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Echo: ISY vs. Mobilinc Connect


miataguy

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Posted

I understand that I can only set up one or the other. I currently use Mobilinc Connect on my personal system, but now I'm setting up a new system for my nephew, so I need to make a decision.

 

What are the plusses and minuses of ISY Portal vs. Moblinc Connect?

The most important feature is voice control of lights, thermostat, and door locks, as my nephew does not have use of his hands.

 

 

Posted

Mobilinc Connect is only a Skill... So the language is 'Alexa, ask Moby link to turn on xx'.

 

ISY Portal supports a skill ('Alexa, ask Izzy to turn on xx') and the native Connected Home API ('Alexa, turn on xx').

 

The Connected Home API has limited devices it can control, but I find it a significant benefit.

 

ISY Portal also extends your ISY functionality by adding the services of the Network Module. A Mobilinc Connect subscription does not do this.

 

If your Nephew is an Android user - the pros/cons end there. However, if your Nephew is an IOS user there are features available with Mobilinc Connect that ISY Portal does not support (push notifications I believe). However, that can easily be mitigated because the ISY Portal subscription also adds the 'Network Module' - and this allows you to setup Pushover or Pushbullet notifications instead (which are likely more flexible than native Mobilinc Connects push notifications).

 

Michael.

Posted

..... the ISY Portal subscription also adds the 'Network Module' - and this allows you to setup Pushover or Pushbullet notifications instead (which are likely more flexible than native Mobilinc Connects push notifications).

 

Can you please elaborate on this. What are "Pushover" notifications, and how do I set them up? Thanks!

Posted (edited)

Can you please elaborate on this. What are "Pushover" notifications, and how do I set them up? Thanks!

Pushover is an app available on IOS and Android that allows you to send push notifications to your device over Apples or Google's push infrastructure.

 

All about how to use the Network Module to send these is explained on the Wiki... http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY-99i_Series_INSTEON:Networking:Mobile_Notification

Edited by MWareman
  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

I'm finding I have reliability issues with what Alexa will understand. One moment she can respond to a command, say "alexa, turn on tub", and work just fine, moments later the same command isn't recognized and she finds no device named tub (or bathtub, etc), or will find multiple instances of "bathroom", etc.

 

I do have the isy skill installed, as well as the home connect function, which may be the conflict, but I've never actually had to say "alexa, tell izzy...".  Am I causing unnecessary complexity with the skill and should just remove it? What exactly, if anything, is going to be lost by dropping the skill?

Posted

I'm finding I have reliability issues with what Alexa will understand. One moment she can respond to a command, say "alexa, turn on tub", and work just fine, moments later the same command isn't recognized and she finds no device named tub (or bathtub, etc), or will find multiple instances of "bathroom", etc.

 

I do have the isy skill installed, as well as the home connect function, which may be the conflict, but I've never actually had to say "alexa, tell izzy...".  Am I causing unnecessary complexity with the skill and should just remove it? What exactly, if anything, is going to be lost by dropping the skill?

 

You have to invoke the Skill... "Alexa, tell Issy" so that shouldn't be your problem.

A number of people in another thread reported issues today and it seems possibly Amazon did updates that are affecting things.

 

 

Jon...

Posted

You have to invoke the Skill... "Alexa, tell Issy" so that shouldn't be your problem.

A number of people in another thread reported issues today and it seems possibly Amazon did updates that are affecting things.

 

 

Jon...

I understand how I would invoke the skill, I'm just wondering what is really added by going through the isy skill instead of the native connected home functionality where the invocation to issy is not required.  What do I get by using the skill that alexa can't do on her own already?

Posted

I understand how I would invoke the skill, I'm just wondering what is really added by going through the isy skill instead of the native connected home functionality where the invocation to issy is not required.  What do I get by using the skill that alexa can't do on her own already?

 

The Skill offers thermostat and lock control (I don't use either) and also you can do similar to what connected home does with the added "Tell Issy" prefix.

Alexa, tell Issy to set the thermostat to 73 degrees.

Alexa, tell Issy to unlock the front door

Alexa, ask Issy to run <program name> (runs from if)

Alexa, ask Issy to turn <device> on

 

Connected Home

Alexa, Foyer On (directly turns device On)

 

The Skill doesn't affect Connected Home so there's really no reason to disable it.

 

 

Jon...

  • 5 months later...
Posted

I'm finding I have reliability issues with what Alexa will understand. One moment she can respond to a command, say "alexa, turn on tub", and work just fine, moments later the same command isn't recognized and she finds no device named tub (or bathtub, etc), or will find multiple instances of "bathroom", etc.

 

 

What do you use for valve control in your tub? I have the MOEN vertical spa that has an RF remote but haven't figured out how to incorporate that with my HA

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