thewebgeek Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 I've just gone from a 994 with PG2 on rPI for weather data to a brand new EISY with PG3 and Zmatter USB board. I feel like this opens up a whole new list of devices that I should be looking at to up my automation game. Just doing some searches on z-wave devices and seeing all of the options for sensors and devices is overwhelming. What are your favorites? Also, as my Insteon switches, dimmers, outlets, etc. start to fail with age (some are as old as 2009), what have you found are the best bullet-proof alternatives that work well on this system?
oskrypuch Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 (edited) One thing I was able to add with Z-Wave was a speaker that would play various pre-recorded, and self-recorded tones and text. Posted a thread here about it. Ecolink, thread will pop right up with that. Otherwise, I have concentrated only on mainstream brands (Zooz, Aeotec) that are 700 series, and replaced several insteon appliance-lincs, a garage door sensor, and a couple of dimmers, which were all failing, also added a new motion. I have a high output Z-Wave repeater, and mesh is tight. I have been very impressed with Z-Wave, seems to be more hardy than Insteon, at least in my setting, you can count on the signal getting through more often. It does have a number of limtations, like only 250 or so devices, no device ID so their identity on a network is arbitrary, and thus far the support for Z-Wave with ISY has been a bit limited -- although that is very much evolving. My install remains overwhelmingly Insteon, and fairly extensive, but I'm happy now that there is an alternative and that the types of units available to me has widened enormously. * Orest Edited January 3, 2023 by oskrypuch
Geddy Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 3 hours ago, thewebgeek said: Also, as my Insteon switches, dimmers, outlets, etc. start to fail with age (some are as old as 2009), what have you found are the best bullet-proof alternatives that work well on this system? HA! "Bullet-proof"? Nothing. Just buy new Insteon devices. They're back in business and devices are back in stock and more expected this year. Hopefully they'll have a nice future and at the very least some would be able to buy some key spare units now and then. I've started replacing lamp bulbs with Hue bulbs and looking forward to adding the Hue Bridge to the eisy when I migrate. It's allowed me to relocate a few Insteon outlets. I've also replaced all outside fixtures with Hue Bulb/Fixtures that work with the Hue Bridge. Other items are check out what YoLink has to offer. Some interesting items there and @Panda88 has done a lot of work on the YoLink NS. Some have also suggested Wireless Sensor Tag products, but after having a few I cannot suggest them (others might find them good and trustworthy, but I find them glitchy and unreliable). I'm also toying with getting some Govee permanent outdoor lights, but not sure if they work with the node server or not, and they wouldn't be on my approved to purchase list until later this year anyway.
dbuss Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 5 minutes ago, Geddy said: I'm also toying with getting some Govee permanent outdoor lights, but not sure if they work with the node server or not, and they wouldn't be on my approved to purchase list until later this year anyway. I have Govee indoor strip lights and the node server. I like the lights but, the node server not so much. It seems to lose connection with the lights and the lights can't be turned on or off. When it works, it's great. The Amazon skill works great all the time. 1
brians Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 (edited) Note that while the new ZMatter adds long anticipated basic scene support, it seems to have taken a step backwards from the Zooz 700 USB in support of sensor type devices. Couple issues I have: Zen17 - cannot write parameters to change settings and reconfigure as a momentary or open/close sensor. Fortunately I only use one input/output and don't need to isolate them so my setups are working with ZMatter - but is not ideal. Everspring Rain Sensor - bunch of extra nodes appear on ZMatter but the most important one which detects/reports leak is missing. Fortunately I can add a basic set and use a program that detects this via control so I can know when a leak occurs. This device seems fairly old though so I am still surprised it works. https://www.everspring.com/portfolio-item/st812-flood-detector/ https://www.getzooz.com/zooz-zen17-universal-relay/ Two types of ZWave plugin lamp dimmers I have (Leviton and Z-Link) do not currently work with UD Mobile slider controls, and they have other quirks as far as setting an actual on level gets overwritten by the last manual level, and they don't get detected by my homebridge.. I replaced these two with used Insteon Lamplincs I purchased from Ebay after wasting too much time with them - note that they did function under ZMatter and there is no difference really over Zooz USB ZWave... just ZWave limitation in general and I prefer Insteon lamplincs. Therefore I don't really have serious issues and managed to get everything working. Plug in appliance modules work fine. Door lock works good Yale Assure with ZWave Plus module Watercop main shutoff valve works Dome Leak Sensor DMWS1 works I have a few Z-Wave wall switches where I don't really need Insteon and they work fine. No dimmers though. And whoever invented Z-Wave should be punished for coming up with the way nodes are added in an incremental fashion - it makes it difficult when excluding/including a device because have to go adjust all the scenes and programs. This is also an issue with other hubs with Z-Wave, not just IoX. I think the controller should be able to pick any free node slot, or a least have reset the counter each time including a device which would have made it at least more possible to exclude/include one device and have it go into the same slot presuming no other gaps (after it reaches 232 it is supposed to go back to 1 and then start filling in the unused gaps). I wonder how Matter is going to appear as nodes in IoX and will it be a similar issue? Any new Wall switch I will probably go back to Insteon now... nothing ZWave I have tried even comes close. ZWave for the devices that Insteon doesn't make and YMMV with those. Insteon network in my experience is reliable and ZWave not quite as good but still good, and new ZMatter board seems like much better coverage than the Zooz USB 700 stick was. Maybe I will add my Zen25 Zooz double plug and see if it kills the network again - big issue with other hubs also and Zooz can't reproduce it. Mine would seem to run good for a while and then one day my entire Z-Wave network would be flooded and non responsive. Here is an example thread about this https://community.hubitat.com/t/incident-zooz-double-plug-model-zen25/58017?page=10 Edited January 3, 2023 by brians
lilyoyo1 Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 4 hours ago, thewebgeek said: I've just gone from a 994 with PG2 on rPI for weather data to a brand new EISY with PG3 and Zmatter USB board. I feel like this opens up a whole new list of devices that I should be looking at to up my automation game. Just doing some searches on z-wave devices and seeing all of the options for sensors and devices is overwhelming. What are your favorites? Also, as my Insteon switches, dimmers, outlets, etc. start to fail with age (some are as old as 2009), what have you found are the best bullet-proof alternatives that work well on this system? There is no such thing as a bullet proof system. All have issues and devices can/will fail. Pro level gear will generally last longer. With that said; you have devices from 2009- theyve lasted quite some time and seems like you may be better off sticking with insteon and filling in the gaps with devices from other systems that they may be missing. I use Yale touchscreen doorlocks, a variety of sensors, and outlets. Eaton receptacles are my first choice but they currently do not have 700 series receptacles so I use leviton outlets. For Bulbs, I use Hue. The best advice I can give is to experiment. Be willing to try new things and If you see something you like, add it to the system to test out. The only thing I can really say about zwave is make sure that its 700 series (or later) depending on when you purchase devices. Zooz is popular right now but I dont have a long term opinion about them like I do other brands such as aetech. 1
sjenkins Posted January 3, 2023 Posted January 3, 2023 1 hour ago, Geddy said: HA! "Bullet-proof"? Nothing. Just Other items are check out what YoLink has to offer. Some interesting items there and @Panda88 has done a lot of work on the YoLink NS. Another vote for the YoLink after Insteon. I’ve had very good luck with the temperature, leak, and valve devices. Hard to beat Insteon for switches though. 2
thewebgeek Posted January 4, 2023 Author Posted January 4, 2023 6 hours ago, oskrypuch said: also added a new motion Which motion sensor did you end up using? I've got a couple of the old insteon motions that take a 9v battery that I might look at upgrading.
thewebgeek Posted January 4, 2023 Author Posted January 4, 2023 4 hours ago, Geddy said: Other items are check out what YoLink has to offer. Some interesting items there and @Panda88 has done a lot of work on the YoLink NS. These look very cool! I was just looking at @Panda88 YoLink node server in the store, but it mentions having to do some manual steps to install a package on Polisy. Do you happen to know if it works on EISY?
Geddy Posted January 4, 2023 Posted January 4, 2023 4 minutes ago, thewebgeek said: Do you happen to know if it works on EISY? Sorry. I don't. I haven't started using any YoLink stuff yet. But it's on the wish list of things to try. Look through the node server area for some help and maybe post there what steps might be needed. Also go read the help on the github - https://github.com/Panda88CO/udi-yolink/blob/main/README.md
sjenkins Posted January 4, 2023 Posted January 4, 2023 19 hours ago, thewebgeek said: Do you happen to know if it works on EISY? no manual steps that I know of ; other than adding your Yo-Link credentials. I have 17 yo-link devices all working well. Yo-Link will work on it ; I have both Polisy & EISY. not through my full migration yet but enough to have confidence. 1 1
Panda88 Posted January 6, 2023 Posted January 6, 2023 There is currently a manual step needed (for first time install) - Michel is adding the needed install to the default distribution so it should not remain a need. I have not tried on eISY yet, but there should be no reason for it not to work - the node server is not using any special hardware features - only a few OS -calls (mostly to check if the system is still running). I do have an eISY and is working to set it up as a development system (more work) - basic eISY runs fine
GTench Posted January 7, 2023 Posted January 7, 2023 On 1/4/2023 at 3:47 PM, sjenkins said: no manual steps that I know of ; other than adding your Yo-Link credentials. I have 17 yo-link devices all working well. Yo-Link will work on it ; I have both Polisy & EISY. not through my full migration yet but enough to have confidence. Just another vote for yolink. I have 9 yolink devices all working very well on Polisy. They were very easy to set up (much less trouble for me than adding my Zwave devices). My primary use is using the yolink speakers scattered throughout the house to announce when someone is on the front porch delivering packages. The speakers are triggered by IoP blue iris nodes connected to cameras pointing at the front porch. I set this up because I found that delivery personnel rarely if ever ring the doorbell when they leave packages. Gary
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