KSchex
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Location
New Orleans, LA
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Occupation
Retired - Engineer
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KSchex started following Smart Doorbell
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Hi all. Looking to replace my "sad" Ring Doorbell with something better. Can anybody recommend anything that uses your local LAN and not the Internet and cloud? Thanks..
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Together with the ISY and Z Wave the larger part of my HA is my hardware and software designs. At one point I considered this and started to document everything. Then I realized there is no way my family could deal with this. Call the electrician!
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Wow! It's like I opened a can of worms and they all popped out! As I said before I want to replace my older rock solid Netgear WNDR4000 with some "today" technology. The new unit doesn't need 12 antennas, beaming, etc. It just needs 2.4Ghz & 5Ghz to perform well in a 2400 sq ft home that is located in a sea of other WIFIed homes. What ever I select will need to function flawlessly for another 10 years as I am not one to constantly tweek my LAN nor do I need "away" access. As for DHCP, yes I use it. I also save specific address ranges and give some specific devices a specific address. Some devices have a static IP. It depends on the technical circumstance. Not all devices and LANS are equal. Once again, thank you all for your input. I will update you as to what I go with.
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Thanks all for the tips. I guess I need to start researching..
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Thanks for the tip.
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Hi all.. I currently have a several year old Netgear WNDR4000 router. It has performed fine but it is at it's limits with phones, home automation, TVs, laptops, Kindle, printer, diskstation, media server, etc. I would like to replace the router with something of todays technology that is a stable name brand product reasonably priced. What I don't want is a unit with a dozen antennas and all these fancy gaming features. That is not necessary. There is only two of us, using AT&T Uverse internet (non fiber), about 24 Mbps down and 6 Mbps up. Any pointers or product recommendations would be appreciated. Thanks.
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I agree. After a lifetime of hardware and software design I have found coincidences sometimes coinside. We'll never know.
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I find it interesting about the AWS server. Just so happens that my three Echo Shows updated about 2hours before the portal failure.
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Never rely on the internet for your home controls. My Alexa is down too and I miss it, but I have a backup program on my phone using rest commands over my home LAN. Hope it is back up soon, my wife can't live without Alexa.
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I don't either. I have some on doors but I use some with push buttons attached, garage door motor run, where ever I need a contact input.
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It is a big deal for those that can't afford to keep throwing C Notes at hardware upgrades. I don't want to have to learn about "another system" every couple of years no matter how backward compatible it is.
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I have found that the Homeseer window/door sensors are much more reliable and easier on batteries than the Aeotec. I do have an Aeotec in my mailbox that has been working for years. It use to eat batteries so I modified it to use D batteries. Neither display the battery reliably on the ISY. I think this has something to do with waking up, etc.
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I am sorry to hear about these issues, they concern me. Not being able to maintain your own hardware/software configuration is very costly when you have to go back to the drawing board.
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Mailbox notification using Insteon Door Sensor with modified antenna
KSchex replied to tmorse305's topic in Coffee Shop
@tmorse305 Cool job on your mail box. Nice and simple. I Z-Waved my mailbox about 5 years ago. I used an Aeotec window switch with 2 D batteries. The D's don't fail as often in the winter weather. Everything is mounted on an aluminum plate on the rear inside the mailbox. As you can see I cut out the back of the mailbox and put a plexiglass cover over it. I did paint the PCB with coating to protect it from the weather. Been working ever since with out failure. -
Circuit Breaker control via Insteon or Zwave
KSchex replied to ewind's topic in How Are You Using ISY?
My apologies sir. I am not doubting the avability of smart breakers As a retired practicing electrical engineer and designer I can tell you that not all controlled breakers are meant to be used as a switch. I am sure you allready know this by the specs you quoted. On some, the control is only meant to be a remote reset. As with any good design one should check the local electrical code to make sure it is allowed. Best of luck.