larryllix Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 9 minutes ago, apostolakisl said: So is it UD needing the money up front for production or is it SH failing to pay in a timely fashion causing UD to cut their credit? Possibly only customs orders for ISY994 hardware to be printed, now? I doubt this will be discussed with the crowd here and there were hints. Link to comment
apostolakisl Posted October 12, 2019 Share Posted October 12, 2019 4 hours ago, larryllix said: Possibly only customs orders for ISY994 hardware to be printed, now? I doubt this will be discussed with the crowd here and there were hints. SH has lots of products from other manufacturers. Which makes me think that UD is asking for something different than the others. Link to comment
Michel Kohanim Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 @apostolakisl, We did not ask for upfront money for production. We asked for money before the order is shipped. SmartHome is the only company that we had no choice but to put on these terms. We have NET 30 and 60 terms with other companies. With kind regards, Michel Link to comment
apostolakisl Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 15 hours ago, apostolakisl said: So is it UD needing the money up front for production or is it SH failing to pay in a timely fashion causing UD to cut their credit? @Michel Kohanim So it's SH failing to pay in a timely fashion . . . 90 days plus? Do we need to stock up on all the Insteon products we might ever want now? Link to comment
Michel Kohanim Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 @apostolakisl, Unfortunately I am not privy to the state of the union at SmartHome. I am sure there are many others on this forum who probably know more. With kind regards, Michel Link to comment
Brian H Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I am not privy to any inside information. It does look like they are having more sales than the old owners. Either sales volume is down, clearing out older stock to make room for the promised but not advertised new stuff or worse new stuff is not Insteon. The press release on the Insteon web site. Indicates they where interested in their IoT experiences. Maybe that is the way they are trying to go. Link to comment
JimMc Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Since the acquisition two years ago, what has happened at Smart Labs? A few hints that new products were in development, but AFAIK they have released nothing new for Insteon users. Does anyone here have insight as to the status/future of the Insteon product line? Link to comment
Mustang65 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 They still have the 5 reasons for using Insteon over Wi-Fi on their website https://www.insteon.com/support-knowledgebase/5-reasons-wifi-isnt-for-the-smarthome Link to comment
JimMc Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 7 minutes ago, Mustang65 said: They still have the 5 reasons for using Insteon on their website https://www.insteon.com/support-knowledgebase/5-reasons-wifi-isnt-for-the-smarthome Thanks -- I get their email newsletter. My question concerned the status of the company that designs Insteon devices. Right now I have a mix of Insteon and z-wave in my setups. For me z-wave latency and connectivity have been disappointing and Insteon clearly performs better. But I'm hesitant to buy any new Insteon devices if the whole thing is going to implode soon. Link to comment
Mustang65 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Maybe its time for Universal-Devices to bring out their own modules product line to make us all HAPPY, and eliminate the PLM. Maybe someone to reverse-engineer the PLM to create an alternative device. Link to comment
lilyoyo1 Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 25 minutes ago, JimMc said: Thanks -- I get their email newsletter. My question concerned the status of the company that designs Insteon devices. Right now I have a mix of Insteon and z-wave in my setups. For me z-wave latency and connectivity have been disappointing and Insteon clearly performs better. But I'm hesitant to buy any new Insteon devices if the whole thing is going to implode soon. I wouldn't worry about the devices overall. It's not like they'll stop working just because they shut down. If that should happen, you still have the ISY which would allow you to integrate something else with it as a replacement. Enjoy the system for what it is today and deal with the rest years down the line Link to comment
Techman Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Here's an interesting article, dated June 2019, on Smarthome and Insteon. It answers a few questions and creates some new ones. https://www.thedigitalmediazone.com/2019/06/18/insteon-raises-the-curtain-for-the-next-act/ Link to comment
Brian H Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 5 hours ago, Mustang65 said: Maybe its time for Universal-Devices to bring out their own modules product line to make us all HAPPY, and eliminate the PLM. Maybe someone to reverse-engineer the PLM to create an alternative device. UDI made their own PLM years ago. With a promise to get the programmed main and RF controller chips from SmartLabs. As they are very protective of their Patents. I understand a few engineering prototypes where made. Waiting for the promised programed controller chips to start testing. Well someone at SmartLabs changed their tune and chips where never made available to UDI. Anyone trying to reverse engineer the PLM would not have the needed Main and RF controller firmware source file. If they ever did manage to extract it from a PLM chips. I suspect SmartLabs legal team would be all over it. Link to comment
Brian H Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Thank you for the link Techman. Interesting reading. For me it also cleared up some issues and create some new questions. Link to comment
larryllix Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 If SmartHome licenced development to other people and even refused licencing for any existing product they already make (the top quality stuff like plug-in modules and switchlincs) their sales would skyrocket. The only real complaints I hear about Insteon is: - they are all single sourced - their battery operated devices are very poor quality. Let somebody else do it, solve both perception problems, and maybe make some royalties along the way, to pay for some marketing expertise? Link to comment
apostolakisl Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 I'm not worried. If Smart Labs/Home ever went belly up, then the patents and proprietary code would all go up to the highest bidder and someone else would take over. Maybe Universal Devices? Link to comment
larryllix Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 Just now, apostolakisl said: I'm not worried. If Smart Labs/Home ever went belly up, then the patents and proprietary code would all go up to the highest bidder and someone else would take over. Maybe Universal Devices? Good thought. Maybe UDI could lead the pack with a crowd supported purchase? Link to comment
Techman Posted October 14, 2019 Share Posted October 14, 2019 38 minutes ago, Brian H said: Thank you for the link Techman. Interesting reading. For me it also cleared up some issues and create some new questions. I heard awhile back they were going to focus on the Insteon Hub and the smartphone apps, and that they were going to update some of their devices possibly to touch screens instead of buttons on the KPLs. But I wouldn't suggest holding your breath while waiting for the innovation. Also keep in mind that Insteon is manufactured in China, so who knows what bearing the tariffs are having on the Company. Link to comment
Mustang65 Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 3 hours ago, Brian H said: Anyone trying to reverse engineer the PLM would not have the needed Main and RF controller firmware source file. If they ever did manage to extract it from a PLM chips. I suspect SmartLabs legal team would be all over it. The thing about reverse engineering is that if you know what the input into the PLM is (ISY output) and the output from the PLM for each ISY input, with no SmartHome's engineering information for how they take the PLM input and get it to the PLM output format/frequencies/zero cross over, you are designing a new and more than likely improved version of the PLM, which I believe falls under something like a patent change category. Just need to prove you are improving on the existing patented product. Link to comment
simplextech Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 3 hours ago, Techman said: Also keep in mind that Insteon is manufactured in China, so who knows what bearing the tariffs are having on the Company. Almost all "smart" devices are manufactured in China..... There's a very very small handful of devices that are not. Link to comment
larryllix Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 1 hour ago, simplextech said: Almost all "smart" devices are manufactured in China..... There's a very very small handful of devices that are not. You may be bounce shipping them through Canadian users soon if the Trumpet keeps playing...LOL Link to comment
JimMc Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 20 hours ago, Techman said: Here's an interesting article, dated June 2019, on Smarthome and Insteon. It answers a few questions and creates some new ones. https://www.thedigitalmediazone.com/2019/06/18/insteon-raises-the-curtain-for-the-next-act/ Thanks for that link. Sounds to me like they've cleaned up the mess and repackaged the company for sale to a bigger fish. What else would explain the two years of radio silence? Link to comment
larryllix Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 On 10/14/2019 at 4:06 PM, Techman said: Here's an interesting article, dated June 2019, on Smarthome and Insteon. It answers a few questions and creates some new ones. https://www.thedigitalmediazone.com/2019/06/18/insteon-raises-the-curtain-for-the-next-act/ Aptly demonstrates more Insteon procrastination. Link to comment
Techman Posted October 15, 2019 Share Posted October 15, 2019 Received my $29.99 PLM today Date code: 4718 Hardware version: 2.5 Link to comment
randyth Posted October 16, 2019 Share Posted October 16, 2019 1 hour ago, Techman said: Received my $29.99 PLM today Date code: 4718 Hardware version: 2.5 Ditto. Revision: 2.5 4718 Link to comment
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