walkman9999 Posted February 14 Posted February 14 Hello - I'm replacing some non-dual-link switchlinks in my network and ran across two choices, wondering if anyone has any insight on differences? Possible shortcutting the assignment, I'm interested in the best comms for the devices (I2 was a huge improvement over I1 in my environment), but I'd like to match the style of the 2477D if comms are not significantly improved in the PS01. I read reviews on Insteon website, but I didn't find mention of any new protocols. Maybe I missed something. Is there a compelling reason to go with PS01 over 2477D? All opinions welcomed. TY!@
Brian H Posted February 14 Posted February 14 You are using a Polisy or eisy controller? They support the PS01. The old ISY994i does not due to last firmware released.
paulbates Posted February 15 Posted February 15 Having used most insteon switches for many years, and i3 for over a year, I really like i3. Coms are great and they blend in visually versus stick out and drawing attention. A couple of gotchas that can be navigated around via awareness is that to implement them, each switch has 2 'nodes'. One is the traditional settings and one is advanced i3 paddles settings. This gotcha is that there are some of ones like 'disable wireless'. A few of mine came from the factory with that set The advanced node, also called flags, do not get updated when using restore device
lilyoyo1 Posted February 15 Posted February 15 The look and feel of I3 devices over older Insteon devices are much more improved. They are night and day in regards to quality, fit, and finish. If I were to ever go back to Insteon, it would only be to use i3 devices. Plus they have updatable so l firmware so they can be improved over time unlike older devices
walkman9999 Posted February 15 Author Posted February 15 Thanks, all for the opinions and info. Does anyone know if the powerline protocol has been updated, similar to the way it was updated between I1 and I2? I'm not an expert on this category, but I2 devices perform noticeably better in my somewhat noisy environment and any additional improvement would be a consideration for me. Thanks again for the input so far.
Solution paulbates Posted February 15 Solution Posted February 15 I've not seen Insteon update the infamous "white paper", but online discussions have suggested that, while backwards compatible, i3 devices are supposed to have improved communications and security. However insteon is unfortunately mysterious on their own site about i3; you can read about each product and the director app references them as being incompatible with their old hub. IMO the 2413 PLM is still i2, so these improvements would be realized through i3 to i3 devices only, not eisy> 2413 > i3 devices. However, that assumes they didn't make changes to it and I don't have a way to know that. It seems there would be a versioning with marketing hooha and sell it as a feature. There isn't. To look at it qualitatively, I'm into my second year at a new house, new eisy and i3 devices, my observation is that the handful of any individual insteon false "ons" (no "all ons") have been on microdimmer modules and lamp modules, which I believe to be i2. Speaking of all ons, we proved here on the forums that the "all on" reponse has been removed from i3 devices,, they are immune. A suggestion is to go to the insteon forums and ask directly for insteon to answer, or use Insteon's sales site and use the pre-sales button to ask them directly.
walkman9999 Posted February 15 Author Posted February 15 That is a great answer, thank you. I think what you've said, along with @lilyoyo1's point about the upgradability of the new platform makes the decision for me. Appreciate the feedback. And, removing ALL ON from the command suite is ultimately a good marketing move. That uncommanded command was responsible for giving home automation a bad rep in my fam.
paulbates Posted February 15 Posted February 15 YW. A follow up FWIW; like the i3 security and signal improvements, nowhere have I found or seen referenced exactly how an i3 device FW is upgraded in place. Unlike matter, Insteon devices are not internet devices, no IP stack... so how is it accomplished?
walkman9999 Posted February 15 Author Posted February 15 Not sure if it is implemented, but it would be possible to use the MAC/Insteon ID to get a FW update to the devices. Wouldn't work over a WAN, but within the local network the capability is there. (I rarely get to offer any expertise, but network guy by trade.)
lilyoyo1 Posted Sunday at 12:09 AM Posted Sunday at 12:09 AM 6 hours ago, paulbates said: YW. A follow up FWIW; like the i3 security and signal improvements, nowhere have I found or seen referenced exactly how an i3 device FW is upgraded in place. Unlike matter, Insteon devices are not internet devices, no IP stack... so how is it accomplished? The original I3 hub was able to update the device. Whether that can happen from EISY (now or in the future) I dont know. 2
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