Guys, I have been around for a while, and started with the old "unreliable" X10 hardware. Actually, I have yet to make a switch to a newer protocol as of yet, waiting to see where the market leads, without acting too quickly. (EA: Zwave, UPB, Insteon ect). At this point I do not want to be like the BetaMax adopters of yesteryear.
I just received an email from HS with a "June UPB "sale". Woah! Maybe I am behind the times here, ... but, honestly, I was shocked!
One of the easiest things for all of us to relate to, is a simple lamp module. In the email, it says you can get a UPB lamp module for ONLY $74.95 Also a wall receptacle for only $94.95., and a light switch for $84.95 (This is before the 10% discount offered in the email) These are the discounted prices? Maybe I have been hiding under a rock or something, but wow..... I stepped back and had a look at converting JUST the master bedroom, on the VERY light side of things just to get by, and replace what I have automated now: 3 light switches, 4 switches outlets, and about 4 lamp modules.....this works out to a little over $800.00!
I got into this "hobby" as a do-it-yourselfer, and was able to do it fairly inexpensively. I feel sorry for anyone new coming into the HA scene, and can totally understand where someone could easily be discouraged by the sheer cost of things the way they are going.
Please don't take this the wrong way, I am not some cheapscate, that wants everything for nothing. I have invested a lot of money in Airpanels, remote touchscreens, sensors on all doors/windows, motion sensors, 2-wire setup ect...ect....
Any comments either positive or negative are certainly welcome, but please do not flame me too badly here, I am just a bit taken back by the sheer cost of the way things are going.
I just received an email from HS with a "June UPB "sale". Woah! Maybe I am behind the times here, ... but, honestly, I was shocked!
One of the easiest things for all of us to relate to, is a simple lamp module. In the email, it says you can get a UPB lamp module for ONLY $74.95 Also a wall receptacle for only $94.95., and a light switch for $84.95 (This is before the 10% discount offered in the email) These are the discounted prices? Maybe I have been hiding under a rock or something, but wow..... I stepped back and had a look at converting JUST the master bedroom, on the VERY light side of things just to get by, and replace what I have automated now: 3 light switches, 4 switches outlets, and about 4 lamp modules.....this works out to a little over $800.00!
I got into this "hobby" as a do-it-yourselfer, and was able to do it fairly inexpensively. I feel sorry for anyone new coming into the HA scene, and can totally understand where someone could easily be discouraged by the sheer cost of things the way they are going.
Please don't take this the wrong way, I am not some cheapscate, that wants everything for nothing. I have invested a lot of money in Airpanels, remote touchscreens, sensors on all doors/windows, motion sensors, 2-wire setup ect...ect....
Any comments either positive or negative are certainly welcome, but please do not flame me too badly here, I am just a bit taken back by the sheer cost of the way things are going.