Can I use USB PLM with ISY994?

[Don Alexander]

I just received my ISY-994i. I knew that I would need a PLM and I do have 2, The only problem is that mine are USB and the ISY needs a rj45 cable. Anyone know of an adapter that would work. Or maybe the pinout for the PLM , the ISY shows the pinout for the controller.

[oskrypuch]

Unfortunately the ISY-994 will not work with a USB PLM. The Polisy will work with either a serial or USB PLM.

* Orest

 

[apostolakisl]

42 minutes ago, Don Alexander said:

I just received my ISY-994i. I knew that I would need a PLM and I do have 2, The only problem is that mine are USB and the ISY needs a rj45 cable. Anyone know of an adapter that would work. Or maybe the pinout for the PLM , the ISY shows the pinout for the controller.

You can spend $500 to $1000 for a serial PLM on ebay, or buy a $379 polisy and use your current usb plm, and sell your 994 on ebay for maybe $200.  Of course by buying the polisy, you will also be future proofed for at least a decade.

[Tim McDermott]

I can't speak to whether you can ultimately adapt your USB PLM for use with your ISY, but given the prices I'm seeing on the secondary market I do suggest you consider going ahead and biting the bullet and getting a Polisy. That will likely cost you less than a serial PLM and allow you to use your existing USB PLM while benefiting from a more powerful and versatile hub. As research will show you, Polisy supports "IOP" (ISY on Polisy). Also be aware that Polisy also supports the USB Insteon dongle which I've found online for about $45. Perhaps you could sell your ISY and USB PLMs to defray the conversion cost. If anyone would care to weigh in on these suggestions, please do. They are based only on what I've observed. 

[Tim McDermott]

Oh well. A recent check, post Smarthome collapse, shows I lucked out on that USB dongle. With prices now being what they are I'd likely stick with your USB PLM for Polisy as it is "Dual-Band," unlike the dongle. 

[MrBill]

13 hours ago, Don Alexander said:

I just received my ISY-994i. I knew that I would need a PLM and I do have 2, The only problem is that mine are USB and the ISY needs a rj45 cable. Anyone know of an adapter that would work. Or maybe the pinout for the PLM , the ISY shows the pinout for the controller.

There is a thread where a user built a converter using a PiZero as a middleman.  But I'd recommend the same as @apostolakisl your best solution is to upgrade to Polisy which will use your USB PLM.   Polisy has everything the ISY994 had, plus node servers and works with any of the Insteon PLMs (but not the Insteon hub).  Essentially Polisy is the newer upgraded ISY.