Teken

Is it normal in the context of HA light switches when compared to other brands? No . . . Is the noise, buzz, hum, pulsing present with these Insteon KPL's? Yes . . . Do they all make this annoying noise? Yes, which is more apparent if your high frequency hearing is still good. Ambient back ground noise or the lack of also plays a key role in hearing this noise. From personal experience since the dual band relay KPL was released. This noise has been present in the last 2.5 years with varying degrees of noise output. Having purchased 12 of them with various hardware / firmware releases during the course of 2.5 years. This noise still persists! [emoji35] Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

From personal experience these 2011 KPL devices exhibits a much different boot up / power on when compared to later releases. They also function and act differently when a improper load is installed. Some also pulse, flicker, and buzz when very brief power outages are experienced. Over the years quite a few features have been removed from the KPL. I am eager to see what new features will be incorporated next year. Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

I agree with Stu. You need to call out how many devices are dual band. As stated I do prefer to use AP / range extenders for coupling both sides of the electrical feed. After that Insteon devices are simply placed where ever they are required. Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

Yes . . . Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

This is what I expected to happen to be honest. Thanks for taking the time to test and follow up. I can assure you countless thousands of people know exactly how you feel about taking out a switch and doing the exact same thing 9999999999 later on. As stated in another thread I highly suggest when you're inclined to expand your Insteon network. That you purchase either a AP / Range Extender, or one of the On / Off, Dimmer plug in modules and ensure you confirm proper coupling / bridging. This will provide you the most consistent performance, range, and reliability. Its never fun to install a piece of gear in a remote location when you know it will not be used actively vs being used as a remote switch etc. But, rest assured once you have coupled all floors, areas, zones, these thoughts will be gone besides the lighter wallet!

I am unsure if the HUB sitting there would actually couple anything. But, give it a try and report back what the results are. I would be pretty surprised if it coupled / bridged Insteon devices with out something enrolled into the controller. A simple test would be to plug it in and see if any traffic is picked up via the LED's. I don't own one so don't know if it has LED's that reflect the insteon traffic as it does on other devices.

This is another similar product that I reviewed last year. I decided to sit on the fence until a number of people provided feed back about the quality, run time, and over all build.

This was the promo I saw in January of this year: I am still unclear as to how it knows the difference between power on vs a power out condition. I am assuming it uses the neutral to tell the differential of line loss.

I read about this device a few months back and was actually hoping to see if anyone here installed any. If you decide to pull the trigger let us know how they work in your Insteon network. I am more curious as to the actual battery run time while power is out.

If it was $1.99 for the extended warranty. That is simply incredible and hands down a true value. In that time I have only had a few items fail during the course of six years. So for me perhaps I would not have gotten the value out of it since the two year warranty did in fact cover the expired item. I think this sort of thing helps out a lot of folks who purchase a 1st generation design and their are bugs which I believe would help in that case. But, to be fair most 1st generation devices seem to be impacted by quality issues whether it be cars, microwaves, toasters etc. At $1.99 per unit that is simply a no brainer in my mind to purchase.

I think when you compare the price of the apple vs Insteon warranty. The Insteon warranty (value) is easily six times better. One covers your homes critical infrastructure while the other is a single source tool. One extra year for $100.00 for a $400.00 item is just a rip off. $15.00 for something that controls your entire home which covers 7 years is a true value and has real purpose which I guarantee you will see and use during the course of 7 years. I literally missed out on that jewel of a program by two days! [emoji35] If Joe Dada is reading this. Please bring it back as it truly sets Insteon apart from any other maker and adds value to the product line. Given the increased reliability over the years it's simply going to be a nice money maker for the company. All the while offering the consumer a choice and true protection and value. Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

You can certainly purchase just the base model and just upgrade via firmware to the Pro model. In the big picture it won't save you any money so I would humbly suggest you just purchase the pro and should you ever find the need for IR control / integration it will be there at the ready. Keep in mind you also have the capability when you're ready to also upgrade your Pro to integrate Z-Wave. This will allow you to have command and control of X10, Insteon, Z-wave all from one device. If energy management is something you have considered or will be thinking about. The ISY Series Controller can also be upgraded to Zigbee. I have a ongoing installation thread that has tracked my efforts and many of the vendors that I use in my home which can be viewed here: http://www.brultech.com/community/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=929 Its a very long thread so take a lazy Sunday and cup of your best coffee and enjoy the endless journey to make my home smarter, efficient, and safe. All the while letting me play!

1. Each Insteon device has a full and quick guide that explains how to complete and test for proper coupling / bridging. You can download a copy of the full manual from the SH site to understand how each device indicates same phase / opposite phase. 2. The Filter Linc: http://www.smarthome.com/filterlinc-10-amp-plug-in-noise-filter.htmlis the device of choice for many to assist them in removing noise / signal suckers from the electrical outlets. There are typical devices in your home that are noise makers / signal suckers, but the reality is that anything electrical can generate such effects. The most common are UPS, Cell Chargers, Computers, Baby Monitors, CFL, LED, motors, compressors, etc. You have two basic methods to determine noise but it doesn't tell you if its a noise maker or a signal sucker. All you need to know is that it causes noise and you need a method to address it. From the global scale you can simply turn off circuit breakers to see if another Insteon device is operating better or not. This is rarely the best method as you run into the chance of losing coupling / bridging and can obviously kill the power to the device requiring COM verification. A better and more practical (yet painful) approach is to unplug all devices in the house and add them back one at a time and see the effects of doing so. Keep in mind this is needed only once so the pain is worth the gain in the long term. 4. Same with Filter Lincs, I always suggest a person have a few of the AP / Range Extenders on hand. They allow you to move and couple or extend the RF to power line COM's where ever you wish. Since the AP has now changed and based on very cursory review I would probably go with a dual use item instead. Such as a plugin On / Off Module or Dimmer module, this enables you to not only couple but use that device to control a load if required. Where as the AP simply does one task and that is to couple and regenerate the Insteon signal no more. Note: Technically you have a single phase system which has two electrical feeds. But most people use the term phase interchangeably in consumer forums. It (phrase) should never be used when speaking in a commercial sense since it no longer exists. 6. Yes the KPL is the 6 / 8 button key pad. You should consider areas where you feel will provide the most benefit / control / state notification. Keep in mind the beauty of Insteon is that once linked you can literally control a load in the home that is not physically attached. Imagine you say: I wish that electrician installed a On / Off switch at the bottom of the stairs. Now you can have full control of that light, load, or appliance from just a simple KPL and know its current On / Off state. So, I would humbly suggest that you walk around your beautiful home speak with the wife and see what areas would benefit more control, awareness, or just another location to interact with the home.

The PLM issue is being addressed and some members indicate v2 hardware is in place along with updated firmware to address another unrelated matter. A neutral wire is required as Insteon devices obtain their power from that feed source. A neutral is the return path for voltage in your homes electrical system. There are several things you need to keep in mind for any successful HA install. 1. Coupling / Bridging: This must be done and verified by the 4 tap beacon test outlined in the full users manual. This will ensure proper signal distribution with in the electrical system within your home. 2. Filtering: In your home are various noise makers / signal suckers. You will need to identify those noise sources to ensure the most reliable and consistent COM's. 3. Factory Resetting: All devices regardless of where you purchased them should be factory reset. This will ensure any testing features or capabilities are set to their default state. This will save a lot of hair on your head assuming you're not bald! 4. Access Points / Range Extenders: This device will bridge your homes electrical system but also allows you to use RF only based devices such as remotes, motion sensors, leak sensors, etc. They provide the most range and capability in re transmitting the Insteon signal. Since your home is so large installing AP in all four corners of the home will provide the most coverage. 5. Programming / Linking: You will always link and create scenes using the ISY. You must never link or create scenes manually as it will cause you endless headaches as the ISY is not aware of these links / association. 6. Install a few devices and play with them and learn how they work. If you're happy grow the system and move forward with more devices. Decide where you wish to install a KPL in place of a normal paddle switch. This will allow you the most flexibility, and remote notification of device states. I would purchase the pro from the onset just because you would meet the security requirement from the start.

Also, in case the above fails to work this problem is also present when the battery state is very low. This causes low RF reception on the remote control. So, if its been awhile since you changed the battery you might consider changing them out and standing closer to a dual band device and trying again.

In the near term, most people are too stupid to think that far about a single vendor being the only game in town and how it could impact them. In the long term, for those for an eye toward the future this is a concern. But, the reality is that SH / Insteon has done extremely well over the last eight years to grow the market. The simple fact that they have with stood eight years and has shown solid growth and capable of releasing at least one new product a year shows great promise. Most know me to be the first one to throw SH / Insteon under the bus when important issues are present. But people also know I am also quick to lay praise when they get it right. With the ever expansion of Insteon in local stores and retail outlets this shows focus and success in market penetration. They are currently sold by Walmart, Costco, Home Depot, Best Buys, Tiger Direct, Future Shop, Sears, and Amazon. The sticking point for me and many others is the companies lack of support from third party vendors. I don't care who they partner with so long as it shows their willingness to grow the Insteon protocol and allow more device options. When I see Cooper, Leviton, GE, etc all support and develop Z-Wave devices never mind the other dozen of companies also producing said devices. It has to make you take pause as to what the hell Joe Dada is thinking and where he expects Insteon to be in the next ten years. Skylink besides Simplehome that makes those 1980 devices are the only 3rd party vendors since day one. Yes, people can say Morning Lock Industry is also a vendor but they aren't as it requires a secondary device to couple its lock. The only bright light I saw was Joe Dada pushing into the EU markets. Even this has been piss poor in deployment and the offerings for said markets. People can say its because of testing, regulations, etc. Its not, its the lack of focus and having the common sense to release at the very least the basics for people to use and gain mass adoption. This time (3 years ago) I stated the same issues. No Global PLM: This was and has been the massive fail of Joe Dada and his team. It has only been after three years the light bulb in someones head said * Hey you know those guys at UDI? They sure are making a good impression with our product and thousands of people are asking when they can use a ISY * The reality is SH decided to deploy their HUB as a method to get into new markets and didn't want to share the global pie with anyone else as it is with their protocol. If that wasn't true don't you think every third party vendor would have jumped on board eight years ago?? As painful as it has been over the last eight years this massive train wreck is being directed in the right direction. A global PLM is being developed in concert with UDI. Thank God! But, much work and progress must be made bring back a few key things that will keep the company and the Insteon protocol strong and successful. 1. Engage third party vendors to adopt and make Insteon devices. 2. Expand the Insteon device list offerings to all EU / International markets. 3. Bring on some real programmers and provide them the tools, resources, and financing to develop the HUB / House Linc. 4. Bring back the optional 7 year extended warranty. 5. Reduce the prices on some of the key components and stop listing the initial prices in asinine dollar levels. 6. Stop selling the pure and utter crap on Smarthome that has been priced out of this world when they are dollar store items. 7. Release more devices on the *Wish List* because its been proven they do sell! ie. Smoke Bridge, Leak Sensor, Mini Remote, etc

At the end of the day Joe Dada needs to expand the development of Insteon to other third party manufactures. I am afraid the boat has sailed away in that respect so its just wishful thinking on my part. This is probably one of the main drivers for UDI to expand into supporting another HA protocol. This lets them enter into a new space and garner adoption from existing / new users in, or, entering the HA space. This obviously reduces their dependence and lively hood on just one single vendor should they ever collapse.

Exactly, thanks Stu!

I believe it comes down to what your over all goal is and keeping in mind more access does not equate to more reliability. I come from a time where everything was done at a local level because there was no such thing as networking, remote access, or relaying commands. I can tell you from a technical, security, and safety stand point that you do not want your HVAC to be cloud based. The only benefit to a computerized TSTAT is more control / access. It will not make your home any warmer, colder, or safer. Having the ability to control your lights, doors, HVAC, security, is a great flexibility and convenience. But, I am sure you already know before the Internet and computers our homes were just as warm, cool, and safe. What remote access brings is a balance between security and the ability to do something. Even with all the hi tech devices in my home the foundation and base is designed around autonomy, isolation, and fail over. Its safe to say once something is set or in place its either not used, or rarely utilized.

If there was a kickstarter movement to that end I would be first in line.

That electrical event that happen must have been quite a doozy to cause a dead short in that switch.

UDI in partnership is making a global PLM so that is one piece off the books. Smarthome has an extremely piss poor record in developing their own software on any regular basis. They never interact, relay, or apprise any consumer of feature enhancements, bug fix's, or deprecation of features. If the ISY was to ever be purchased by Smarthome the development of said product would be stalled. A complete wall of silence and lack of consumer interaction would prevail. HL / HUB is the perfect example of piss poor development and inclusion. One has to ask themselves: How can the maker of a product not support their own devices??? Lastly, UDI has single handily resolved years of bugs, broken features, and added capabilities that Insteon / Smarthome has failed to provide. Its safe to say tens of thousands of end users have stayed with Insteon because UDI and its product has provided a gateway that makes the insteon ecosystem manageable, reliable, and powerful beyond its current limits. No other company has championed such innovation for Insteon, none.

And to be fair to smarthome / Insteon. They continue to have the best looking devices in the market place. They also have consistently released new products based on consumer feedback. As far as I recall they also offer the longest warranty period of any HA maker. I do wish they brought back the optional 7 year extended warranty. That would be very worth while insurance coverage for such a massive investment into one single vendor. They have also made business links with Microsoft to be their primary HA vendor of choice in the now crowded HA scene. Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

There are a few wired in filters from X10 but they are massive and may not fit in a shallow j box. But that is also another alternative. If you look for some X10 filtering devices they equally work well for Insteon. Try to either find the smallest unit or one that can be installed inside the JBOX. Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions

You can install a filter linc and see if it solves the issue.