My 1st bad Insteon Switch

[wuench]

I have generally had no problems replacing a small number of devices. I did get some push back from them when I swapped out all of my switches (12) for the flicker issue. They tried to tell me that the issue only impacts specific installs and did not believe when I said all of my switches caused this to some extent.

I am not optimistic that they will do a swap like that once the warranty expires (which mine has). For instance, I doubt they will do a swap when they put out new firmware that fixes the extended messaging. And I think we may not even hear when this fix happens, it may even already be out there in some firmware versions. With developers now racing to support the PLM (which supports extended messaging), the new access points (which I assume support extended messaging) and hopefully, eventually, new switch firmware coming, I have resigned myself to hold off on any more switch purchases for 6 months to a year and see how things settle out with Insteon (and the new UPB switches). Things are definitely getting better in Insteon-land but they aren't quite there yet. I think we'll know we are there when the boards become as quite about Insteon as they are for UPB.

 

[Digger]

I have generally had no problems replacing a small number of devices. I did get some push back from them when I swapped out all of my switches (12) for the flicker issue. They tried to tell me that the issue only impacts specific installs and did not believe when I said all of my switches caused this to some extent.

I am not optimistic that they will do a swap like that once the warranty expires (which mine has). For instance, I doubt they will do a swap when they put out new firmware that fixes the extended messaging. And I think we may not even hear when this fix happens, it may even already be out there in some firmware versions. With developers now racing to support the PLM (which supports extended messaging), the new access points (which I assume support extended messaging) and hopefully, eventually, new switch firmware coming, I have resigned myself to hold off on any more switch purchases for 6 months to a year and see how things settle out with Insteon (and the new UPB switches). Things are definitely getting better in Insteon-land but they aren't quite there yet. I think we'll know we are there when the boards become as quite about Insteon as they are for UPB.

At one point when Istarted having some limited problems I thought of holding off as well. Then when prices started to skyrocket I scrambled to get as many as I could wherever the price was right. I have 2 with the flicker out of about 20 dimmers. But you never know if some of htem dont really have the problem and you dont know it yet. I use a half of my dimmers for dimmable CFL's and the other half a standard incadescent (after I had to get rid of one brand of noisey CFL's that Insteon did not like). As I continue to migrate I might find more with the flicker problem. As much as possible I am going to relays.

I know everyone says Insteon is cheaper than everyone else's product but its all relative to your budget. A KIA Minivan is cheaper than a Toyota or Honda but if you dont have $20K then it is still expensive. At $20 for an Icon a little over a year ago I was able to afford automated lighting. At $40 now I cant (at least not at a reasonable pace). Luckily (or not) I got most of mine for less than $40 since I scrambled to buy them.

 

[MikeB]

For instance, I doubt they will do a swap when they put out new firmware that fixes the extended messaging.

What do you mean by "fixes" extended messaging??

 

[Digger]

For instance, I doubt they will do a swap when they put out new firmware that fixes the extended messaging.

What do you mean by "fixes" extended messaging??

I think he is referring to implementing it in the devices that dont have it. Knowbody knows what device has it and which ones dont. Once there is a module that requires it we may find a lot of our products are not compatible since they dont have extended messaging.

 

[wuench]

For instance, I doubt they will do a swap when they put out new firmware that fixes the extended messaging.

What do you mean by "fixes" extended messaging??

I think he is referring to implementing it in the devices that dont have it. Knowbody knows what device has it and which ones dont. Once there is a module that requires it we may find a lot of our products are not compatible since they dont have extended messaging.

It is not that is wasn't implemented, it is that it doesn't work properly because of a bug. That is why none of the software out there uses extended messages. Instead everything is transferred one byte at a time, and takes forever, when linking. With extended messages you could transfer a whole link in one packet vs. eight.

 

[MikeB]

It is not that is wasn't implemented, it is that it doesn't work properly because of a bug. That is why none of the software out there uses extended messages. Instead everything is transferred one byte at a time, and takes forever, when linking. With extended messages you could transfer a whole link in one packet vs. eight.

Where did you hear about this bug? Haven't heard of this before...

 

[coppercox]

Unless SH goes "belly-up" I can only see their products improving. Insteon has found a niche with affordable switches in the home-automation crowd.

Their technology along with their easy return policy is what decided it for me. Overall I am very happy with my working switches: I have my Insteon setup controlled through my ELK M1G and have had no failures with communication between them. Should I experience further switch failures I may rethink that Insteon is the way to go. Right now I have about 20 insteon modules/switches and don't forsee buying anymore unless SH comes out with a Insteon RF switch that requires no neutral.

 

[Digger]

Unless SH goes "belly-up" I can only see their products improving. Insteon has found a niche with affordable switches in the home-automation crowd.

Their technology along with their easy return policy is what decided it for me. Overall I am very happy with my working switches: I have my Insteon setup controlled through my ELK M1G and have had no failures with communication between them. Should I experience further switch failures I may rethink that Insteon is the way to go. Right now I have about 20 insteon modules/switches and don't forsee buying anymore unless SH comes out with a Insteon RF switch that requires no neutral.

Cant argue with your first statement. Only one direction to go. I am also happy with my working switches (its the non working ones I have a problem with). Hopefully SH can work out a resolution for me to exchange about 16 bad devices.

 

[Herdfan]

I am also happy with my working switches (its the non working ones I have a problem with).

I was also very happy with my working ones. It was the unknown that drove me crazy. One day a device worked fine, the next morning it didn't. Very low WAF. I must have really like them at some point as I had somewhere around 80 devices.

 

[Digger]

I am also happy with my working switches (its the non working ones I have a problem with).

I was also very happy with my working ones. It was the unknown that drove me crazy. One day a device worked fine, the next morning it didn't. Very low WAF. I must have really like them at some point as I had somewhere around 80 devices.

How is the UPB? Can you do a virtual 3 way with them? I am losing my patience again with SH. A whole week of back and forth emails of this and that options and still no resolution.

They really dont want to replace them saying that the new ones will be just as bad. They need time (who knows how long but its been a year for the paddle and flicker issues) and still no fix (well they fixed the flicker but the paddles would be bad anyway they say.

 

[Event5]

How is the UPB? Can you do a virtual 3 way with them? I am losing my patience again with SH. A whole week of back and forth emails of this and that options and still no resolution.

They really dont want to replace them saying that the new ones will be just as bad. They need time (who knows how long but its been a year for the paddle and flicker issues) and still no fix (well they fixed the flicker but the paddles would be bad anyway they say.

Digger,

Check out this thread

http://board.homeseer.com/showthread.php?t=121490

Dave

 

[Herdfan]

[
How is the UPB? Can you do a virtual 3 way with them?

It is Lutron, not UPB.

Not in the same sense that Insteon can. With Lutron you have "accessory" dimmers and switches that are part of the multi-way circuits. With the version I have, a dimmer/switch can also be a controller just like Insteon, and the accessory dimmers/switches will also act as a controller. However, unlike Insteon, you can't program one switch in multiway to control Light Set A while the other controls Light Set B.

But there are so many other things you can do with conditionals it will drive you crazy trying to come up with new ideas. One example, I have a keypad button programmed to run the vacation mode so the lights turn on like we were home. But this button also changes what the "Welcome" button at the front door does. So when the petsitter comes over when we are we are out of town, instead of turning on the living room lamps and the kitchen lights, the "Welcome" button will also turn on all the lights on the main level. And when she leaves, the goodbye button waits five minutes before it turns off those lights so she can leave a lit up house. When we return and the vacation mode is turned off, the Welcome button returns to its normal function.

Now if I can get it to work with my touchpanels I'll be set.