How difficult is it to program on ISY?

[eyost]

Hi all,

 

I am coming from a SmartLinc and am looking at getting an ISY but am wondering how difficult it is to program. Currently I am using my SmartLinc for timed events to turn on and off lights and control them from an iPhone. I also would like to control and check status from outside my network when not at home along with receiving notifications when an event occurs.

 

I am used to the SmartLinc and not sure that I want to get the Insteon Hub as it relies on the cloud for these things.

 

Plus the ISY is more powerful from what I have read.

 

My platform is Macintosh with iPhones.

 

Thanks for any help.

Ed

[paulbates]

I've used several HA platforms over the years, and came to ISY in the last couple of months. I found that it takes a little bit of practice to learn the ISY's way of doing things, but after I got a handle on it, its pretty straight forward.

 

One suggestion is to explore / search 'How to's and tutorials" section of the board, also "Questions and Answers". Search for "bathroom" or "sprinklers" or whatever you are automating. You will find something that resonates with what you are doing, and find sample programs that demonstrate different ways to do it. That's another concept, there might be several ways to do the same thing. What works for you is the right way.

 

As you write more programs, you'll run in to more complex scenarios with "if"s and using the "else". Don't worry about it now, and know that there is a ton of help on the board if you post your program; either suggestions or sample programs back for you to look at. In addition to the programs, its a great community.

 

It was helpful for me to move functions over one at a time rather than focusing on devices. For example, move your yard light motion sensor and associated lights, then move on to the attic fan...etc. You will have different functions than my examples, but that's approach served me well. Start simple, move into the more complex.

[stusviews]

Some people can replace a light switch, some can replace a spark plug. Some can even play a Xylophone. Some can do none of that, other's can do it all. That said, it's relatively easy to duplicate everything the SmartLinc can do using an ISY except running a scene remotely. You'll need a app for that, such as MobiLinc.

 

An important difference is that the SmartLinc is basically an INSTEON controller. The ISY is not. It's an INSTEON  manager that allows you to easily create scenes that respond to changes in your INSTEON network such as a button or paddle push or signal from a device such as a Motion Sensor or thermostat. In that respect, it more closely resembles HouseLinc.

 

SmartLinc scenes are created by adding the devices to the scene manually. The ISY requires that you first add the device to the ISY, either manually or by ID and then add them to the scenes you create. Once that's done you can easily change the On-Level and/or ramp rate of any device that has that capability. You can easily drag and drop devices in and out of scenes and even more.

 

But, the ISY adds programming abilities. Plenty of help is available in the User's Manual and especially on this forum.

 

You can make the transition from SmatLinc to ISY one scene at a time or you can factory reset each device as you add it to the ISY. The latter is the recommended approach, but that may depend on how many devices and scenes you have.

[EricK]

I made the jump to the isy from smartlinc about a year ago. Basic scenes and timer programs are not difficult. When you start adding logic programming can become very complex. That is what this forum is for. Check out this intro video for the isy if you have not.

You will probably need mobilinc to control things with your phone. However, you can access the isy with your phone directly and get a list of devices, scenes, or programs and can control them. The interface is very basic, but it works.

Make the move and do not look back. Start reading these forums as suggested.

[eyost]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I do like that the devices are added to ISY and then to scenes and comforted that EricK indicated that basic scenes and timers are not difficult.

 

I will probably pull the trigger on an ISY so be fair warned; I will probably have some questions.  

 

The little I have browsed the forum has proved so far to have a lot of information; and YouTube videos have also been helpful.

 

Thanks!

 

Ed