lilyoyo1

It trips me out how upgradeable firmware is the go to zwave feature that differentiates them from insteon. Yet none of the oems are taking advantage of that for the most part. Some like aeotech and fibaro have used it to fix critical use bugs (which means they never should have been released) but none have used them to add new features. Take ge for example. They have a full line of zwave plus devices which can be upgraded with the new security features. Yet instead of doing so, they've started releasing newer versions of the same switch instead. A feature is only good if it's put to use. Most companies dont

Have you seen what iron automation would cost. People complain about paying 50 bucks for a switch. Do you really think they would pay whatnot would cost to have that detailed of a home. No dimmer is rated for fans. They could create a switch but went the fanlinc route instead which I would prefer when compared to zwave offerings. Colored lights would be great. However, I wouldn't want a system that's inferior to what I use now. I've tried finaro's rgbw controller as well as aeotec bulbs. Both are sitting in a box somewhere unused. I would still take hue or lifx over both as they are light years ahead of either one. They can release a new thermostat. Would it be better than the ecobee 3s that I currently use? Probably not. Would it be better than what I would love to replace mine with (glas if they ever release an API). Definitely not. My thermostats were installed for style as much as they were for function. When I look at zwave offerings there's no way I would touch one of those either. We all are different so I'm not knocking you for sharing to see certain things. Since I have a system that can use multiple things, my ideals have changed. I no longer want to use any company for the sake of saying I have something. I go with the best thing available that works with the isy. Insteon or any company can create something just to say they have something. Reality is, there will probably be things better made. Since we are using the isy, the best available takes on a truer meaning. With that said, it's easy to innovate when you're playing catch up. In terms of ease of use, features, capabilities etc. you won't find zwave in the same ball park. Just like with smartphones, devices are simply getting to the point where you can't really innovate unless you're coming from nothing.

Over the last few years they've been working on improving quality inn their existing lined. Albeit these are changes you won't see but changes none the less. Now that I've answered your question, how about answering mine. What is it that you're seeing zwave switches do that insteon switches can't?

What's stagnant about them? What are you trying to do with your switches that you can do with zwave but not insteon?

It will be quite some time before Polisy can replace your ISY and the admin console that is currently required. In the beginning nothing changes from what is done currently as Polisy is an add on device. From what I gather, the ISY is accessed once you are able to port your system to polisy would be done the same way

I'm not speaking out of loyalty but experience. As someone who has done over 100 installs, used multiple systems over the years etc. I've researched and learned what works and how. Even now I'm still learning. Simply dismissing what a person says because you think they are a fan can prevent you from learning about how things work. Go ahead and purchase a smartthings hub and see what happens when you do the same. Hell set up a query to check all your devices and then try to use a device during that time. You'll see then why it doesn't constantly query. Now imagine a large install. Is the isy perfect....no. however no system is. It's pros far outweighs it's cons. When I look at how the isy works, UDI's responsiveness etc. I see a great system. With that said, they can't fix stuff that isn't inherent in a device. In regards to elk, I personally use one myself. While my alarm was unarmed, I disconnected a sensor and lo and behold. No alert. When I tried to arm the sensor I received an alert. This is why I made the statement I did. Your system may not be reliable but mine and many others are. Thats why we continue to invest in them.

For starters, the isy (and other controllers) and zwave devices aren't alarm systems. Both serve different functions and respond/behave as such. Even then should you remove a sensor from an alarm sensor, it will not alert you unless you A) run a test or arm the system. For some systems, periodically it will ping a device (once per 24 hrs). Since you mentioned Elk. Go ahead and test this for yourself. You'll be shocked to learn the truth. Try it with any alarm system Automation works differently. If a person has many devices periodic checks can bog down your system. For example, I have over 130 devices in my isy. If the isy were to run periodic checks, how long do you think it would take? What if I'm trying to control something during that time? The delay for something to happen wouldn't be worth it. You can write a program to query devices at regular times of it's that important. However a generic query all will hurt more than it helps. This is why the 3am query happens at that time. Less chance of interference BTW- this is a protocol limitation. Both insteon and zwave devices have the same limitation. Before complaining and blaming someone else, you should at least get to know HOW your products work.

It would be easier for people to help if you said what your device was. For some strange reason you danced around this I'm your whole post

This isn't an isy issue it's how you used your system issue. Its akin to me removing your car battery without telling you. In your mind it's still there until you go to start your car and find out that it's not

According to the Polisy webpage it'll start shipping on or around Oct 17th to those who pre-ordered

I could live with that idea. My wife on the other hand......

Features like that most likely wouldn't be on a standard consumer fridge. Especially a counter depth one. Most likely it would be a chefs fridge or some type of larger size. There are sensors that can be implemented. Doesn't necessarily have to be a full scale. Ultrasonic technology can be used or some other type of sensors. The idea isn't too track every piece of grocery one has but mainly the bigger items that are used often As I said earlier, it would require a change in how a person handles their fridge (as does most automated things).

Better get an extra icon... We're tied. ?

I'm not talking about each time you use it. I'm talking about initial purchase. In regards to milk and things of that nature that are more easily trackable it could work. This isn't necessarily for every item you would need. If you had an egg basket for example in the fridge, it could see that there were only 3 eggs left or the milk was out in 3 weeks ago so it needs to be replaced etc. Sensors could say a Gallatin of milk weighs X amount when you put it in. Now it weighs Y. because of that it needs to be replaced

That's why I didn't go solar. We talked about it when we built our house but the numbers didn't add up. When I look at our electric bill we never would've paid for it unless we kept the house for 40 years

Everything already has bar codes on it. You can scan the items you want to track as you put it away and possibly enter the expiration date into the system. For tracking qty, it may be that an item has to be located in a certain area. While it would change how we interact with our groceries, we are already accustomed to doing things differently when we automate things. If it makes life easier long term, I know both me and my wife would be ok with it

I agree 100%. Why buy something if you're just going to turn it off or not use it to Save a few pennies. At the end of the day, none of this stuff is cheap. If you can afford to do automation, you can afford the extra 20 bucks to enjoy the fruits of your labor

I just want automation. Whether it's a voice assistant or writing it down, it's still me or someone else needing to do something to ensure it happens. I just want to get to the point where it's responsive vs reactive

That looks pretty cool but it already does what I'm doing with automation. Kimdof redundant to have 2 different systems turning stuff on/off. In regards to knowing energy usage, to a certain degree I don't care. I've done what I could to minimize how much energy I'm using such as led bulbs, newer TVs, etc. In the end, when I turn something on, I know power is being used. How much isn't going to make me turn it off

You can do that now. I'm referring to the fridge automatically doing it for times when you don't add something to a list or the status changes while you're gone

I definitely agree with that. Give me something that keeps me up on what's missing in the fridge. I'd love to go to the grocery store and get an alert that I need something from the fridge automatically The only thing I like about my dishwasher is that it opens automatically once done to help with drying. That part isn't "smart" related but is the best feature.

I have some smart appliances but rarely ever use the features. When we first got them, I tried to use them (new toy). Over time, I found myself forcing myself to use the features. For example, we can start the dishwasher remotely and get notified once it's done. Reality is, once full we generally start it immediately or start the delay for later right then and there. Notifications..... Who needs them? Who rushes to unload a dishwasher? I wouldn't purchase them specifically for their so called smart features though.

Are we ever wrong???!!! Don't answer that. Lol

All of this is being over thought. Michel has already stated the 994 is not going anywhere. At some point Polisy will be an all in 1 box but the 994 will continue to stick around for those who do not need the things that Polisy brings. Since the op has already stated he has no desire for nodeservers, Polisy shouldn't even be part of the equation. Not only that, it may be 1 to 2 years (if not longer) before the ISY gets ported over. Not really worth waiting to install locks to save 50 bucks.

I would have to agree