MikeB Posted August 16, 2007 Posted August 16, 2007 I'm pretty certain I'm going to end up purchasing an ISY-26 by the end of the day today. Few questions, though - I currently have 60+ Insteon devices in my house, completely linked through PowerHome/HouseLinc, and working 100%. My biggest reason for purchasing the ISY-26 is events/timers, and the possibility of interfacing the ISY-26 to another piece of software somewhere down the road. Plus, I like buying new toys. I don't mind recreating my links if there's any advantage to it. But, I won't bother if it's a complete waste of time. So, is there any advantage to resetting things back to factory defaults and recreating all my links? Will it leave me with a "cleaner" system? If I don't do that, can I just add my devices manually and have the ISY-26 read links off each device? Or, will the ISY-26 spider my network and build a list of devices? If the ISY-26 does read in my existing links, will it also show me any old broken links that might exist so I can delete/fix them? Also, any things that PowerHome can do that the ISY-26 can't? - can the ISY-26 configure my KPLs between 6 and 8 button modes? - can it turn KPL buttons to non-toggles? - can it configure local/remote ramp rates? - can it save groups to its PLM? - can it run triggers based on fast on/fast offs? - does it fully support the remotelinc? Thanks!
Michel Kohanim Posted August 16, 2007 Posted August 16, 2007 MikeB, Please find my comments below. I'm pretty certain I'm going to end up purchasing an ISY-26 by the end of the day today. Few questions, though - I currently have 60+ Insteon devices in my house, completely linked through PowerHome/HouseLinc, and working 100%. My biggest reason for purchasing the ISY-26 is events/timers, and the possibility of interfacing the ISY-26 to another piece of software somewhere down the road. Plus, I like buying new toys. I don't mind recreating my links if there's any advantage to it. But, I won't bother if it's a complete waste of time. So, is there any advantage to resetting things back to factory defaults and recreating all my links? Will it leave me with a "cleaner" system? Resetting does leave you with a cleaner system especially when it comes to reading the toggle/non-toggle/ states of KPLs. This said, however, you can start with the crawl function which brings all the links (including broken ones), scenes (groups), and relationships. Then, you can use ISY to tailor your configuration to your heart's content. At the end, you can do a File->Restore Devices which simply goes through the whole network and makes sure all the Insteon devices are in synch with what is in ISY (kind of like defrag). This in effect, cleans up your whole system and guarantees that what's out there is equal to what you have in ISY (unless it fails in the process). If I don't do that, can I just add my devices manually and have the ISY-26 read links off each device? YES. You have 3 options: a. Rewrite existing links b. Rewrite existing links but simply bring any new device found in the links c. Spider the whole network, find new devices in links, and bring in all the links (which includes remote ramp rates/on levels for each scene). This, however, does not bring in the KPL toggle mode settings. Or, will the ISY-26 spider my network and build a list of devices? It can do either. The choice is yours. If the ISY-26 does read in my existing links, will it also show me any old broken links that might exist so I can delete/fix them? Yes, it creates a scene out of them with one member. Simply delete the scene. If you want 100% clean network, follow up your installation/import with Restore Devices. Make sure you have an Access Point plugged into your PLM + you do not have any X10 devices (including KPLs with X10 addresses) on when you do a Restore Devices operation. Also, any things that PowerHome can do that the ISY-26 can't? - can the ISY-26 configure my KPLs between 6 and 8 button modes? No. ISY can sense whether a KPL is configured as 6 or 8 but we do not allow reconfiguration from within ISY - can it turn KPL buttons to non-toggles? Yes, as well as Mutual Exclusive buttons (when one is on make sure the others are all off) - can it configure local/remote ramp rates? Absolutely. - can it save groups to its PLM? Absolutely without which ISY would not be privy to physical button presses - can it run triggers based on fast on/fast offs? Currently (release 2.4), no. Release 2.5, yes. - does it fully support the remotelinc? Absolutely and, for your information, the following additional functionality: 1. Restore Modem (PLM) - if you ever have a defective modem, use this function to replace your modem. ISY will reprogram all your devices to the new PLM's address and reprograms the new modem PLM with a modified copy (different address) of the old one 2. Replace Device - if you have a defective device, ISY can replace it for you, including adjustments to all the scenes, schedules, triggers Thanks! My pleausre. With kind regards, Michel
MikeB Posted August 16, 2007 Author Posted August 16, 2007 Resetting does leave you with a cleaner system especially when it comes to reading the toggle/non-toggle/ states of KPLs. Could you clarify this a bit? Why would this be better if I start with a clean system? Based on your comments, I think I will start from scratch and reset all devices to factory defaults. I assume the ISY-26 has no easy way to accomplish this, I will have to physically go to each device and reset it - correct? Also, any eta on 2.5? I do use fast on/fast offs in my system to perform different tasks. Thanks for the great info. I will be ordering, but would like to order from SmartHome. Their site shows them out of stock, with an 8/20 eta. Do you know if that is accurate? Thanks again.
Michel Kohanim Posted August 16, 2007 Posted August 16, 2007 Resetting does leave you with a cleaner system especially when it comes to reading the toggle/non-toggle/ states of KPLs. Could you clarify this a bit? Why would this be better if I start with a clean system? When we do a crawl, we do simply find links and not local device variables such as those that maintain the state of toggle buttons in KPL. We do, however, query the device (afterwards) to get the local on level and ramp rate. So, it simply means that during a crawl, ISY will not bring in your KPL's toggle states. If you start with a clean system, then, you have, by implication, agreed that there are NO toggle modes nor are there any Mutual Exclusive relationship between the buttons. Based on your comments, I think I will start from scratch and reset all devices to factory defaults. I assume the ISY-26 has no easy way to accomplish this, I will have to physically go to each device and reset it - correct? We do have an easier alternative: 1. Choose "Overwrite existing links" when you link your devices 2. Restore Devices after you've linked all your devices into ISY. This should be quite fast since, at this point, you don't have any relationships between devices. Also, any eta on 2.5? I do use fast on/fast offs in my system to perform different tasks. By mid October (if not sooner). Thanks for the great info. I will be ordering, but would like to order from SmartHome. Their site shows them out of stock, with an 8/20 eta. Do you know if that is accurate? My pleasure. Yes, it's accurate. Thanks again.
MikeB Posted August 16, 2007 Author Posted August 16, 2007 Thanks again. One more question - can you clarify exactly what devices (other than standard Insteon switches/KPLs/etc.) that the ISY-26 supports today?
Michel Kohanim Posted August 16, 2007 Posted August 16, 2007 MikeB, I am so very sorry for the late reply. This is our philosophy: One ISY - one protocol - make it as comprehensive as possible (as you can see from the INSTEON ISY). So, with the exception of ELK, an INSTEON ISY can only communicate with INSTEON devices. A UPB ISY, can only communicate with UPB devices. An Aprilaire ISY, can only communicate with Aprilaire thermostats and so on and so forth. So, the short answer to your question is ISY-26 only supports INSTEON devices + ELK. I hope this answers your question. Please don't hesitate to contact us with your questions/comments/suggestions/feedback. With kind regards, Michel Thanks again. One more question - can you clarify exactly what devices (other than standard Insteon switches/KPLs/etc.) that the ISY-26 supports today?
MikeB Posted August 16, 2007 Author Posted August 16, 2007 Thanks for the clarification. Are there other ISY-26s available yet? I assume multiple ISY-26s can exist on the same LAN? Is the SDK to interface with the various ISY's similar?
Michel Kohanim Posted August 17, 2007 Posted August 17, 2007 MikeB, Yes, they have been available for a while but not maintained nor have they been kept up-to-date due to shortage of demand! Multiple ISYs can infact coexist on the same network and we even "used to" have the capability of acting upon events from different ISYs. We have gotten rid of most of this functionality since. As far as the JSDK, all the concepts are the same but we are missing the device specific packages. We would gladly start working on them as soon as we get more demand which, at the moment, is limited to 1 or 2 per year! With kind regards, Michel Thanks for the clarification. Are there other ISY-26s available yet? I assume multiple ISY-26s can exist on the same LAN? Is the SDK to interface with the various ISY's similar?
MikeB Posted August 20, 2007 Author Posted August 20, 2007 One more question - If the internet connection was down, or a home simply did not have an internet connection, what (if anything) would not work on an ISY-26? Is there any dependence on an internet connection?
Michel Kohanim Posted August 20, 2007 Posted August 20, 2007 MikeB, The following will not work: a. On the box itself, notifications (sending email/sms notifications) b. On the Admin Console, AutoUpdate notification: you will not know when an update is available With regards, Michel One more question - If the internet connection was down, or a home simply did not have an internet connection, what (if anything) would not work on an ISY-26? Is there any dependence on an internet connection?
MikeB Posted August 21, 2007 Author Posted August 21, 2007 Should have my unit in tomorrow. Thanks for the help.
Michel Kohanim Posted August 23, 2007 Posted August 23, 2007 MikeB, You should've received ISY by now. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance. With kind regards, Michel Should have my unit in tomorrow. Thanks for the help.
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