Correct App Selection

[Johnathan]

I made the decision to purchase the ISY994i/IR Pro controller to provide more control options and capability than the Insteon Hub, but still need to determine which App software to purchase for the front end.  The Universal Devices website has three different options listed; Agave, eKeypad, and Mobilinc.  From a quick review of their websites they all claim to provide the best solution.

 

My intention is to develop basic home automation, create programs for light timers (burglary deterrent), and monitor my house with wifi cameras.  At the moment I have no plans to add and ELK security system, however I may eventually try to integrate some of my hard wired ADT devices into the automation programs and possibly add energy monitoring.

 

I will need the ability to view the device status, and camera feeds remotely on multiple iphone and ipad devices.

 

The eKeypad software appears to be more complete, but the Moblinc appears to be more recommended in the forums.  Any recommendations, and am I asking the correct questions with regard to picking the correct software?

 

Thanks

[G W]

If you're using Apple devices go Mobilinc.

 

I'm Gary Funk. Pay no attention to this message.

[Johnathan]

Thanks Gary,

 

Based on my review of the Moblinc website it appears that the correct version for my requirements is the Orchestrated Bundle.  Still can't tell from anything on the website or the App store whether the bundle requires the additional purchase of the camera add-on.  Do you know?

 

JC

[G W]

I don't know. I use Android devices so I've never seen MobiLinc.

 

There is MobiLinc area under Third-party products you can ask and get help on.

 

I'm Gary Funk. Pay no attention to this message.

[larryllix]

I don't know what cams have to do with Home Automation as it really isn't related, other than another device you may be able to control with your HA.

 

Most Webcams have self contained logic/reporting and require their own apps.

[stusviews]

Although you can do everything with one app, you can't do everything with one app. That's not contradictory. For example, there exists computer programs that include all of a database, word processor, image creator and even more (I'm not talking about suites that include separate programs), but none do all  of that well unless you have minimal requirements. You may, but I doubt it.

 

IMO, the ISY is the ultimate device for Insteon HA. The ISY does an adequate job for Z-Wave device (I haven't played with version 5 which is reported to better integrate Z-Wave). The ISY portal integrates Amazon Echo device, too. But, you cannot use the MobiLinc Connect service (a different portal) and the ISY portal concurrently. It's one or the other. To be fair, MobiLinc is ideally suited for iDevices and includes Echo integration.

 

Back to my original premise, you can't do everything with one app. If you want to monitor, control and/or otherwise involve cameras, consider an app that does jut that, nothing more. Except a fully featured camera interface

[Johnathan]

Gary - Thanks for your suggestion about the Third Party Products forum, I will look there for further information.

 

Laryllix - I appreciate your comment and understand that monitoring cameras are not normally automation elements, but these are elements of my home monitoring system that I want to integrate into my front end software.  There is a chance that I may eventually try to use the cameras as motion detectors to trigger some function in the future, or possibly another function triggers the cameras to pan/rotate to capture an image.

 

Stusviews - Sounds like I have made the correct choice with the ISY and have a long way to go to fully understand and develop my ISY based system.  Thank you for your recommendation of Moblinc, and I understand your comment about one package not being correct for every application.

 

JC

[larryllix]

Gary - Thanks for your suggestion about the Third Party Products forum, I will look there for further information.

 

Laryllix - I appreciate your comment and understand that monitoring cameras are not normally automation elements, but these are elements of my home monitoring system that I want to integrate into my front end software.  There is a chance that I may eventually try to use the cameras as motion detectors to trigger some function in the future, or possibly another function triggers the cameras to pan/rotate to capture an image.

 

Stusviews - Sounds like I have made the correct choice with the ISY and have a long way to go to fully understand and develop my ISY based system.  Thank you for your recommendation of Moblinc, and I understand your comment about one package not being correct for every application.

 

JC

 

 

The better webcams have a separate motion sensor system in the webcam to detect motion vs. detecting motion from the video sensor image. For some reason using the video image for motion detection doesn't work well.

 

I have an older d-link model webcam and I had to turn the motion detection off due to false triggers constantly. They never could make it work properly. Maybe visible light just doesn't cut it, compared to iR detection?

[nickp]

IMO, the ISY is the ultimate device for Insteon HA. The ISY does an adequate job for Z-Wave device (I haven't played with version 5 which is reported to better integrate Z-Wave). The ISY portal integrates Amazon Echo device, too. But, you cannot use the MobiLinc Connect service (a different portal) and the ISY portal concurrently. It's one or the other. To be fair, MobiLinc is ideally suited for iDevices and includes Echo integration.

 

I ran into this limitation, but there is a simple solution.

The Mobilinc software can speak to your ISY in three different ways:

1. Static IP address and port forwarding through your firewall/router - technically the hardest, but easy to do with the correct resources.

2. Through the Mobilinc portal (not possible if you use the ISY portal for Amazon Echo.)

3. Through the ISY portal (http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=ISY_Portal_MobiLinc_Configuration).

 

The ISY portal is $50 every 2 years, but gives some great solutions - Amazon echo integration, Network Module, Remote Access with Mobilinc software app.

 

So, sorry for the correction, but the ISY portal does allow Mobilinc software to work.

[smokegrub]

I have been very pleased with MobiLinc. It supports numerous cameras. Check at their site to ensure yours is supported. You will need an inexpensive app with MobiLinc. I don't recall the price but it is nominal. Finally, I have found Wes at MobiLinc to be extremely helpful.