1 ISY controlling 2 houses?

[Guest smontclair]

A friend owns 2 neighboring houses. Each house has its own independent electrical supply, panel, etc. One house acts as residence, and the second is the family law practice.

 

We are in the process of connecting the data networks of the 2 houses with cat6 to share various data functions. Is there any way for an ISY in house 1 to also control devices in house 2? Via the cat6 bridge? what if we alternately passed an electrical wire between the houses for a dual band device or phase bridge or something else?

 

Thank you!

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello smontclair,

 

I do not think you can send INSTEON signals between different electrical panels.

 

You can use REST + Network module to control devices in different ISYs from other ISYs.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Xathros]

Depending on the distance between the houses, you may be able to bridge with 2 access points. If you are served by the same transformer, then you may be able to reach the other house via powerline anyway. My house and barn are on 2 separate feeds/meters from the same transformer and I can reach the barn from the ISY in the house without fail. I estomate 400' of wire (house --100'--> Transformer on pole --300'--> barn).

 

Definitely worth a test.

 

If not, the Network resources module with either another ISY or a SmartLinc at the other end. a second ISY would be way more useful.

 

-Xathros

[ISYhbsh01]

Hello smontclair,

 

I do not think you can send INSTEON signals between different electrical panels.

 

You can use REST + Network module to control devices in different ISYs from other ISYs.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

I am just wondering how this is done. Would controlling the devices from the other ISY be as simple as controlling the local devices by having the remote devices show up in the devices list somehow, or this has to be done by setting up a separate network resource to issue a REST call for each type of command for each remote device? (Would involve a lot of work, not to mention if u want to use programs based on conditions of the remote devices)

 

Sent from my ARCHOS 80G9 using Tapatalk 2

[Xathros]

It would be REST calls to the remote ISY to both control and retrieve device statuses I believe.

 

-Xathros

[ISYhbsh01]

I guess you would use variables which would be changed by REST commands from the other ISY to track the device status. Correct?

 

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

[apostolakisl]

Trying to link things up via REST commands would be rather arduous depending on how many items you wanted to work synchronously.

 

I would definitely try to get them linked via RF phase couplers first (or maybe your lucky and the signal does make it through the transformer like Xathros). If you can get a phase coupler on each building in line-of-sight with each other you will probably get some pretty good range.

[GregE]

Depending on the distance between the houses, you may be able to bridge with 2 access points. If you are served by the same transformer, then you may be able to reach the other house via powerline anyway. My house and barn are on 2 separate feeds/meters from the same transformer and I can reach the barn from the ISY in the house without fail. I estomate 400' of wire (house --100'--> Transformer on pole --300'--> barn).

 

Definitely worth a test.

 

If not, the Network resources module with either another ISY or a SmartLinc at the other end. a second ISY would be way more useful.

 

-Xathros

 

I vote for trying this method. I have a house and garage on separate meters and can control devices in both using 1 ISY. My sister is in the house next door with a separate garage (2 more meters) and I have toyed with the idea of trying to control some of her devices. I do have 2 access points in the garage and 2 access points in the house.

[Xathros]

I guess you would use variables which would be changed by REST commands from the other ISY to track the device status. Correct?

 

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

You could have the remote ISY /rest/set vars in the local ISY or have the local /rest/get values from the remote. Either way it would be a lot of extra work. The local could also directly control remote devices via /rest and check status via /rest so vars are not necessarily necessary. For status, it certainly wouldn't be as nice as looking at the local network tree.

 

-Xathros

[R Miles]

I have 2 houses (next to each other) each with a separate electrical panel. The ISY is in one house. I have Insteon devices in each house and in the garden of each all controlled by the one ISY. I can control each of the garden EZFloras from different RemoteLinc s in either yard, in either house. I can install new devices from any computer (any where) and write programs from any where. It is handy for me but I can see where it could be a nuisance - having my neighbor control my devices.

 

Regards,

Bob

[Guest smontclair]

I'm attempting to bridge this with 2 access points, but am having difficulty adding the dual band 2443 to the ISY. auto discover failed, and it doesn't seem to be in the pull down list... any guesses?

 

as always, most likely operator error on my part, but i am attempting to do this remotely, so I can't triple check immediately.

[Brian H]

Access Points are not added to your ISY setup.

 

Just do the Communications tests built into them and verify they can at least reach each other. When you are back locally where you can do the tests.

[apostolakisl]

Access Points are not added to your ISY setup.

 

Just do the Communications tests built into them and verify they can at least reach each other. When you are back locally where you can do the tests.

 

What he said.

 

Just think about it for a second. Access points don't have a status, don't control anything, and don't respond to anything. They are just repeaters so having them take up a node in ISY would not serve any purpose.