elvisimprsntr

Does it come with any add on modules/plugins? I.e. Network resources, weather, portal, etc.

I guess all these stories of insurance companies denying claims for lack of forced entry evidence are all "fake news." https://www.bing.com/search?q=insurance+claim+denied+no+forced+entry&form=APIPH1&PC=APPL I have nothing to worry about then. I'm going leave all my doors and windows unlocked and a huge "free stuff" sign in front. Great way to get insurance company to pay for "new stuff."

I can't believe people are still asking about and doing this. If you don't mind, please place the Echo next to a first floor window and post a picture to Facebook the next time you are out of town. Make sure the picture has location information embedded in the photo so I can simply enter the coordinates into any maps application. I'll be sure not to leave any sign of forced entry so the police claim you left the door open and your insurance company denies your claim.

I don't remember how much I paid, but I bought the BleuStation 3-pack starter dev kit. I think is was around $40 limited time promotion.

I went with the BleuStation because I didn't want another battery operated device to manage and deal with proper disposal of the used batteries.

I bought a three pack (when they were available) of BleuStation 100's and have them working with MLHD for home/away presence detection. The Blu Setup app is only required if you want to change the default ID, assign a password, change the major/minor setting. The Geohopper app is only required if you want to use it for detecting presence, send notifications, or trigger IFTTT. https://www.twocanoes.com/products/hardware/bleu-station A useful app for detecting BT beacons is BLExplr I spent a great deal of time adjusting the locations and signal amplitudes of three beacons in my home in anticipation of ML support thinking I could use proximity to trigger programs as I enter/exit a room. While low power BTLE is great basic presence detection, unfortunately BT distance ranging requires battery draining high power BT. Not really appropriate on a mobile device. The only use case I have come up with is for home/away detection to set an ISY variable in combination with a GeoFence trigger write of a second variable to decide whether to arm the Elk in stay or away mode.

Even the best security is not going to stop them from trying. Just don't make it easy for them and make sure when they do, it leaves signs of forced entry. Otherwise, the cops and your insurance company will claim you left the door open or gave out the keys. Claim denied! Cameras will only help identify them after the crime has been committed, or in your self defense case.

The point being is the trend in HA and home security is toward wireless communication to make it easier to install for both the consumer and professional. Most operate in unlicensed frequency bands which provides no guaranteed operation and can be susceptible to interference from any number of sources (other unlicensed devices, microwaves, solar radiation, etc.) Especially in a densely populated urban setting with potentially hundreds of unlicensed spectrum devices nearby. That is why I prefer wired (security system, communication, etc) option if it's available. Not that wired doesn't have it own problems, but those are usually easily solvable (filters, grounding, shielding, etc.)

I use an Elk relay out for GD control (always while observing the door) and don't have random GD opening.

I've had a car remote stop working randomly one morning. The next day I read in the news that earth was hit with solar flares during the time I had trouble. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2014/06/solar-flares-disrupt-communications-on-earth-could-send-shockwave-on-friday-the-13th/ I suppose a solar flare could cause all sorts of havoc, including cause a garage door opener in a parked car to send its code. I personally do not have random all on events, but then I've gone to great lengths to keep power line polluting wall transformers on a surge protector or at least a power strip with 5 ft cord. I also only have a couple dual band powerline/RF devices. I try to avoid them if I can.

Precisely why I don't use an IOLinc for garage door. Nor for security or safety functions. Also Insteon is not a secure protocol. Insteon protocol has already been comprised by a number of different white-hat hackers.

Kwikset ZWave locks also work with ISY.

In use an iBeacon and ML to write to an ISY variable when I enter/exit a Geofence. The downside is it is only updated once on crossing, not continuously.

Harmony hub. Benefits of Harmony IR database, ease of setup, Echo and IFTTT.

I feel sorry for all the saps (marks) who replaced all their tried and true $9 smoke/cos with $99-$129 Nest Protects. They will realize their error when it comes time to replace them after 10 years or when a homebuyer's inspector flags all the NPs as out of service life.

First let's define real time. Nothing over the Internet is hard real time or guaranteed. It depends on your application. Financial trading markets define realtime in picoseconds. Thus brokerage house servers are co-located next to exchange servers and pay millions per month to shorten the copper/fiber induced latency. I define real time for home automation in terms of a perceptible delay which would cause the user to press a button a second time if a visual/audible response is not observed. I am sure their are a number of human factors studies which attempt to quantify this (@teken can probably cite a few), but my personal experience is less than a second or two. It's not the Maker channel that introduces the huge lag or delay, it's what ever channel you use on the trigger side. It depends on how each channel implements their services. Polling vs continuous connection. The Kidde RemoteLync channel is the latter. It does take a fixed amount of time for the RemoteLync device to sample the audible tone emitted by a smoke detector and filter out false positives. For example a parakeet chirping or a low bat chirp, but once it does, I receive an app push notification and my IFTTT Maker channel ISY REST API recipe runs almost simultaneously to turn on all my house lights for emergency egress.

And 99.99% don't replace residential smokes every 10 years as required by NFPA code.

RemoteLync IFTTT channel is real time. Not all are. Don't assume you know everything unless you have direct knowledge of the subject. RemoteLync and IFTTT is secondary convenience, not primary fire detection and notification. If you have those concerns or needs you should have a professional alarm and fire detection in your home. Personally, I do not use the ISY for any safety or security related needs. Convenience only.

The Insteon Smoke Bridge only works with a particular model of FirstAlert smokes/co. Interconnected smokes can be wired (4 wire) or wireless. My recommendation would be to buy the Kidde RemoteLync. It's plug and play, and app will send you push notifications.

Yes there is. You can buy a Kidde RemoteLync which will work with any smoke detector manufactured since the late 70's. It plugs into any outlet and it monitors for the audible sound emitted from the smoke/co detector after you train it. They have an IFTTT channel which you can couple with the Maker channel to invoke a ISY REST command. The RemoteLync app will also send push notifications. https://remotelync.kidde.com/ https://ifttt.com/applets/399619p-turn-on-lights-for-kidde-smoke-alert The other option is to buy a Kidde smoke relay and wire it up to an IOLinc. The downside is it requires smoke alarm wiring changes which is supposed to be done by a licensed electrician. http://www.kidde.com/home-safety/en/us/products/fire-safety/safety-accessories/auxiliary-devices/sm120x/

The horror

Seems like you need to enable the ELIZA skill https://www.alexaskillstore.com/Eliza/187

If the Roomba could talk, it would likely claim it was framed. The dog probably despised the Roomba (sucking up treats and stray food, bumping into water bowl, making noise, etc.) and intentionally dropped one in its path. That would be enough evidence and motive for a court of law. The dog takes the 5th upon advice of counsel. So who is the smarter mammal? Canine or human?

They already did. It's called a clothes washer.

Let me know when they come out with the voice controlled kegerator.