Legacy products?

[universe]

Wow...that's cruel. Remove legacy information? I'm not seeing it anywhere. Or is it everywhere? Wouldn't it be nice to have a Legacy section? I mean it would fit on an old SD card. Basically my question is whether the ISY99i I just bought will only take a PLM model described in documentation from wiki (2412S,2413S) or perhaps it will also handle a newer one made after documentation released (2414S)? Thanks.

[stusviews]

The 2413S PLM is the latest. There's nothing newer.

[Brian H]

2414S and 2414U Power Line Controllers are actually an older module, than the 2412S, 2412U, 2413S and 2413U PLMs.

 

The 2414S and 2414U use a completely different set of commands to interface with it. Though they did have a Rear Time Clock and enough memory to have programs downloaded in to them and then run stand alone.

[LeeG]

universe

 

There are so many issues with your post.  As has already been stated the 2414x is a very old device..

 

The worst is the 99i is both Discontinued and past End of Life.  Lets hope someone gave you the 99i as it is next to useless for someone to start an Insteon installation with a 99i.

 

Can you expand on your plans to enter the Insteon world.  

 

Insteon can be very exciting and this forum very helpful but to start with a device (99i) that is past End of Life is a real shame for whoever made the 99i available to you. 

[universe]

End of Life? Should I expect sparks when I plug it in? I tend to stay at least 5 years behind "early adopter" so they can experience all the pain and suffering. I intend to use my new (undelivered) Isy99i to control my X10 products (which are also suffering from fractional obsolesence due to LED technology and the 40W minimum). Please feel free to spend quintuple what I am spending.

[LeeG]

No sparks.  You will need a 2413S (or 2412S if someone is selling old PLM no longer sold by manufacturer).  X10 is a good use for a 99i.   All X10 support provided by ISYs is in the 99i.   

[Brian H]

No sparks. Just that the latest firmware for an ISY99i is 3.3.10.

It does not support any of the latest Insteon models.

 

The 2412S will supply power to the ISY99i or newer ISY994i through the RJ45 style serial port connector. The 2413S does not and you have to use an external supply when using a 2413S.

[MWareman]

I'm not sure why anyone would choose to buy a 99i now, knowing that it won't work with most newer Insteon devices. That's just me though.

It's not like it's retirement is a secret.

[stusviews]

I'm not sure why anyone would choose to buy a 99i now, knowing that it won't work with most newer Insteon devices. That's just me though.

It's not like it's retirement is a secret.

 

As with all X10 devices, the more devices that are added, the less reliable the system becomes. But if no or only a few X10 modules are added, then it's an inexpensive way to control X10 modules including programs if one has no Insteon devices and none will be ever included.

[MWareman]

I guess. Most of us moved away from X10 due to its issues, and never looked back - I know I didn't. I suspect those trying to spend less on a system are getting somewhat less than they paid in performance and functionality, leading to many support issues coming up in these forums. Especially since a newly purchased 99i cannot have been purchased from UDI, since they stopped selling them years ago now. It's a shame UDI cannot easily simply refer these issue to the seller of the device.

 

I don't blame UDI, but I do feel this would be much less of an issue if UDI had required the return of a 99i for the upgrade pricing of a 994. I suspect that many have taken advantage of the *very* generous upgrade offer only to then sell their old 99i on eBay/whatever - leaving UDI with a frustrating support problem. I bet some have been resold several times!

 

However, it also probably drives interest in the platform.

 

I myself took advantage of the upgrade, but my 99i had become the victim of a nearby lightning strike. I was surprised its return was not required though to get the discounted price.

[universe]

As with all X10 devices, the more devices that are added, the less reliable the system becomes. But if no or only a few X10 modules are added, then it's an inexpensive way to control X10 modules including programs if one has no Insteon devices and none will be ever included.

The X10 units become unreliable or ISY99i becomes unreliable?

[Teken]

The X10 units become unreliable or ISY99i becomes unreliable?

 

As you add in any Insteon devices to the network it will start to impact X-10 devices.

[Brian H]

As pointed out. X10 may be less reliable as you add Insteon Modules.

Insteon modules, the long discontinued two way X10 and Smarthome two way X10 clones. Have a power line transmitter in them and can absorb X10 and Insteon power line signals. Insteon gets resent between Insteon Modules, X10 does not. So some users have seen X10 get worse as more Insteon devices are added.

I have a few X10 module still in use and X10 Primary Addresses in my Insteon modules (older modules accept X10 Primary Addresses. Latest ones do not). They are fine.

Though I have an XTB-IIR X10 repeater. That blasts over a ten volt X10 power line signal on both lines of the street power and it does not step on Insteon power line signals.

 

The PLM used with the ISY99i or ISY994i may have a lower power line signal than some of the X10 controllers. So it is possible in a marginal X10 system to see a problem.

 

If you are going to be using the ISY99i for X10 controlling. The fact the firmware is not the latest. Should not matter.

[stusviews]

Adding X10 modules or Insteon devices decreases the reliability of X10. That's because each device absorbs a bit of home automation signal, Insteon devices repeat the signal, X10 modules do not.