OmniPro II Thermostat recomendations

[abernut]

It is finally time to connect my HVAC system to my OmniPro II.
 
I believe HAI recommends the OmniStat 2.  But do you guys recommend anything else etc.. Zigbee, etc...
 
There are currently two thermostats. One upstairs and one downstairs.  I pre-ran a CAT5 cable from each location back to the OmniPro II.
 
Thanks,
Mike

 

[pete_c]

I kept my Omnistat 2 connected to the panel via the serial cable.  Works for me.
 
I did have an RC80 in place and liked the Omnistat 2 retro look (but did actually procrastinate on installation while it sat on a shelf for a couple of years as my RC80 worked problematic free for many years).
 

 
You already have the cable in place. 
 
I would say if you didn't have a cable in place or couldn't run a cable to the thermostat from the panel then I would have gone the Zigbee Omnistat2 route.
 
Other forum users here have gone the Zigbee Omnistat2 route and have not had issues with it.
 
A while back did have a Omnistat serial comm issue but here attributed the concern from a networking port issue. 
 
I do not have the issue today.
 
Personally there a direct wired connection is more resilient than a wireless connection (that is me and my opinion).

 

[tripleJs15]

Pete, To confirm, your RC80 is wired to you Omni and worked fine, have you tried controlling it through any mobile apps ?

 

[Desert_AIP]

I use two RC-2000s and an RC-1000.
They've been installed since 2010.
The RC-2000s interface with a zone controller and the Omni to control the main HVAC system, and the RC-1000 controls a Master Bath heater (controlled by the Omni).
All are controllable via Haiku and other apps/programming logic.
 
About my only complaint is the RC-2000 resets its backlight color setting when it loses power (the RC-1000 does not).
IIRC the newer firmware versions of the RC-2000 do not do this.

 

[pete_c]

Pete, To confirm, your RC80 is wired to you Omni

 
 
The old RC80 was wired to my OmniPro II panel.  Its been a while now. 
 
I upgraded the RC80 to an Omnistat2 which is just using the same wires that were already there.