Replacing my ISY26 with 994i

[billh]

When I replace my 26 with a 994i, is there a buyback market for the 26 (refurbishing, maybe)?

 

If I keep my old PLM 2412S what will I be missing out on compared to a new 2423S?

 

Thanks!

 

Bill H

[Xathros]

Hi Bill-

 

Assuming you meant the 2413S not 2423S.

 

The 2413S is dual band, does NOT have a passthru outlet on it's face, does NOT provide power to the ISY (your new 994 comes with a 5V wallwart supply) and supports a maximum of 992 links.

 

The older 2412S is NOT dual band, DOES have a passthru outlet on it's face, DOES provide power to the ISY and supports near 2000 links (with a practical maximum somewhere just over 1000).

 

Beyond that, they are pretty much functionally the same. Likely a bunch of bugs have been fixed in the newer firmwares since your old 2412S was produced but Smarthome does not let much be known about that.

 

-Xathros

[billh]

Hi Xathros,

 

Thanks on the assumption, and thanks on the PLM info confirmation. I hadn't considered the bug possibilities!

 

...Beyond that, they are pretty much functionally the same. Likely a bunch of bugs have been fixed in the newer firmwares since your old 2412S was produced but Smarthome does not let much be known about that. -Xathros

[LeeG]

Xathros covered the differences between the PLMs. This is from the sales page for the 2413S

 

New features:

Built-in Dual-Band with RF function, acts like an Access Point for phase bridging and RF to/from power line

1023 links (compared to around 800 links previously)

Added a beep sounder

Red/Green LED light

Supports faster reading and writing of the PLM's database by another controller

Much lighter weight

No pass-through outlet

 

The "compared to around 800 links" is speaking about older 2412S which physically supports 2000+ links but there can be issues when the link counts go above 800. The newer 2413S has a faster processor and supports fewer total links in response to the 800 link issue. Although the sales page says 1023 links for the newer 2413S tests show the actual total link count is 992. The last 256 bytes (hex 100) of memory is used for other things.

 

I suggest going to the newer 2413S.

 

There is no market/refurbish for the very old 026 or older 99i. Someone might want an older 99i for backup. There have been so many new Insteon devices and changes to the Insteon protocol (I2CS) which expanded memory requirements. The 026 is a good paper weight. There are users running the 99i but almost weekly someone posts a problem with the 99i not supporting the new stream of devices coming out of SmartLabs. Even replacing a failing Insteon device can be an issue with the 99i. The KeypadLinc Dimmer is only available in Dual Band which was not available when the last ISY image that runs on a 99i was released.

[billh]

Thanks, LeeG.

 

I have already ordered the 994i alone thinking that I will see how the old PLM works with my very simple Insteon devices system. I will be extra alert and plan for a PLM replacement, soon, with your advice.

 

...I suggest going to the newer 2413S...There is no market/refurbish for the very old 026 ...

[mdcastle]

I also have an old ISY26.

 

Is the ISY26 still supported as far as tech support?

If I don't have dual band and only use Switchlincs, Keypadlincs, I/OLincs and ControLincs is there any reason to upgrade?

Does the 994i solve the problem where it takes forever to write a complicated scene to the devices, and half the time doesn't work or is this a general Insteon problem?

[LeeG]

For the devices to work on an ISY26 they must be aged. SmartLabs has released an expansion of the Insteon protocol referred to as I2CS. This started in March 2012. It is generally not possible to purchase a replacement Insteon device that an ISY26 would understand.

 

The speed in creating Scenes (link records) is related to the fact that only 1 byte at a time can be read/written with the devices in your inventory. All the new I2CS devices read/write a link record 8 bytes at a time. Moving to a 994i does not change the way individual devices work but it does permit getting to an ISY image that supports the newer Insteon devices that use I2CS.

 

Moving to a 994i will not change the reliability of the Insteon network. If link records (Scenes) cannot be written reliably because of Insteon network issues those issues will remain.

[mdcastle]

So the replacement I/OLinc I just ordered is not going to work with ISY? Can I just use the old manual link method to link it to a pair of Switchlinc dimmers for, or will those not understand the commands?

 

Is it easy to migrate the links and programming from the 26 to the 994?

[LeeG]

Manual linking between the SwitchLincs and the new I2CS I/O Linc I would expect to work but I have no direct experience doing this.

 

The commands that applications have to use going through a PLM are very different from what the ISY26 understands. The I2CS protocol security features require links between the PLM and the device so the ISY26 will not be able command the I/O Linc nor receive I/O Linc Sensor state changes.

 

I doubt an ISY26 backup file can be installed on a 4.1.0 994i but that will have to be confirmed by UDI.

[mdcastle]

Was the new Insteon protocal malignance on Smarthome's part to make everyone buy new devices, or was the original Insteon one of those "640K is enough for anyone" type of deals and ultimately compatibility had to be broken at some point.

 

Any cool new things with the new ISY if you're just interested in lighting control, like a smarthphone app or somthing? I have zero interest in climate control, security integration, energy monitoring, home theater component control, etc, I've never hooked anything but a light and the garage door up to my ISY. I had to get tech support to get my 26 accessible remotely, but then something changed and it doesn't work, is 994i easier to set up internet access?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi mdcastle,

 

There are multiple IOS and Android apps + one Windows. Apart from that, it's all the same.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[mdcastle]

I did get my I/OLinc. Isy recognized it and let me play with the settings, but appeared to not be able to talk to or receive commands from it, so I assume that's how a new device interacts. I was able to manually link it to a couple of dimmers, since I just wanted a few lights to go on and off with the garage door that solves that problem for now, but I will look at replacing ISY in the long term. It does seem internet integration is a lot smoother with the 994i. Is it easy to set up so I can access it with my laptop in my hotel room or my phone at the train station?

 

As for the ControLincs, since they're not available anymore and nothing to replace them and all fail in the same way, I wonder if someone smart with electronics could make some bucks fixing them. I like them because they didn't require me to invest in Insteon RF and there's no batteries to wear out, and they're nice and hefty and being corded they don't disappear. I was indeed able to get replacements for now from someone here.

[Brian H]

Since your ISY26's firmware does not support an I/OLinc with the I2CS protocol correctly.

What you are seeing is most likely correct.

The I2CS protocol has to allow manual set button links for those with out a controller and are manually doing everything.