upstatemike

Different people have different experiences with Wi-Fi bulbs. A lot of folks use Lifx because there is an API to operate them locally and they have been rock solid. I on the other hand have 8 Lifx bulbs in my Dining Room AND a Wireless Access Point in the same room. Whenever I go to adjust the Dining Room lights there is always one or two of the Lifx bulbs offline so they can't be controlled. They do the same from Polisy, Home Assistant, and Homeseer so I know it is the bulbs. I usually have about 60 Wi-Fi devices online at any given time (across 8 WAPs) so maybe the environment is too busy for the Lifx bulbs to handle but in any case I will never again mess with Wi-Fi bulbs. Good news is somebody on Ebay is going to get a bunch of Lifx bulbs for a cheap price as soon as I can budget money to redo the Dining Room with Philips Hue bulbs.

If you remove the paddle from a Switchlinc doesn't that pretty much make it into an In-Line Relay? Remove four screws, problem solved.

OK that makes sense. I can see no reason to expose ISY devices to Hubitat.

When you say the Node Server is not bidirectional does that mean it does not update Hubitat when it changes the status of a device? I would think if Hubitat owns the device that any communication to control it would pass through Hubitat so it would be aware wouldn't it? Or are you saying when Hubitat operates a device directly those changes are not communicated to the Node Server? This seems like it would break the ability for the Node Server to maintain an accurate status table for the devices. Also when the Node Server restarts for some reason it has to be able to query Hubitat for the initial state of everthing so I'm having trouble picturing how the communication could not be bidirectional?

Just be realistic on the timeline. Once the protocol is defined manufaturers need to design build and distribute products which will take awhile considering the supply chain issues. Then consumers need to evaluate and purchase enough product to create a demand to establish it as a successful standard. How first gen products measure up for things like direct association, keypads, style, reliability, open API, etc. will affect this. Then hub and software manufacturers need to start adding support to make it worth considering as a replacement for what folks are currently using. At that point Matter could go on the list as a possible replacement for Insteon or whatever you want to move away from if there is enough variety of Matter devices available. I don't see us reaching that stage before mid 2023.

Curious since you are thinking of using Wi-Fi switches and I have never tried any; how are they at updating the ISY on local control? Can you reliably maintain the device state table, trigger programs, and set up virtual multi-way switch groups using Wi-Fi switches? Can they do this on a LAN or will you need an Internet connection involved for manual operation to be detected?

The only security standard I care about is NSTISSAM TEMPEST/1-92. Anything less than that is a waste of time.

So now it gets to the point to ask what ISY on Polisy can do that ISY994 plus Polisy cannot. What is my incentive to move anytime soon when a split system gives me some protection from having a single point of failure?

Depends on what constitutes an upgrade for you? Many people find that Alexa routines coupled with Yolink LoRa sensors and switches can provide a good experience at low cost. LoRa is the only radio protocol with better coverage and penetration than Clear Connect A... it just works, always. Alexa voice control gives you some pretty fancy features at a good price if you buy the Echo voice assistants on sale. The Alexa ecosystem is evolving rapidly and Yolink is very tightly integrated with it. Yolink will also be releasing a general API in 2022 so there may even be a NodeServer for it by the end of next year.

OK I see what you are saying... A splitter that runs from a standard POE port on a switch or injector and supplies a voltage to match the requirements of the device. Yes I was thinking of the passive adapters that take the power from the device's own power supply and inject it onto spare pairs of the ehternet with another adapter at the device end to break the power back out again. Your solution is better. I just need to evaluate my available POE power budget to see what I can deliver. I guess I could always add an 802.3af injector on a non-POE switch port to ensure my existing POE devices are not affected by the additional current draw. (cheaper than upgrading to a larger POE switch)

I don't think POE specs apply when doing this. The adapter is just using spare conductors to carry power so the limits are just conductor gauge and length? Not sure if these work for gigabit connections though because as I recall unlike 10/100, gigabit ethernet uses all 4 pairs in the cable.

For me the optimal radio location will never be a place that is acceptable for a piece of hardware like Polisy. If there was a POE version similiar to an RA3 Main Controller then sure. But as it is the Polisy needs to be in the basement next to the main switch and UPS and out of sight. (Worst place from an RF perspective). I struggle with the how to place hubs with built-in radios in general. You almost need to build an equipment closet in the exact center of your house just to hold your Polisy, Hue Hub, Flic Hub, Hubitat, YoLink Hub, Weather Station Receiver, Home Assistant Pi, Node Red Pi, Etc. Also would never connect an HA hub via WiFi. Just like streaming video to a TV, an HA hub should always be connected by Ethernet.

I think an interesting question is: Once everything moves to Polisy, how far can you extend USB over Cat6 to get the ZWave dongle in an optimal location while keeping the polisy in the basement. USB is tricky because the distance you can go over Cat6 depends on the device you are using remotely. Keyboard/mouse can be a long way away while a serial adaptor or storage device not so much. No idea what you can get away with for a ZWave stick.

My PLM is around 50 feet from my ISY. It has been running that way for many years without issue.

I think you will be able to find a PLM, new or used, for awhile. RA3 could indeed be your ultimate choice but the cost of a PLM in order to buy more time to decide for sure seems like a reasonable trade off. You might also fiind Caseta is all you need if you aren't going to use keypads in the new place.

I would install your spare Insteon switches for now and then test other technologies with the ISY/Polisy and hold off on buying new switches in quantity until you decide what you like. Polisy can mix samples of most anything you want ot try and stretching the decision over time will reduce the stress level of making a decision like this while also dealing with all the other aspects of buying a new house. You could sample: Z-Wave Caseta Hue/Zigbee Maybe even Yolink LoRa or RA3 once the APIs are published Remember the facts used to drive a best decision today might change by the time you are in your new place so better to decide then using up to date information at the point you are actually ready to install something.

It sounds like Matter will come to dominate the HA landscape in much the same way that IPv6 has taken over as the dominant networking protocol.

https://www.amazon.com/Universal-ZEN17-Sprinklers-Compatible-SmartThings/dp/B096LLL1C6/ref=sr_1_13?crid=2E9KCV6CLH666&keywords=zooz&qid=1640123148&sprefix=zooz%2Caps%2C269&sr=8-13

Nope, all gone.

If you are using Z-Wave I'm not sure picking a single brand has any meaning unless you are going to install everything all at once and want the devices to match. Brands will change their product or outsource and sell rebranded items made by others such that staying within a particular brand over time really has no meaning anymore. The best you can do is settle on a single technology and even that question is not yet settled for most people here.

Boy those were some boring times... glad we are well past that! To recap from the 2nd post the technical answer was Z-Wave.

Aluminum house wiring was the Omicron of it's time and it never went away so...

Probably outlawed by the same geniuses who approved the use of Aluminum house wiring in the 70's.

Prime Video works for me but Amazon Music is hosed.

There is nothing wrong with knob and tube wiring as long as it is properly maintained. Switchbot makes a good selection of home automation solenoids.