Jump to content

Thinking about zwave


themlruts

Recommended Posts

Posted

I currently have a ISY 994 pro no zwave.  Looking at purchasing the upgrade kit.  I have a small insteon/x10 install.  I was looking to use some of the Aeotec products. Also lookign at thermostats and home energy monitoring. 

Just wanted some thoughts on the upgrade and the devices and how easy it is to integrate.

Thanks
Mike

Posted

I added the Z-Wave module to the ISY 994 Pro to add Schlage locks. The main difficulty was on the Z-Wave side, not the ISY. In particular, in my situation a range extender did not help, but using the range extender ability of the Aeotec Gen 5 siren worked wonders as does using the heal Z-Wave function.

 

Also, add a Z-Wave device increases the "index: number that Z-Wave creates. Those numbers are never deleted nor repeated even it the device is removed.

Posted

Also, add a Z-Wave device increases the "index: number that Z-Wave creates. Those numbers are never deleted nor repeated even it the device is removed.

 

Is there... any problem w/ that? It kind of bugs me because I don't have many zwave devices, but I've had to exclude and re-include each of them 2 or 3 times... so my zwave numbers are in the 50s even though I've got maybe 20 devices. :/

Posted

I added the Z-Wave module to the ISY994 PRO and use it for Schlage locks, Linear garage door openers, RCS thermostat and a 2gig CT100 thermostat. I've added a couple Aeotec range extenders that fixed an occasional signal problem. I really like being able to integrate Z-Wave and Insteon devices in programs.  

Posted

Is there... any problem w/ that? It kind of bugs me because I don't have many zwave devices, but I've had to exclude and re-include each of them 2 or 3 times... so my zwave numbers are in the 50s even though I've got maybe 20 devices. :/

 

There's a super gigantic tremendous problem with that. It bothers me no end.

Posted

There's a super gigantic tremendous problem with that. It bothers me no end.

 

Super Gigantic Tremendous?!?!

 

I'm not too sure if you're being serious because in the last five years I have never seen you say such a thing with out an emoticon.

 

Ha . . .

Posted

There's a super gigantic tremendous problem with that. It bothers me no end.

 

Okay, I admit it... it bothers me more than just a little bit. It makes me want to reset the ISY and start over!

Posted

Okay, I admit it... it bothers me more than just a little bit. It makes me want to reset the ISY and start over!

 

This is a ISY limitation, correct? Is this fixed in version 5?

Posted

This is a ISY limitation, correct? Is this fixed in version 5?

 

I don't have a different Z-Wave manager to compare it ISY with. Can someone confirm that the result is due to the ISY and not a Z-Wave standard?

Posted

I too have noticed that z-wave node numbers don't get reused.

 

It does bother me, but I attributed it to me being an old f**t.   While all the young whipper-snappers coding in modern languages don't seem to worry about leaking memory, old dudes like me learned coding with assembly and C, where things like node numbers not being reused meant your device was going to crash in a really ugly way at some point...

 

I participated in a code review once upon a time, where I noted a similar problem -- the young man's response was (paraphrased): "Dude, what's the problem? Integers are free!"    Yes, indeed, integers are free - but memory wasn't.  And as far as I can tell memory still isn't free, despite what Java programmers seem to believe!

Posted

I supervised a small group of about 30-35 individuals ranging from noob to experienced for about 5 years. Age didn't matter. Mindset did.

 

cat-attack-smiley-emoticon.gif

Posted

K so i see the complaints about the node numbers.  I am not a programmer by any means but they should be able to be used.  It would drive me nuts.  So other than that any other complaints?  I am only going to be using it in a small 1200sqft ranch.  Do you think a repeater will be needed? Whats the range like?
Mike 

Posted

Your mileage will vary.  However, I'm seeing ranges that cover about three rooms -- that's through typical drywall, with very little by way of metal ductwork in the walls.

 

That said, I ended up with devices scattered all about my home, and since each device (except the battery-powered ones) will act as repeaters, range has simply not been an issue at all.

 

My ISY is ideally-located, with a single hop to more than half of the devices I have.  The remainder of the devices are a hop away from the z-wave siren that lives in the kitchen on the opposite side of the house, one floor down -- ideal again, because it's an excellent repeater for the other side of the house and basement doors, but also because the kitchen is a perfect place for audible alerts.

 

I'm very happy with the zwave stuff so far - to the point where all new sensors and plug-in devices will be z-wave for me, and I'll only be using Insteon for switchlincs and keypads going forward.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...