Network connection required to run ISY?

[black_fx_35]

I am a bit confused as to whether or not the ISY needs a network connection simply to configure with the use of a PC, or if it requires a network connection to operate in a business as usual mode. The reason I am asking, is I plan to house the IR enabled 99.9 device in my media closet, which does not currently have a network connection/router. My network connection/router is in my office. Ideally, I would like to configure the 99.9 in my office, but keep it full time in the media closet without network support. I rather have it in my media closet so I can use my current RF-IR Blaster to send lighting commands from my Universal remote to the 99.9 device. I understand that it obviously won't have any networking/internet functionality if it is not connected, but am wondering if everything else will work.

 

If this doesn't work, I have two other options.

 

1. Purchase an additional RF-IR blaster from Logitech and keep it in the office with the 99.9 (this would cost an additional $150 or so).

 

2. Relocate my cable modem/wireless router to my media closet. This seems like an easy option, however, I use Vonage, and have a need to connect a physical phone to my vonage router in my office.

 

Thanks for your help!

[upstatemike]

Don't they make a wireless bridge type device that you can put in your wiring closet? It would communicate wirelessly to the router in your office and provide a wired port for your ISY. I think Linksys makes them as well as some others.

[black_fx_35]

Thanks Mike...I think I found the Linksys wireless bridge that you referenced. Would this work? Thanks.

 

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellit ... torWrapper

[FrankG]

I swear that black_fx is describing my house exactly. You don't need network connectivity for ISY to work, but you do need it to program it (or control it via any sort of network/web interface).

 

I was asking something similar because I know myself... I'll never be 100% happy with the way it's programmed so it's easier for me to have it on the network 100% of the time.

 

I've never done it, but I think an access point and/or bridge is what we're looking for. Unfortunately, it's another "box" sitting in the living room. My stuff is split up inside an entertainment center... not in a true media closet. Getting an access point means more bulk in an already crowded, power-hungry area... I'm not looking forward to dealing with this problem in the future.

[black_fx_35]

Hi Frank,

 

Glad to know someone else will be going through this at the same time as me. I noticed on your sig at the Smarthome Forum, you are going from 1 room and 2 switches to 1 floor and 10 switches. Based on your knowledge and activity in the forum's, I assume you have surpassed that already? I am in the process of going from a handful of switches in two rooms, to 20-25 switches throughout the house! I feel like I am sooo green with all of this home automation, but the forum's have been so helpful!

 

Randy

[Michel Kohanim]

Randy and Frank,

 

It pleases me to note that you have answered your own questions!!! In short:

You do need network connection for the following activities:

1. To configure your INSTEON devices using your computer

2. If you want to access ISY remotely, say, from your work

3. If you want to access ISY on your Microsoft Media Center TouchPanel/Tablet PC

4. If you want ISY to be able to send email/sms notifications to the outside world

 

If you are done with step 1, you are 100% happy with your configuration, and you don't care about 2,3, and 4, then you can simply unplug the network cable from ISY and everything should still run normally.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[FrankG]

Yeah, my signature is a little out-of-date.

 

I've got a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom house.

 

• [*:1aqltnw4]2nd Floor = 3 bedrooms, main bath, master bath
  [*:1aqltnw4]1st Floor = Foyer, Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room, Den/Fireplace Room, Powder Room (1/2 bath), laundry/mud room + 2 car garage
  [*:1aqltnw4]Basement = Fully finished with an L-shaped main room, small home office, and a long utility room

 

I started with the living room and put in some new lights & fans. You've seen how I set that up to work with my Harmony 880 to fade the lights during a movie & give control during normal operation. The problem for me was that I still couldn't turn the adjacent rooms off. So I added Insteon switches to the adjacent rooms & the stairs/landings.

 

Then the problem is with setup. It's so difficult to get it working with my current hacked setup, that it's too time consuming to get the adjacent rooms working. The average person could find the time to do it, but with a new baby, my time has been sucked away. I can't make it a partial solution, and I can't break what's already working... the WAF drops way too low.

 

Basically, to do it right with the current setup, I need to blow away all my links and re-do them every time I add a new device. That's why I'm looking forward to 99.9. An ISY-26 could do it with X10 triggers, but if I can get another flaky piece in this setup gone, that's better.

 

I just ordered a boatload of devices yesterday. It should be enough to cover all the major existing switches & lamps on the 1st & 2nd floors, and part of the basement.

[yardman 49]

FrankG wrote:

 

I've never done it, but I think an access point and/or bridge is what we're looking for. Unfortunately, it's another "box" sitting in the living room. My stuff is split up inside an entertainment center... not in a true media closet. Getting an access point means more bulk in an already crowded, power-hungry area... I'm not looking forward to dealing with this problem in the future.

 

I think that I have a solution for you: put the Linksys wireless bridge in the room behind (or under, or above) your media center. Run Cat5e cable through the wall, from the room with the media center to the room with the wireless bridge. Put network port plates in the walls of both rooms, plug in the devices, and you should be able to accomplish your goal.

 

If you already have wall plates for cable connections, you can substitute a modular type plate that lets you have mixed media jacks on the same plate. Thus, you could use an already existing plate in the media room, and simply add an ethernet port to it.

 

As an example of this, when I finished my basement I wired three rooms for 4 phone lines, 1 cable drop, and 1 network drop. Each wall plate that I installed has 2 duplex RJ6 telephone jacks (for a total of 4 lines), 1 cable port, and 1 ethernet port. It all functions well and looks very neat.

 

You can get everthing you need at the big box stores or Radio Shack for pretty cheap.

 

Best wishes