Everything posted by Teken
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Amazon Echo and ISY
Having more choices is great but lets see how long this product lasts. I say this because no matter how big you're such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, they all had epic fails and abandoned products mid stream. I am going to sit and wait and see how this plays out.
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Is Insteon Dead?
I believe once the International PLM is released you will see a huge adoption rate and increased satisfaction from new and existing customers who can use the ISY Series Controller. This is a huge clinch pin for all parties involved. The reality is a International PLM should have been on the drawing board and put into motion when the International market was considered for future penetration. Once sales start to move and UDI begins to grow beyond their small group I truly believe more outstanding products will be available from them. What really needs to happen is a new ISY Series controller that supports all the current protocols and platforms: X10, Insteon, Zigbee (ALL), Z-Wave, UPB.
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Is Insteon Dead?
I tend to agree to a certain extent. But, the reality is the vendor (Smartlabs) fails to provide the same support for devices they have created in their hardware / software. The question people have to ask then is: How can the actual maker of a device not support all known devices in their realm of control and manufacturer? To that end this impacts the overall customer experience which affects future sales, never mind lost sales. This is about the core competencies of a company and its offerings. If you can't even support what you make how can you expect customers to have belief in the product?? I am hoping Smartlabs in 2015 moves forward with more focus, and commitment in the above and taking the time to communicate their goals.
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Restoring ISY-994i From A Backup
If you haven't rebooted the ISY after doing all of this give it a try. I would however unplug the PLM wait 15 seconds. Unplug the ISY, plug the PLM back in. Then apply power to the ISY and perform the linking process again and report back. Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions
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KPL custom etched buttons
Is there going to be another word / phrase included with the AWAY? [emoji52] Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions
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KPL custom etched buttons
Before you go the route of the *custom* keys I would humbly suggest you look at the prefab one's. The 25 / 50 kit has some of the most common keys people will use or want. If there are actual custom things you wish then by all means go ahead. Just that the 25 / 50 key set offers lots of values and this is what covers about 50% of my home because it just works. Anything that could not be done was obviously covered with custom keys for that professional look and ease of use.
- KPL custom etched buttons
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KPL custom etched buttons
BASICS: You will require either a 6 / 8 button kit. This requires a new frame to convert from one to another. You can indicate any phrase so long as it meets the character length listed by Smarthome. Only use upper case letters as lower case will be hard to see and looks terrible. The custom etched letters are a different color then the OEM letters. Custom lettering is a off gray where as the OEM lettering is green. This is hard to see as a causal user but a home owner will notice but that goes away in a few weeks. Each key (chicklet) is separate and can be replaced individually. If you're crafty you can modify a (configured) 8 button KPL to use four large or a combination of small keys in a KPL. Stu has a great picture of him doing this in his environment.
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Is the PLM considered a dual band device?
Well the plus side is that you shouldn't have any issue then. Since they are on the same leg, keeping in mind this in no way addresses any noise related issues that may be present.
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Ubi and ISY
I really wish there was a method that didn't require so much middle ware to get this going. As much as I dislike the whole Apple thing their *Home Kit* is exactly what is needed to allow 3rd party devices all talking the same language and integrating one another. I really can't wait until that day comes.
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Is the PLM considered a dual band device?
The approach Z-Wave has taken is different so keep that in mind. Their RF output is more than likely rated at the maximum or close to what is allowed under FCC regulations. Insteon (on the surface) appears to have some flaws in their deployment of the same. - Limited RF output when compared to other makers. - Poor placement of the RF antenna which impacts signal strength. - Different frequency which plays a role in distance, noise rejection, etc. - Device sensitivity of capturing the RF signal. With Z wave all their devices are made to be as sensitive to receive RF as that is their only method to communicate. At the end of the day a pound of salt must be taken when considering this whole dual band marketing.
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Is the PLM considered a dual band device?
Since you live in Canada most homes use metal JBOX's. After market box's can be purchased (Carlton) which are made of resin / fiberglass plastics. At Home Depot / Lowes / Rona they are special order if you need them. My point regarding the installation of extra devices on different floors is from experience. Now, keep in mind you and I don't have money to burn so I am not asking you to just wild willy purchase something that won't be used. The reality is RF from insteon devices are marginal when placed in a standard metal enclosure. It doesn't help that Smartlabs insists upon placing the freaking antenna in the rear of the unit also! That is why having a few (plug In) dual band units that (you may have future use) can dramatically increase the reliability of your Insteon network. At the end of the day only you can decide to deploy more gear in areas you feel will see use, or even daily use.
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Possible "dimmer" for a fan??
Assuming the load is with in the fan linc (which I doubt) it could work. But, you would need to confirm how the humidifier is wired to control the fans low, med, high. Worse case scenario would be to use a micro on / off relay to turn on the speeds you wish. This of course cost much more money then the fanlinc but that is an alternate solution. I did this with my three speed over head range exhaust fan.
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Is the PLM considered a dual band device?
You have several methods but isn't exactly what you're asking for. You can run the diagnostic at level 3 and see how many hops it takes etc. You can do a scene test which basically turns on / off the linked devices in that scene which obviously shows you the linked devices either work or don't and you can watch the diagnostic page while this is happening. You can also down load a free copy of House Linc (HL) which has a great diagnostic feature that you can define how many signal blasts and for how any times and watch the results. Please keep in mind I offered this as a alternate method to diagnose your homes Insteon network. Its not intended to remain there and operational as it can cause major havok to the existing links in the devices and to those associated to the ISY. With respect to the LED light. Do you have a Insteon Bulb Linc?? If so I am assuming its allowed to be remained powered? If not it won't operate as its intended for pull chain lights or where there is no actual switch to turn the power on / off. This device must remain powered to use. I also noted you indicated the garage linc?? Are you talking about the I/O Linc? This device is not a dual band device its simply power line only.
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Is the PLM considered a dual band device?
Regardless of what you read from the literature via the SH site. The reality is that all of this assumes the best case scenario. Meaning you simply have wires connecting to other wires in the home. Coupling both sides of the electrical feed via a dual band unit will assist in bridging the COM's so the Insteon signal can traverse from one to the other assuming it needs to talk to another Insteon device(s). Now, you add in real world loads from LED, CFL, Ballasts, Motors, Resistive loads, where it either makes noise or sucks the Insteon signal from getting threw. The point being is having dual band devices in all foors, areas, zones, phase, will ensure Insteon COM's are adequate. Keeping in mind as stated before no amount of Insteon devices, bridging, will over come a noise issue.
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Restoring ISY-994i From A Backup
Disable the program and report back what happens once you manually press the KPL. If the buttons LED's remain lit simply blow away the program and start a new. If the LED's still go dark (even with a disabled program) hard reset the KPL.
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Thermostat FAQ ?
OK, so I am glad I understood the basic principle as I knew them. But, what is stopping you from actually making some kind of On Demand Response widget, feature, thing a ma jig in your App? Excluding any potential legal ramifications etc.
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Thermostat FAQ ?
Can you please expand on what this means in laymen's terms? I believe I know what it means in a general sense but don't understand why NEST would not allow 3rd party device to reduce power consumption??
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Interested in the ISY994i but . . . .
I would add however that the ISY can be used in its most basic form should it be required. If however you feel the need for more conditional control over your Insteon network then the ISY is ready for that too. Its fair to say the ISY is more then capable in managing your homes locks, lighting, HVAC, energy, network related devices. It comes down to just doing the basics first then adding on as your time and knowledge grows.
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Is the PLM considered a dual band device?
I believe this is one of many reasons why so many people get confused about confirming bridging / coupling. Since various iterations even with in the same manufactured date either have new features or those removed. Case in point the users manual indicates the KPL Relay can perform the beacon test. Where as the eight button KPL dimmer does not, but does offer that the unit can be programmed to indicate a red LED if the end device(s) do not respond. Even though the error (Red) LED is not the same as the beacon test. It does offer some visual confirmation that COM's are good, or did not get received.
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Interested in the ISY994i but . . . .
If you can plug in a router and assign network IP address's to a device in the home. Then, you will be more then fine to use and program the basics of the ISY. More complicated conditional programs just take longer to understand how they operate and function. Should you need any help or assistance UDI is only a phone call away. You also have the benefit of very large data base in the UDI forum and that of the ISY membership to help in all aspects.
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Sensing when Garage Door Opens
I believe that is the current RC. Encrypted By: Phoenix Security Solutions
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Sensing when Garage Door Opens
What does your ISY Help say you're on?
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Sensing when Garage Door Opens
I have seen this problem before as you have listed. It was some how associated to a one of the Beta releases which obviously had a bug in it. Once I reverted back to a older firmware the numerical values went away and the actual (expected) names were restored. I have also seen this same problem when the firmware load fails and corrupts the ISY data base. In both cases reloading a good known back up or moving to a proven firmware release has resolved this issue for me.
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UNIVERSAL DEVICES ISY994IZW
Bob, I know this isn't what you specifically ask for. But, it was noted by UDI in the next 5.XX firmware release that if you had two ISY Series Controllers with the network module. Both of them could communicate with one another so one unit would have Zigbee while the other had Z-wave. Its more hardware cost up front but this does provide a path for having both protocols in a single home.