smarthome_newbie Posted July 24, 2019 Posted July 24, 2019 I'm planning on getting a Raspberry Pi with Polygot and an ISY. I thought I had everything figured out, but can someone please explain what the ISY Portal subscription based is for? Also, what are the flat fee for climate and irrigation modules? Why is that necessary? It says the network module is $50, but is included with the portal. Finally, how do I view the screen on RasberryPi? Thanks for the help.
lilyoyo1 Posted July 24, 2019 Posted July 24, 2019 Here's information on the portal. It's simply a way to access your Isy without port forwarding. You don't need the portal for Polyglot but you do need the network module. You can purchase it as a stand-alone module or get it for free since it comes with the portal subscription. Which route you choose is what you'll pay for it. If you don't need the portal you can get the network module by itself. If you're asking what the cost is for the climate/irrigation modules, they can be found on the purchase modules webpage. Neither the climate or irrigation modules are necessary unless you need them. The RPI can be hooked up to your TV via the HDMI port and used with a USB keyboard and mouse. You can also set it up to use your computer to log into it. There are YouTube videos on how to get Polyglot up and running on the Polyglot forum. The subforum says Polyglot instruction videos.
smarthome_newbie Posted July 24, 2019 Author Posted July 24, 2019 Thanks for the info! When you say climate or irrigation are necessary only if I need them, does that mean I can connect climate and irrigation without them?
lilyoyo1 Posted July 24, 2019 Posted July 24, 2019 No it does not. It means if you do not have any desire to use them for something, then there is no point in purchasing them. For example, none of my programs use climate so I do not have those modules. If you want to use them then you need them so you'll have to purchase them.
smarthome_newbie Posted July 24, 2019 Author Posted July 24, 2019 Why do some things need modules and other things don't? What kind of things won't need module? Sorry for the dumb questions.
lilyoyo1 Posted July 25, 2019 Posted July 25, 2019 When you buy the ISY, you are buying it for it's base function (depending on model) which is an insteon controller. Should you get the zwave version of the isy, it would allow you to use insteon and zwave out of the box with min issues (in regards to controlling devices/programs). They charge for add on modules because many people do not need them. This keeps the isy price low. Instead of charging you 400-500 bucks for extra modules that you may or may not use, you pay a couple hundred and add on what you want. The simpler question is what needs modules vs what doesn't. Only you can answer that question. Since you're new, I would recommend focusing on your base installation in regards to lighting and as you grow more familiar with the isy and automation start digging into the extras
smarthome_newbie Posted July 25, 2019 Author Posted July 25, 2019 Thanks for that. I think I'm going to focus on lighting, but I'm building a house, so I don't want to buy something that I won't be able to integrate later. Can you please clarify about how zwave devices will work out of the box? If I get a Rachio wifi sprinkler I would have to pay for the module, but if I got a z wave sprinkler, I wouldn't have to pay for a module? Am I totally wrong here?
oberkc Posted July 25, 2019 Posted July 25, 2019 If you have the zwave version of the ISY, you would have no need for extra modules to control zwave devices. If you want to control devices via your home network, then the network module would be a necessary addition.
lilyoyo1 Posted July 25, 2019 Posted July 25, 2019 Every setup is different. What you need and how you use things are up to you and the value that you get out of something. For example, if you used ranchio, you would need the network module to interface it with the ISY via nodeservers. However, you don't necessarily have to add it to the isy since it works on it's own out the box. I've use the rain machine for years without adding it to the isy. You can use a zwave irrigation controller which then allows you to use the isy without having to pay for anything. However you'll have more limitations since it would be basic controls. To get the most out of it, you'd need the weather module. In the end, automation isn't cheap. There has to be a willingness to spend money to do things right. To a certain degree, there also has to be a willingness to make mistakes with purchases. Things change so fast, you can't just plan your way out of not making bad purchases.
MWareman Posted July 25, 2019 Posted July 25, 2019 Things change so fast, you can't just plan your way out of not making bad purchases. So true! I think we all have a junk drawer or box full of all those bad purchases!
paulbates Posted July 25, 2019 Posted July 25, 2019 Another way to look at it is; they ISY is flexible and you have options and can work your way into it. The best thing to do is consider the functions you have right now like powerline control. If you've chosen z-wave, get that started and to a point you're happ with it. Smart products that are connected via wifi like the rachio, generally speaking, will require the ISY V5 firmware (beta) and nodeservers. There are many software authors here that are developing nodeservers including weatherstations, teslas, roombas and... the rachio is on the list as well. Right now the nodeservers don't cost anything... some authors will accept donations and eventually there will be some kind of payment model to compensate the author for their efforts Also consider that many of the wifi connected smart products do a very good job on their own. If you like the rachio, you might want to connect it and try it on its own and see if there is any functionality missing that you want to control with the ISY... maybe not. Paul
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.