Integrating insteon with Alexa

[ingeborgdot]

I already have an isy994i but am wondering if it is easier to integrate insteon with an echo using the hub than the isy and the isy portal?  Can anyone comment on this?  Thanks.

[Michel Kohanim]

@ingeborgdot,

The question is: are your INSTEON device linked to the hub or ISY994. Choosing the one that they are already linked to would be the easiest.

With kind regards,
Michel

[ingeborgdot]

I don't have a hub.

[io_guy]

Both NodeLink and Polyglot have a hue emulator and will connect your echo directly to ISY devices (no cloud).  

[ingeborgdot]

I'm not familiar with the NodeLink and Polyglot. 

[paulbates]

5 hours ago, ingeborgdot said:

I already have an isy994i but am wondering if it is easier to integrate insteon with an echo using the hub than the isy and the isy portal?  Can anyone comment on this?  Thanks.

If your  goal is the fastest and simplest integration between Alexa and Insteon, and all you want is verbal commands and using your smartphone to turn lights on and off, the hub is probably easiest... if you are starting from no ISY or no Hub. If you have the ISY and all of your insteon devices are managed by the ISY, adding the hub is complicated to setup, and maintain.

If your goal is using the ISY's programs and other features, and you want to add alexa verbal commands on top of it, the ISY portal probably makes the most sense... especially if you are starting with all of your insteon devices managed by the ISY.  

I believe the portal would make the most sense in your case.

Paul

[johnjces]

It really isn't that difficult to set up Alexa with the ISY to control your Insteon stuff. Just follow the Wiki on how to set up the portal and set up Alexa/Echo. I found a couple "gotchas" and reported them and I am pretty sure that the suggestions I made were added.

One of the nice things is the ability to use multiple words or "Spokens" to control any given device. I resisted for a long time moving from the Hub to the ISY and Portal because I am cheap and didn't want to spend the money on a recurring cost for Alexa but found it worth it.

Give it a try. If you have problems there are a lot of people who can help you through it.

[ingeborgdot]

It is very easy.  I ordered the isy portal, and I had it all done within an hour.  It is so cool.  I surprised my wife with it and she even thinks it is cool.  Thanks guys for the help and suggestions.

[JacktheRipper]

I have an ISY994i controller in my main vacation house, and an Insteon Hub in an outbuilding nearby. Both are linked to three open/close sensors in the outbuilding, without any conflicts in my experience. I have the portal for the ISY and use the Admin Console to connect remotely from my home in another state. I connect remotely to the Hub using the iPhone app. Both buildings are on the same LAN, and are connected to the Internet 7/24. On the Hub I configured the sensors to send me an open alert via email at <my cell phone #>@txt.att.net, which in turn sends me a text message. I also use one of the open/close sensors in a program on the ISY, for a more complex logic involving a time delay before sending an alert.

Here are some considerations that played into my decision to have both a Hub and an ISY:

(1) The Hub cloud service is free. I can view and point cameras from my iPhone. I can see the status of sensors and switches in the outbuilding. I can turn switches on and off. Creating schedules and sending simple alerts is easy enough. Alexa integration was easy (I have two Dots in the outbuilding). All devices were discovered automatically. The Hub and the app have been trouble-free for two years now. The Hub software was updated automatically at least once, if memory serves. No actions required by me for the update. I paid $49 for the Hub on a special.

(2) The ISY cloud service is not free. I don't believe it supports cameras. The programming capability is very sophisticated compared to the Hub, and I use that extensively. Alexa integration was more complex, because it requires an extra step using the portal to define what can be controlled by Alexa. The Admin Console software is written in Java, and frankly that has proven to be hellish for me. The software routinely breaks. Constant Java updates, constant Admin Console updates, clear the cache, font sizes reset to too small yet again, don't use this browser, install Java plug-ins for that browser, etc. etc. etc. Thank God I'm retired and have plenty of time to keep it all working. By the way, my first ISY failed after about three years, and that was painful at $350 a pop. The second one has been solid for over 5 years now.

Next week, when I return to the vacation house, I'll run some experiments: link an older receptacle module from both the ISY and the Hub, to see if it accepts commands from both. Link both to a wall switch that is, in turn, a controller to a receptacle. That may prove more difficult or impossible to work.

[JacktheRipper]

Just an update, that confirms one of my pet peeves with the ISY Finder (and yes, I'm using the "NEW ONE".  I just launched it, and it lost both of my ISYs that I had linked via the portal. I had to go to the portal, yet again, copy the Admin URLs, add them to the ISY Finder, and then they appeared properly. Why does this continue to break???!!!. Why is this so unstable? Michel or paul, step up here and give me some answers, dammit!

 

[Michel Kohanim]

@JacktheRipper,

There is a Save button. Please use it to save the contents of ISY Launcher. You can the load it every time you lose the contents.

Please note that most of your post are full of complaints and, except for this direct question, there is nothing in them that can be answered to your satisfaction. You are unhappy, I get it. What I don't get is why are you torturing yourself? Since you love the hub, why don't you just get another hub. I will even pay for it.

Also, not sure where you got the idea that the forum = tech support. In the signature there are direct links and information for getting tech support. Using tech support will help your frustrations by not having to wait for a response on the forum.

With kind regards,