ISY994i / ISY994i Pro differences

[larryllix]

I own a few dozen X10 modules that will eventually be phased out mostly.

 

I see a chart on the ISY page that gives differences between these two models s 300 vs. 1000 devices, and 300 vs.1000 programmes.

 

I feel 300 devices would probably not be a problem for a home user, like me.

 

Is there a significance to the 300 programme limit?

 

Is there other significant differences? Hardware? Upgradebility? CPU speed?

 

What about the X10 module? Is this included or required in either model? What is it needed for?

 

Is there somewhere that explains this?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Xathros]

I own a few dozen X10 modules that will eventually be phased out mostly.

 

I see a chart on the ISY page that gives differences between these two models s 300 vs. 1000 devices, and 300 vs.1000 programmes.

 

I feel 300 devices would probably not be a problem for a home user, like me.

 

Is there a significance to the 300 programme limit?

Depends on how complex you get with programs. I started with a non-pro and upgraded when I needed to.

 

Is there other significant differences? Hardware? Upgradebility? CPU speed?

Hardware is identical - Pro is a addon software module.

 

What about the X10 module? Is this included or required in either model? What is it needed for?

This is only needed if you want your X10 modules to appear in the device tree with symbolic names. The base model (pro and non-pro) allows full control of X10 by Housecode and ID within programs.

 

Is there somewhere that explains this?

From the UDI Website:

Model Comparison

IR Support Max. Devices/Scenes Max. Programs MSRP

ISY994i No 256 300 $289.00

ISY994i/IR Yes 256 300 $329.00

ISY994i PRO No 1024 1000 $319.00

ISY994i/IR PRO Yes 1024 1000 $359.00

Network Security

 

ISY994 Series: SSL3.0, Low Grade Encryption, Client/Server Certificates

ISY994 PRO Series: TLS1.2, High Grade Encryption, Client/Server Certificates, and Client/Server Authentication

 

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Anytime. Happy to help.

 

-Xathros

[larryllix]

Anytime. Happy to help.

 

-Xathros

I see you have RaspberryPi. Is there any support for that with Insteon? The ISY purchase has me concerned with obsolescence. The use of disappearing hardware makes future support and component troubleshooting harder.

[Xathros]

I use the Pi for things that the ISY does not do natively. The Pi itself does not do insteon. Using the optional netowrking module for the ISY to talk to the Pi and the Pi talks to the ISY using the ISYs /rest interface. A very powerful combination and soon to become more powerful as the ISY gains bi-directional networking and improved variable support in a future update.

 

I have no worries about support for the ISY going away anytime soon.

 

I'm sure somewhere down the road, the ISY will move to a different CPU or platform but I suspect that is a long way off.

 

-Xathros

[larryllix]

I use the Pi for things that the ISY does not do natively. The Pi itself does not do insteon. Using the optional netowrking module for the ISY to talk to the Pi and the Pi talks to the ISY using the ISYs /rest interface. A very powerful combination and soon to become more powerful as the ISY gains bi-directional networking and improved variable support in a future update.

I have no worries about support for the ISY going away anytime soon.

I'm sure somewhere down the road, the ISY will move to a different CPU or platform but I suspect that is a long way off.

-Xathros

The serial port usage is one of the main items that concerns me. I would have to buy a 2413S with serial port to support the ISY. If I have problems with communications it is already pretty difficult to take the 2413S and hook it too a PC to test it isolated from the ISY. This will become more difficult as time goes by. We went through this problem at work with IED (intelligent End Devices). Laptops used to calibrate and interrogate them needed a cable dongle to be used and become even less supported as times goes on with an expected 30 year life expectancy device.

 

I think you know what I was thinking with the RaspberryPi. It would be a natural. I don't like dependence on hardware that is already obsolete or unique in industry. Otherwise I would own some Apple products.

[shannong]

 

I would have to buy a 2413S with serial port to support the ISY. If I have problems with communications it is already pretty difficult to take the 2413S and hook it too a PC to test it isolated from the ISY. This will become more difficult as time goes by. We went through this problem at work with IED (intelligent End Devices). Laptops used to calibrate and interrogate them needed a cable dongle to be used and become even less supported as times goes on with an expected 30 year life expectancy device.

 

 

You can buy a USB-Serial port adapter for your PC to use or test with the 2413S. The driver for the adapter creates a virtual serial port for Windows. The 2413U PLM works exactly the same way. It's USB from the PLM to the PC but the driver for the PLM creates a virtual serial port so the communications are actually the same.