 am poll etc just to insure it is up to date for those occasions where there is a comm failure.

Check out the UDI forums and you will see a bunch of happy campers.

 

[MikeB]

I understand from the cinemar board that if I get the ISY-99 that I can fairly easily interface the elk m1's lighting control through it.

Yes - the ISY integrates with the Elk. So the Elk can control Insteon lights directly through the ISY.

While I'm on the subject of lighting, I'd light to get some input/thoughts on where to use controllers. At first, I thought about a 6 button controller in each room, but that would really start to add up. When I built the house, I had several extra hot boxes placed for the purpose of adding a controller (this was when I was going with upb). Now that I can have a controller and switch in one, I've gotten off-track.

I personally have a standard decora-style SwitchLinc controlling the main lights in every room (ceiling or lamp depending on the room), mostly for consistency. In rooms where I want additional control (outside lights, additional lamps, lighting scenes, etc.) I have a KeypadLinc next to the SwitchLinc.

Are you able to tell the current state of a device (switch on or off, for example) when using the ISY99 (or later, if they have one)? If so, is polling via the Elk required?

The ISY maintains the status of almost all Insteon devices automatically as long as the devices are added to the ISY's database. As Digger pointed out, the Thermostat Adapter is not a controller, so it must be polled by the ISY to read its current status. I poll mine every 15 minutes. LampLincs and ApplianceLincs are also not controllers, but if you use a linked SwitchLinc and/or KeypadLinc to turn them on/off the ISY will be aware of their status without polling.

 

[wuench]

I am using Cinemar's ML for a front end interface on my touch panels. I also have a homeseer install to read my 1wire network, in addition I have an elk m1 that I've yet to hook up.

Also I believe there is a developer on the UDI forum who is currently working on an ML plugin/interface for the ISY.

One of the best parts of the ISY is it "offloads" the elk lighting, so you talk via the M1XEP to the ISY, no need for another M1XSP and PLC to do lighting. So the ISY becomes your central controller, which is key for Insteon because a multi-controller setup with Insteon can be difficult to manage and controllers can get out of sync. With one central controller, there is no worry of two controllers (i.e. the Elk and a PC) getting out of sync.

 

[english_1969]

I am using Cinemar's ML for a front end interface on my touch panels. I also have a homeseer install to read my 1wire network, in addition I have an elk m1 that I've yet to hook up.

Also I believe there is a developer on the UDI forum who is currently working on an ML plugin/interface for the ISY.

One of the best parts of the ISY is it "offloads" the elk lighting, so you talk via the M1XEP to the ISY, no need for another M1XSP and PLC to do lighting. So the ISY becomes your central controller, which is key for Insteon because a multi-controller setup with Insteon can be difficult to manage and controllers can get out of sync. With one central controller, there is no worry of two controllers (i.e. the Elk and a PC) getting out of sync.

Well, I guess this is the way to go then. This weekend, I've been playing around with my ML Scenes and getting lights linked to ML so that I can control them - it's very tedious. I'll check out the UDI board for what might be under development as far as a plug-in goes. Seems like an auto-populate from the ISY to ML would be GREAT!

Overall, I am sold on Insteon. While I've not had it long enough to really gauge it's robustness, I do have to say that i've purchased a few items from sellers on ebay and have discovered 2 items to be dead. 1 is dead (a 600w dimmer) and the other will appear to funnction, but will not actually output any voltage. This makes me a little leary, although I understand that the one purchased from Smarthome directly are well-covered.

Oh well, BTW, I will probably be selling at least 10 UPB switches/controllers/etc. either here on on ebay sometime in the next week.

Thanks,
W

 

[Madcodger]

All,

Thanks for your replies re: the ISY99, and apologies for such a late reply. Been very busy and off the boards for the most part. I think I may be purchasing an ISY, and transferring lighting control to the Elk.

One other question comes to mind about that, though... I have a fair amount of occupancy logic for the house that is controlled by Homeseer (turns lights on along paths, off in rooms if no one is there, etc.), and which a new owner of the house wouldn't necessarily need. However, I'd like to keep my Homeseer system active and running that logic as long as we're here (could be a few years with today's housing market!). Is there any big problem to running a PLM attached to Homeseer, ALONG WITH the ISY9 and its PLM attached to the Elk? I'm not concerned about avoiding conflicts based on logic (Rules vs. Homeseer events, for example), but rather with having the two PLMs somehow causing problems with each other.

Thanks for any advice.

Joe

 

[upstatemike]

All,

Thanks for your replies re: the ISY99, and apologies for such a late reply. Been very busy and off the boards for the most part. I think I may be purchasing an ISY, and transferring lighting control to the Elk.

One other question comes to mind about that, though... I have a fair amount of occupancy logic for the house that is controlled by Homeseer (turns lights on along paths, off in rooms if no one is there, etc.), and which a new owner of the house wouldn't necessarily need. However, I'd like to keep my Homeseer system active and running that logic as long as we're here (could be a few years with today's housing market!). Is there any big problem to running a PLM attached to Homeseer, ALONG WITH the ISY9 and its PLM attached to the Elk? I'm not concerned about avoiding conflicts based on logic (Rules vs. Homeseer events, for example), but rather with having the two PLMs somehow causing problems with each other.

Thanks for any advice.

Joe

Why not just use use an Elk plugin to continue controlling the lighting paths from Homeseer? Homeseer talks to the Elk which talks to the ISY. One PLM, no conflicts, everything stays in sync.

 

[mtwalsh367]

I don't recommend having both Homeseer and the Elk/ISY both control Insteon through their own PLM. Unless something has changed in the last 3 months you will have to maintain 2 configurations for your Insteon setup. One in the ISY and another in Homeseer through the HS Insteon plug in. It is just more work to maintain an Insteon configuration in two placees and trying to keep everything up to date an in sync. I like the previous suggestion which is to control Insteon through the ELK/ISY and then just use the Elk/HS plug in to have HS kick off tasks or switch on/off indicators to control Insteon.