Suggestion requested.

[albrandwood]

So I have installed Schalge z-wave door locks on the house, which is convienient. I also have single button Insteon Mini-Remote in both cars to lock the doors if we forget to when leaving the house. 

My wife was asking if there was a way to unlock the house from the car ... I know she can use her cellphone, but ... I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on using the 8-button mini-remote with a “code” sequence to unlock the car (obviously I don’t want a big button in the car labeled “unlock the house”). 

Suggestions? 

I’d also be open to other technologies (zwave/iolinc/etc) as long as I can get it to go through the ISY-994izw. 

[nwchicago]

Albrandwood, my question regarding unlocking the doors from your car would be whether the communications from your device to your ISY is encrypted.  I don't think the Insteon mini-remote is encrypted.  Perhaps a z-wave button (or multi-button) can be added as encrypted?

 

Good luck.

Chicago

[Scottmichaelj]

Do your cars have a HomeLink button in the mirror unused? You could use that linked to a garage door sensor with IOLink. Make a program that when the I/O link is toggled it unlocks the door. Look for my thread about arming Elk with HomeLink. There’s an archived thread here. Same concept.

[Scottmichaelj]

Insteon vs Homelink

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?share_fid=23986&share_tid=21419&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum%2Euniversal-devices%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ephp%3F%2Ftopic%2F21419-Insteon-vs-Homelink&share_type=t

[larryllix]

4 hours ago, albrandwood said:

So I have installed Schalge z-wave door locks on the house, which is convienient. I also have single button Insteon Mini-Remote in both cars to lock the doors if we forget to when leaving the house. 

My wife was asking if there was a way to unlock the house from the car ... I know she can use her cellphone, but ... I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on using the 8-button mini-remote with a “code” sequence to unlock the car (obviously I don’t want a big button in the car labeled “unlock the house”). 

Suggestions? 

I’d also be open to other technologies (zwave/iolinc/etc) as long as I can get it to go through the ISY-994izw. 

This is using my KPL but the code and technique would be exactly the same.

My advise would be to get rid of the remote controlled door locks and get an automatic self-locking Schlage combination lock. The 9V battery lasts about 2-3 years on my 4 units, it locks when you close it, and can be unlocked with a programmable combination using one hand in about 1.5 seconds. The autolocking mechanism can be locked off when desired but it will beep at you to remind you every time it is operated then. 

As usual I have a manual key hidden in the neighbourhood just in case. Neither of us carry any keys for anything for the last five years.

 

[albrandwood]

On 4/22/2018 at 2:47 PM, larryllix said:

This is using my KPL but the code and technique would be exactly the same.

My advise would be to get rid of the remote controlled door locks and get an automatic self-locking Schlage combination lock. The 9V battery lasts about 2-3 years on my 4 units, it locks when you close it, and can be unlocked with a programmable combination using one hand in about 1.5 seconds. The autolocking mechanism can be locked off when desired but it will beep at you to remind you every time it is operated then. 

As usual I have a manual key hidden in the neighbourhood just in case. Neither of us carry any keys for anything for the last five years.

The Schlage z-wave locks have the self-locking feature, and have the builtin keypad for unlocking ... but for my wife, that means standing in the rain to enter the combination, when she would prefer to unlock the door from the car ...

 

[albrandwood]

On 4/22/2018 at 2:41 PM, Scottmichaelj said:

Do your cars have a HomeLink button in the mirror unused? You could use that linked to a garage door sensor with IOLink. Make a program that when the I/O link is toggled it unlocks the door. Look for my thread about arming Elk with HomeLink. There’s an archived thread here. Same concept.

I can see that being good for locking the door, my concern is that leaves the house vulnerable to a vehicle break-in.  If Homelink required the ignition to be on to be able to activate as is usually the case in European cars, it would be less of a security risk.

I consider the probability that someone is going to build a tool to intercept and decode Insteon wireless signal (not to mention they would need to know it was even being used for such) lower than the probability of an accidental press of the homelink button, and therefore leaving the house unknowingly unlocked.

[Scottmichaelj]

I can see that being good for locking the door, my concern is that leaves the house vulnerable to a vehicle break-in.  If Homelink required the ignition to be on to be able to activate as is usually the case in European cars, it would be less of a security risk.
I consider the probability that someone is going to build a tool to intercept and decode Insteon wireless signal (not to mention they would need to know it was even being used for such) lower than the probability of an accidental press of the homelink button, and therefore leaving the house unknowingly unlocked.

All valid concerns however if you have a security system and or other notifications this greatly minimizes the risks. IIRC the homelink in any car would need to be on or accessory on. Second I personally always lock and secure my cars when they are parked either in my driveway or garage regardless. That said with everything there are risks, even anything automated.

[Teken]

On 4/22/2018 at 8:54 AM, albrandwood said:

So I have installed Schalge z-wave door locks on the house, which is convienient. I also have single button Insteon Mini-Remote in both cars to lock the doors if we forget to when leaving the house. 

My wife was asking if there was a way to unlock the house from the car ... I know she can use her cellphone, but ... I was wondering if anyone had suggestions on using the 8-button mini-remote with a “code” sequence to unlock the car (obviously I don’t want a big button in the car labeled “unlock the house”). 

Suggestions? 

I’d also be open to other technologies (zwave/iolinc/etc) as long as I can get it to go through the ISY-994izw. 

Another suggestion is to use one of several RFID tags which detect your phone (geo location) and will do what ever it is you want it to do. Obviously if someone has your phone that isn't very helpful. There are several threads in this forum where members have used various brands and types of these tags to accomplish the same. Some of the more expansive tags allow the person to adjust the sensitivity where you can use it for room to room detection.

- Walk in and the system will turn on the lights, computer, TV, stereo.

- While sitting in a room the lights turn on from the motion sensor. But since it detects you're still there it will not turn off and over ride the auto off function.

- The tag doesn't detect your RFID presence so the kids can't access or use the Internet, gaming machine, etc.