Should I deploy HAI OmniLT?

[jtalleymo]

I have been using home automation in various forms for the last 10 years. Recently, I moved and have been working on retrofitting my house with lighting controls. My next step was to control various other functions such as thermostats and integrate some aspects of security (ie video), access control, etc into touchscreens in the kitchen and other living areas.

Last year, on a lark, I decided to implement about $400-$500 worth of insteon products. They have worked pretty well for the most part, although I have some serious glitches here and there (such as the controller not turning off devices), but I am hesitant to make any more of an investment in this product line given what I have read and then experienced firsthand at Smarthome.

My neighbor does a lot of alarm and structured wiring, although not much in HA. He was recently given a couple of HAI 21A00-1 OmniLT controllers and offered me one for free.

So, here is my question. Should I spend the money to go down the HAI route with UPB (I believe that is what HAI uses, right?) or go a completely different direction. I want to be somewhat economical, but yet don't want to totally sacrifice quality. I do have CAT 5 running in the house for controllers if necessary and all neutrals should be wired. However, I have no basement or access to my wiring in any other way.

I know these questions have been answered many times, but given the fact that my situation is a little different, and technology seems to be progressing almost daily, I wanted to hear what everyone had to say.

Thanks,

-jason

 

[AnthonyZ]

Short answer is that if you have ten years of HA experience behind you, you'll most likely have relatively high expectations. If such is the case, even a free HAI LT is most likely going to disappoint you. It's capabilities are rather light. Take a look here to see what I mean.

 

[ano]

I have been using home automation in various forms for the last 10 years. Recently, I moved and have been working on retrofitting my house with lighting controls. My next step was to control various other functions such as thermostats and integrate some aspects of security (ie video), access control, etc into touchscreens in the kitchen and other living areas.

Last year, on a lark, I decided to implement about $400-$500 worth of insteon products. They have worked pretty well for the most part, although I have some serious glitches here and there (such as the controller not turning off devices), but I am hesitant to make any more of an investment in this product line given what I have read and then experienced firsthand at Smarthome.

My neighbor does a lot of alarm and structured wiring, although not much in HA. He was recently given a couple of HAI 21A00-1 OmniLT controllers and offered me one for free.

So, here is my question. Should I spend the money to go down the HAI route with UPB (I believe that is what HAI uses, right?) or go a completely different direction. I want to be somewhat economical, but yet don't want to totally sacrifice quality. I do have CAT 5 running in the house for controllers if necessary and all neutrals should be wired. However, I have no basement or access to my wiring in any other way.

I know these questions have been answered many times, but given the fact that my situation is a little different, and technology seems to be progressing almost daily, I wanted to hear what everyone had to say.

Thanks,

-jason

I use HAI with UPB and CQC Software and it all works great. I can't answer your question for you, and I will say that the OmniLT is a bit limited compared to the Omni IIe or the Omni II Pro, but the good news, is that if you should outgrow, the OmniLT, you could always upgrade to one of the other panels with not much work.

Really for a BASIC home automation setup, you need two aspects that really add to most of the costs; 1) an array of sensors to get data in, and 2) thinks you can control, which is an "out." The "in" is usually provided with an alarm panel which sees door, window, and motion sensors. The out is switches to control lights, fans, pool pumps, etc.

On the out side, I agree with you, Insteon is not the best. UPB does work well.

So the OmniLT is a bit limited, but you can always swap it out later for a Omni IIe or Pro, and nothing is lost.