New Nokia Insteon Devices

[apostolakisl]

On 11/27/2021 at 2:39 PM, mwester said:

Sarcasm, folks.

To be serious -- the Nokia name-branding feels like the last gasp of a technology left to die.  No amount of naming and branding is ever going to address the fact that the power-line technology used by Insteon doesn't work very well in the face of the "new normal" (switching power supplies muddying the zero-crossing point on the power-line).

And opinion: every company I know that is having inventory/availability issues is scapegoating the "chip shortage" -- and I believe that SmartHome is no different.  I suspect the truth is that it's a convenient thing they (and some of the smarthome fanbois on this forum) use as a smoke screen to keep some degree of consumer confidence up as they sell off remaining inventory in a desperate attempt to raise the cash necessary to introduce the newly-branded version of the same old (failing) technology.

Finally, I realize that my comments are skirting dangerously close to the verboten topic of politics, but the fact is that at this juncture, politics has infected every aspect of life, to the point where neither sports nor my hobby serves as an escape.  I've been far less active on this forum because over the summer, I spent a lot more time fishing -- where the mosquitos and leeches are less irritating than even my hobbies have become.    I may be forced to take up ice-fishing soon.  And for those interested in cross-over stuff -- no, there are no Insteon nor any Nokia fishing products.  And neither (yet) are there any node servers for fishing...

But they continue to have items that were out of stock become in stock again.  Sometimes only briefly and other times for extended time.  This points to a supply side shortage.  I suppose it could be a supply of cash, but it doesn't seem that way.  For example, the Serial PLM was back in stock for a while and then sold out again.  The high wattage dimmers came back in stock and are still in stock.

PLC has its issues, no doubt.  But I have not had issues with it since going dual band.  It is very very rare for me to have a missed com.  Going to z-wave with its delays and compatibility issues doesn't appeal to me.  Wifi devices are fine until you end up with hundreds of them and your network becomes a bear to manage.  And wifi devices potentially provide a back door into your network hackable from anywhere on the planet.  I like that ISY is my only.  The high end stuff that hard wires back to your central control panel is just stupid expensive and I just can't see why it is any better except that maybe you go from 99.9% to 100%, except when it breaks and then you are SOL until an over priced technician comes to your house.

[Wired1]

Remember x10 devices ???

That was ground breaking, and possibly the blueprint for the more successful insteon with insteon making x10 somewhat compatible with their new platform....and now x10 is gone, not able to compete with insteon in marketing, and other key areas like but not limited to the rf / hardwired dual band.

Wonder if developments in Nokia platform will best insteon and I will have to buy yet another platform ...sure hope not.

Any updates on product availability?

[Techman]

X10 is alive and well.

The Nokia line is Insteon rebranded and with a facelift.

 

[MrBill]

1 hour ago, Wired1 said:

Remember x10 devices ???

as mentioned by @Techman X10 is still very much alive: https://www.x10.com/

1 hour ago, Wired1 said:

Wonder if developments in Nokia platform will best insteon and I will have to buy yet another platform ...sure hope not.

If you haven't noticed the nokia product is only sold by smartlabs... i.e. insteon / smarthome's parent company and it's delivery has also been delayed to "nobody knows when". 

 It's completely unclear what is really going on at insteon / smarthome / smartlabs, but someone posted yesterday they hear product may again be available in the spring.  I've also heard the company is again for sale.  so who knows....

You compared it to X-10.... they went bankrupt and sold a few times in the 50 year history of x-10.... Insteon could follow the same path....

[lilyoyo1]

2 hours ago, Wired1 said:

 

Wonder if developments in Nokia platform will best insteon and I will have to buy yet another platform ...sure hope not.

Any updates on product availability?

Protocol-wise, there's no difference in insteon and Nokia. Technically you can add Nokia devices to the Isy and control them except you won't receive status if manually controlled and a few other things since the Isy doesn't know it's info. 

The devices themselves are better than insteon in quality and look. They are also designed specifically for led bulbs which makes them better than insteon on that point alone. 

Who's knows when they'll be released. Even the employees are in the dark

[FloridaGary]

This thread began last summer and now its April 2022. Are there any recommendations on what can replace the Insteon Hub 2? 

[lilyoyo1]

6 minutes ago, FloridaGary said:

This thread began last summer and now its April 2022. Are there any recommendations on what can replace the Insteon Hub 2? 

See red banner at the top of forum

[FloridaGary]

12 minutes ago, lilyoyo1 said:

See red banner at the top of forum

Thanks. I did see it, but still trying to figure out next steps if my Hub is useless.

[lilyoyo1]

4 minutes ago, FloridaGary said:

Thanks. I did see it, but still trying to figure out next steps if my Hub is useless.

Your questions are being answered on the posts in the forum the link takes you to

[MrBill]

Lets contain this conversation to the already running threads in the Smarthome section of the forum. 

Thanks!