Building a system

[varneyb]

I currently a variety of smart lighting hardware in my home:

1 Philips Hue Bulb & hub, 1 TP-Link plug-in module, 1 YiHong WiFi Light Strip (use a protocol called MagicHue/MagicHome/MagicLight), several newer Insteon switches and keypads, an Insteon Hub, and a few older Insteon switches/keypads (the kind that have an X10 address and don't work with the hub). I also have an Amazon Alexa which can control everything except the old Insteon switches/keypads. There is no mobile app which controls everything (though with a mix I can get everything), the older Insteon switches can't be controlled with Alexa, and the older Insteon switches & non-Insteon devices cannot be controlled by the newer Insteon keypads.

I want to upgrade my system so I can have a centralized controller, and (perhaps) incorporate Z-wave technology as well. I still want to be able to use the Alexa. The ISY is one option.

Here is what I think I need:

ISY-994i (zw version if I decide to add Z-wave products)
X10 software module
ISY portal subscription (which includes the Network Module capabilities)
PowerLinc Modem (for Insteon)

I think that with this set of hardware, I can control all of my devices and let them inter-operate, including allowing my Insteon keypads (old and new) to turn on or change the color of my Hue lights and MagicHome light strip (i.e. I could have a "purple" button) if I want (I've found directions for how to do the hue). I would ditch the Insteon Hub, but keep using the Hue hub. I'd have to do some programming on the ISY to accomplish this, but I don't think any of the programs would need to be terribly complex. I think the Alexa will be able to control the Insteon devices (old and new) through the ISY, but will control the other devices through their normal protocols.

Does this all sound feasible? Am I forgetting anything or over-simplifying things?

Thanks,

Bruce

[larryllix]

10 hours ago, varneyb said:

I currently a variety of smart lighting hardware in my home:

1 Philips Hue Bulb & hub, 1 TP-Link plug-in module, 1 YiHong WiFi Light Strip (use a protocol called MagicHue/MagicHome/MagicLight), several newer Insteon switches and keypads, an Insteon Hub, and a few older Insteon switches/keypads (the kind that have an X10 address and don't work with the hub). I also have an Amazon Alexa which can control everything except the old Insteon switches/keypads. There is no mobile app which controls everything (though with a mix I can get everything), the older Insteon switches can't be controlled with Alexa, and the older Insteon switches & non-Insteon devices cannot be controlled by the newer Insteon keypads.

I want to upgrade my system so I can have a centralized controller, and (perhaps) incorporate Z-wave technology as well. I still want to be able to use the Alexa. The ISY is one option.

Here is what I think I need:

ISY-994i (zw version if I decide to add Z-wave products)
X10 software module
ISY portal subscription (which includes the Network Module capabilities)
PowerLinc Modem (for Insteon)

I think that with this set of hardware, I can control all of my devices and let them inter-operate, including allowing my Insteon keypads (old and new) to turn on or change the color of my Hue lights and MagicHome light strip (i.e. I could have a "purple" button) if I want (I've found directions for how to do the hue). I would ditch the Insteon Hub, but keep using the Hue hub. I'd have to do some programming on the ISY to accomplish this, but I don't think any of the programs would need to be terribly complex. I think the Alexa will be able to control the Insteon devices (old and new) through the ISY, but will control the other devices through their normal protocols.

Does this all sound feasible? Am I forgetting anything or over-simplifying things?

Thanks,

Bruce

Welcome to the forum!!!

Sounds almost exactly what I have done with my ISY. I operate Hue bulbs of a few types, MiLight controllers (RBGWW strips) MiLight bulbs, Insteon SwitchLinc banks of LED lights, and LEDenet RGBWW strips from my ISY, all controlled by Dots, Echoes, Google Home Minis, and one central SwitchLinc.

ISY makes this all possible. Colours are mostly controlled by voice. Whites are controlled by voice and SwitchLinc. No devices are controlled via the Alexa App modules. Everything is controlled via ISY as a decision making clearing house. ISY decides what festive theme colours are used if I ask for it.

Alexa. Turn on festive lights
     gets Halloween, Christmas, Party, Movie, etc.   themes based on time of year.

Alexa. Turn On sunset lights 
    gets autumn colours with an hour fade of the white lights only, to Off, leaving only reds-yellows and warm wite lighting.

Edited August 12, 2018 by larryllix

[varneyb]

Thanks larryllix,

It's good to know that what I want to do is possible. So do I have the right list of hardware/software to do what I want to do? Or am I missing anything?

Thanks,

Bruce

[Bumbershoot]

Hi Bruce,

It looks to me like you're on the right track 

When/if you're comfortable, you might think about deploying a Polyglot server for your Hue and MagicHome lights (along with a number of other technologies).  Polyglot is looming large in the ISY's future as a tool to integrate disparate technologies under the control of the ISY.

Polyglot requires beta ISY firmware currently, but it looks to be an important part of the next stable firmware release.

The reason I mention this is that running Polyglot may be easier than creating the necessary network resources required to have your ISY control your Hue and MagicHome lights (though Alexa skills may allow you to navigate around the ISY for this).

Good luck!

 

[lilyoyo1]

I think you're making a sound decision by going with the ISY. I would focus my technologies on Insteon and zwave. This will allow native control of your devices should something ever happen to your Isy. It's tempting to use a multitude of other devices such as your to link module via network resources but I would limit the use of non native devices that need network resources or polyglot to non critical devices such as your lights strips.

UDI is supposed to be coming out with an accessory module with polyglot preconfigured which could save you a lot of work trying to figure things out. I'm not sure when it will be released but I think it's worth waiting for. 

 

[Teken]

I'll add given the choice that you invest a little more for the stand alone Network Module. As this ensures if you ever decide to leave the ISY Portal you can still have the Network Module in stand alone mode.

Having said this, UDI has made ignoring / subscribing to the ISY Portal very hard to resist.

I am truly not a fan of subscription services so that speaks volumes as the value I see in UDI's implementation of said portal!


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[larryllix]

4 hours ago, varneyb said:

Thanks larryllix,

It's good to know that what I want to do is possible. So do I have the right list of hardware/software to do what I want to do? Or am I missing anything?

Thanks,

Bruce

Yes. The Network Module will do it all. That is what I primarily use for MiLight, Hue, LEDenet bulbs and strips (MagicHome is the same company or protocol AFAICT).

I use NodeLink on a RPI 3 to control and access my ecobee and Venstar stats but this takes another box.

ISY is the most expandable piece of hardware I have ever experienced. You can even have notification write to the ISY itself to keep a database of happenings with a technique developed and posted right in this forum. Spreadsheet compatible data too. The Network Module will allow you to send almost anything ever created over Ethernet, in any protocol. I can control my receiver, TV, media PC via the Netwok Module. That means that Alexa and GHome can control them via my voice too, if the logic in ISY I have programmed allows them to.

It can grow with you as you discover new things. Polyglot is up and coming although I have experimented with it, it had nothing I needed to my advantage yet. Many users are developing drop-in modules for.

If you are an experienced linear programmer the ISY even based language may throw you a curve for a while but you will get on to that soon. It has it's quirks but is very powerful. ISY is a very open box that never stops surprising most people. Help is here and most are more than willing to fight over your affection.

Edited August 12, 2018 by larryllix

[varneyb]

I've started looking at OpenHab2. If I have a Linux box running OpenHab2 and an Insteon PLM, do I even need the ISY? Or can OpenHab do everything I want?

Also, if I do get a 994i, can I just get the standard one and add Z-wave later if I want it, or is this way more expensive than just starting with the 994i/zw?

Thanks,

Bruce

Edited August 14, 2018 by varneyb
Additional question...

[Michel Kohanim]

Bruce,

If you are a tinkerer, then probably you don't need either. Or, you could even use Home Assistant or even develop your own. Unlike all other options (except for the one you develop on your own), ISY is a commercial product and UDI fully supports it.

With regards to the second question, yes, you can add Z-Wave later.

With kind regards,
Michel