Is RemoteLinc (or RemoteLinc 2) still a thing? Alternatives?

[romeo_echo]

Hi all, 

Short version of the question: What is the latest good alternative for a battery-operated or rechargeable controller, like the RemoteLinc 2? Those don't seem to be much of a thing any more...

Back Story: After the recent portal outage, I've been looking at more ways to implement local control for my 994i. So I broke out my old RemoteLinc 2 (model 2444A2) which I hadn't been using, but unfortunately the rechargeable battery had swollen so much that it's not usable.

So I went to look for a new one. After proceeding cautiously because my browser said SmartHome.com was not a safe website (!?!?), I find that the new model is 2342-222, however SmartHome.com is almost the only place that has it in stock, so, it's far from popular...plus they are hella pricey...

Should I buy one of these? Are these even still the same thing as a RemoteLinc 2? (Places that sell it never mention "remotelinc"... i.e. Would I still add them via the "Link a RemoteLinc 2" option)? Is there a better alternative that is programmable in the same way through the ISY 994 Administrative Console?

I have some wired in-wall controllers, but I generally don't like to use them because my wiring is ancient (no neutral) so I can only use them if I'm willing to lose local control of the lighting fixture in question...Thus a battery or rechargeable option would be preferred.

Any suggestions welcome, thanks much!

Ralph

[kzboray]

I recently added a 2342-222 just to experiment with. I had to manually add it via it's address as it was not found using the ISY discovery process, but once I did that it was identified as an eight button switch. There is an option to reconfigure it as a four button in the ISY as well. The one button, and two button options in the ISY did not work, only the four and eight button configurations. Each switch is a one press on, and then the next press off out of the box. There may be a way to reconfigure this action via the ISY, but I haven't played with it enough to know. 
 

Edited September 28, 2021 by kzboray

[MrBill]

I bought a 5-pack of the 2342-222 back when I was eliminating dependency on Mobilinc.  Out of the box it's an 8 scene controller. One button per scene.   Because these controllers are battery powered and don't receive scene changes made elsewhere they don't operate in 8-button mode very intuitively.  For Example: we use the remote to turn on Scene A (that sets up the remotes next A button push to be Scene A off), now time passes and we go to bed.. the goodnight routine turns off Scene A.  So now tomorrow we pick up the remote.... the first press of Button A send Scene A Off then we have to press it again to get a Scene A on.    Dimming is also confusing in 8-scene mode.

As @kzboray mentions there is also a 4 scene mode... this is better.  I didn't know that the device could be reconfigured via the ISY tho, I removed it from the ISY, used the manual button presses in the insteon manual and then re-added it as a 4button device.   The 4 scene mode is actually more intuitive to use.  the left side is off, the right side is on, likewise holding off dims and holding ON brightens.  In all cases where we wanted to use these 4 scenes was plenty.  The only thing I wish was different about this mode is I wish the columns were reversed, that is left is on, right is off.  (and although that could be done programmatically via the ISY the LED at the top of the remote would still be red for the left buttons and green for the right buttons, so i wouldn't reverse it that way.)

Battery life is apparently amazing, I just looked I purchased the 5 pack in May 2020 and charged all 5 fully when received.  As yet I have not recharged any of them!   2 of the 5 are used pretty much daily with a few button presses each, the other 3 only get intermittent use.

[romeo_echo]

Thanks all!  Good to know the 2342-222 is still viable, just wish they were cheaper and/or more popular?!

Might go order one now... 

Cheers,

--Ralph

 

 

[lilyoyo1]

29 minutes ago, romeo_echo said:

Thanks all!  Good to know the 2342-222 is still viable, just wish they were cheaper and/or more popular?!

Might go order one now... 

Cheers,

--Ralph

 

 

I think voice control has lessened the need for wireless remotes for many people. 

[PhanTomiZ]

Just a little info about the 2342-222.  I have three of them.  

What works for me is to recharge after 500 button presses or 120 Days.

PhanTomiZ

 

Mini RemoteLinc #1 Charge Battery NOW

If
        $sMini_RemoteLinc_1_._Button_Press >= 500
     Or $sMini_RemoteLinc_Recharge_Daily_Counter >= 120
 
Then
        Send Notification to 'Default' content 'Default Subject'
 
Else
   - No Actions - (To add one, press 'Action')
 
Feb 3/21 - Changed Recharge Daily Counter from 100 to 120 Days or 3 months

July 15/19 - Now using 24 hour timer.  Most accurate. Looses 1 sec a day.  
Set for 90 Days.

July 8/19 - Charged on this Day
- Changed from >=200,000 Min to 129,600 Min. (3 Months)
Sept 14/18 - Changed to >=200,000 Minutes;  Made it to 577 button pushed when it died and 208,000 Minutes
Charge every 5 Months or 220,000 Minutes

 

[MrBill]

39 minutes ago, lilyoyo1 said:

I think voice control has lessened the need for wireless remotes for many people. 

This thread was born because OP is working on plan B

4 hours ago, romeo_echo said:

Back Story: After the recent portal outage, I've been looking at more ways to implement local control for my 994i. So I broke out my old RemoteLinc 2 (model 2444A2) which I hadn't been using, but unfortunately the rechargeable battery had swollen so much that it's not usable.

[lilyoyo1]

38 minutes ago, MrBill said:

This thread was born because OP is working on plan B

I know. I was just commenting why it's not more popular.  They used to be but sales have went down as more have turned to voice assistants

[romeo_echo]

1 hour ago, lilyoyo1 said:

I know. I was just commenting why it's not more popular.  They used to be but sales have went down as more have turned to voice assistants

So true!  I was able to simplify my system greatly once I went "full alexa", and got rid of all my wall switches and RemoteLincs completely, but man when the cloud is down, it is TOUGH out there without a Plan B!!!

Thanks again all!

[larryllix]

43 minutes ago, romeo_echo said:

So true!  I was able to simplify my system greatly once I went "full alexa", and got rid of all my wall switches and RemoteLincs completely, but man when the cloud is down, it is TOUGH out there without a Plan B!!!

Thanks again all!

That is where the old Insteon SwitchLinc Dimmers come in. Although I cannot command any coloured lights my RGBWW lighting can still do white levels from ISY. If I want automatic lighting that follows the outside levels and tints into sunset colouring at nights I use the SwitchLinc dim (long press down). If I want party lighting, I use the brighten (long press up). My TV and Movie lighting scenes toggle back and forth for normal On (tap up), and all lights turn off on a single tap off (short tap down).

Those Insteon SwitchLinc dimmers put out 6 different commands that can be used effectively.

Cloud (vocals) can give me all the colours and a few dimmer settings, but I only use cloud things for special effects and non-necessary lighting and functions. My festive outside lighting is all automatic from ISY still and honours about 10 occasions with coloured lighting. No cloud required.

[romeo_echo]

1 minute ago, larryllix said:

That is where the old Insteon SwitchLinc Dimmers come in.

SwitchLinc!  That's what they're called. Thanks for the reminder. As I tried to say above (but couldn't remember the name), I got rid of my SwitchLincs because I don't have Neutral wiring and thus lost ability to control the lamp/light the switch used to control.

I think I've got about six used SwitchLincs I could sell to someone at a reasonable price via ebay or just via paypal, if anyone's interested, I wouldn't use them again unless I got my whole house rewired.

Cheers,

Ralph

[lilyoyo1]

1 hour ago, romeo_echo said:

So true!  I was able to simplify my system greatly once I went "full alexa", and got rid of all my wall switches and RemoteLincs completely, but man when the cloud is down, it is TOUGH out there without a Plan B!!!

Thanks again all!

That's what happened to me as well. I used to have 2- 8 button kpls per room. Now it's a single 6 button in most areas and even that's too many buttons. Better programming and voice control has minimized the need for that stuff for me. 

My in wall kpls are my back up but i rarely use voice anyway since most things turn on, off, and dim on their own depending on different factors

[larryllix]

39 minutes ago, romeo_echo said:

SwitchLinc!  That's what they're called. Thanks for the reminder. As I tried to say above (but couldn't remember the name), I got rid of my SwitchLincs because I don't have Neutral wiring and thus lost ability to control the lamp/light the switch used to control.

I think I've got about six used SwitchLincs I could sell to someone at a reasonable price via ebay or just via paypal, if anyone's interested, I wouldn't use them again unless I got my whole house rewired.

Cheers,

Ralph

ewwww. Must be older wiring. Thank Gawd they added it to recent wiring codes.
From what I have read in forums you may have a problem with any protocol devices without a neutrl and LED bulb loads. @asbrilis going through the same problems using Zwave devices. There are dummy loads that may resolve some of these problems with the two wire devices and LED combinations.

[Brian H]

The SwitchLinc name was used on the X10 compatible and early Insteon modules. With Insteon it was SwitchLinc V2. When you could get both X10 and Insteon modules from Smarthome. Eventually the X10 line want away and only the Insteon modules. Where being sold and the name changed.

Same for the ApplianceLinc modules. When both X10 and Insteon types where being sold. The Insteon ones where ApplianceLinc V2.

Edited September 29, 2021 by Brian H

[larryllix]

2 hours ago, Brian H said:

The SwitchLinc name was used on the X10 compatible and early Insteon modules. With Insteon it was SwitchLinc V2. When you could get both X10 and Insteon modules from Smarthome. Eventually the X10 line want away and only the Insteon modules. Where being sold and the name changed.

Same for the ApplianceLinc modules. When both X10 and Insteon types where being sold. The Insteon ones where ApplianceLinc V2.

I don't think the ApplianceLinc has been made for a few years either. It was replaced with the OnOff module, which supports dual band.

[Brian H]

The ApplianceLinc has been gone for a long time as you noted.

Was me in my way back machine again. Showing that Smarthome liked to reuse their module names.