Echo with ISY and Mobilinc

[joefly]

I am getting confused with the intergration of Insteon, ISY and MobiLinc and now Echo.  I previously had everything working with MobiLinc Module installed and working to control insteon with IOS MobiLinc app.  

 

However, now trying to integrate Echo Voice control with the system and getting confused as what is necessary.  from what I read, I guess either through ISY Smarthome Skills OR MobiLinc Skill.  Seems like the two can not co-exist (pls confirm if true).

 

Question:

1) If I use Mobilinc Skill, do I need Mobilinc Subscription?  It seems kinda costly to simply enable voice for $30 per year.  Is there a way around this.

2) If using Smarthome Skill, I need to enable internet access, and it will not work.  Is it because I lack a certificate? 

3) To enable smarthome skill, apparently, I need to diconnect from the Mobilinc Module. Does this break the operation of the Mobilinc Pro ios app to control the Insteon.?

 

Basically, what is the easiest method to do echo integration with ISY, and hopefully you dont have to pay yearly subscription, and what are the differences between the two methods.  Advantages and disadvantages of both methods?

 

Thanks

 

[MWareman]

Quick answers....

 

You can only have one of either Mobilinc Connect or ISY Portal. The two cannot coexist.

 

You can do Echo integration with either one. But you do need one or the other as without it there is no cloud endpoint for Alexa to send commands to.

 

So, yes. If you use the Mobilinc skill, you need a Mobilinc subscription.

If you use the ISY integration, you need an ISY Portal subscription.

 

There is (was?) also a workaround that involved a hue emulator running on a Raspberry Pi. Search the forums and you may find it. It also may not work anymore...

 

I'm not aware of a 'Smarthome' skill. I think this may be something to do with the Smarthome Hub - a completely different product to ISY.

 

Finally, if you decide to switch from Mobilinc Connect to the ISY Portal, you will lose some features, but Mobilinc can be made to work. See the Wiki for details. The main thing you lose (if using IOS) is location awareness, but you can replace that with Locative.

 

If you use Android, there is nothing to lose by switching to ISY Portal, and ISY Portal gives you use of the networking module during your subscription.

 

I am getting confused with the intergration of Insteon, ISY and MobiLinc and now Echo. I previously had everything working with MobiLinc Module installed and working to control insteon with IOS MobiLinc app.

 

However, now trying to integrate Echo Voice control with the system and getting confused as what is necessary. from what I read, I guess either through ISY Smarthome Skills OR MobiLinc Skill. Seems like the two can not co-exist (pls confirm if true).

 

Question:

1) If I use Mobilinc Skill, do I need Mobilinc Subscription? It seems kinda costly to simply enable voice for $30 per year. Is there a way around this.

2) If using Smarthome Skill, I need to enable internet access, and it will not work. Is it because I lack a certificate?

3) To enable smarthome skill, apparently, I need to diconnect from the Mobilinc Module. Does this break the operation of the Mobilinc Pro ios app to control the Insteon.?

 

Basically, what is the easiest method to do echo integration with ISY, and hopefully you dont have to pay yearly subscription, and what are the differences between the two methods. Advantages and disadvantages of both methods?

 

Thanks