Hardware Specs

[Issacsim]

What are the hardware specs for the isy994i pro?

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi Issacsim,

 

Coldfire CPU, 2MB Flash, 8MB RAM, Real Time clock on board.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[johnnyt]

What's in the 99ir?

 

 

Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi johnnyt,

 

It has an IR input and thus you can use your RC5 remote to command and control your devices in ISY through programs.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[johnnyt]

I meant what are the hardware specs? CPU, RAM, real time clock?

[Brian H]

http://www.universal-devices.com/mwiki/ ... s#Hardware

[johnnyt]

so does the 994i with the Coldfire CPU and more (faster?) RAM run noticeably faster than the 99i? According to wikipedia, the Coldfire can be clocked at up to 300 MHz. what's it clocked at in the 994i?

 

Also, when is the 99i expected to reach it's growth end of life, i.e. no more room to update with new functionality because of RAM limitation? I noticed Brultech functionality had to be removed from 99i recently - a sign of things to come? how much time did that buy?

 

I guess I'm trying to figure out what I might get by upgrading when I don't need the radio. Greater speed is certainly something I would pay for if there's a noticeable difference.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hi johnnyt,

 

so does the 994i with the Coldfire CPU and more (faster?) RAM run noticeably faster than the 99i?

Not noticeably but just a little smoother. The CPU is the same and so is the clock

 

According to wikipedia, the Coldfire can be clocked at up to 300 MHz. what's it clocked at in the 994i?

See above

 

Also, when is the 99i expected to reach it's growth end of life, i.e. no more room to update with new functionality because of RAM limitation? I noticed Brultech functionality had to be removed from 99i recently - a sign of things to come? how much time did that buy?

99i will go to maintenance mode next year: only bug fixes

 

I guess I'm trying to figure out what I might get by upgrading when I don't need the radio. Greater speed is certainly something I would pay for if there's a noticeable difference.

The only reason you would want to upgrade now instead of next year is the incredibly low price ($109 for 994i). Otherwise, you can wait and upgrade if and only if necessary

 

With kind regards,

MIchel

[oberkc]

so does the 994i with the Coldfire CPU and more (faster?) RAM run noticeably faster than the 99i?

 

I just upgraded. IMO, the -994 offers no noticeable speed advantages. I doubt that the programming taxes any current processor. I also assume that the speed limitation has nothing to do with processor, but insteon communication.

 

But I don't have anything too complicated as far as programming goes.

[johnnyt]

so does the 994i with the Coldfire CPU and more (faster?) RAM run noticeably faster than the 99i?

 

I just upgraded. IMO, the -994 offers no noticeable speed advantages. I doubt that the programming taxes any current processor. I also assume that the speed limitation has nothing to do with processor, but insteon communication.

 

Am not really worried about insteon network speed. It's more getting the data to and from the GUI, especially when the GUI isn't the only subscriber to ISY, although even by itself there seems to be a lot of overhead. In my case HomeSeer is also communicating with ISY, as is an Autelis RS232-to-ISY converter, and I may add another one. I also use notifications a lot since there's not a good program activity log. I sometimes get notifications that revert to default messages rather than the proper custom ones because the system is too busy (so I was told). I've had to add a 2 sec wait if I want to be sure I get a custom notification. I just wondered if a faster CPU, RAM (or even NIC) - if that had been the case - might help speed things up on these fronts.

[Michel Kohanim]

johnnyt,

 

Upgrade is not going to help any of these symptoms. 3.3.5 might help a little with download speeds.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Issacsim]

Coldfire CPU, 2MB Flash, 8MB RAM, Real Time clock on board.

 

In anyone experience, do you feel the ISY could use more speed and storage?

 

I am trying to decide between ISY and Vera 3, both will meet my needs (once ISY gets z-wave), but ISY looks extremely underpowered compering to the Vera specs (500MHz CPU, Flash NAND 32 MB, SDRAM 32 MB, Memory DDR2 128 MB).

 

Sorry for pointing this out on this forum, but since I am leaning towered ISY, I want to make sure I will not have performance issues.

[LeeG]

I have no issues with the performance of the ISY. Been using them for several years as a Controller of the Insteon devices in the main house, detached garage and dock (some 50+ devices, 125+ nodes). Another is the driver of a significant Insteon device test bed. I do not have 300 Programs and the constant updating that has been raised as a concern.

[oberkc]

I am trying to decide between ISY and Vera 3, both will meet my needs (once ISY gets z-wave),

I find this statement to be quite interesting. Based upon my reading of the micasaverde documentation, I would have called it a Z-wave controller with limited (very) support for insteon. Based upon my understanding of the ISY series of controllers, I would call it an insteon controller with limited Z-wave device support. I am having trouble understanding how both could meet your needs, unless you are still flexible with regards to which protocol (insteon or z-wave) you will take.

[Issacsim]

I am trying to decide between ISY and Vera 3, both will meet my needs (once ISY gets z-wave),

I find this statement to be quite interesting. Based upon my reading of the micasaverde documentation, I would have called it a Z-wave controller with limited (very) support for insteon. Based upon my understanding of the ISY series of controllers, I would call it an insteon controller with limited Z-wave device support. I am having trouble understanding how both could meet your needs, unless you are still flexible with regards to which protocol (insteon or z-wave) you will take.

 

 

Still flexible, moving to a new house end of January. Did not purchase anything yet.

[Michel Kohanim]

Hello Issacsim,

 

I am trying to decide between ISY and Vera 3, both will meet my needs (once ISY gets z-wave), but ISY looks extremely underpowered compering to the Vera specs (500MHz CPU, Flash NAND 32 MB, SDRAM 32 MB, Memory DDR2 128 MB).

 

I can only provide you with an analogy since I do not know much about Vera apart from it being based on openWRT:

You would use a 10 ton truck to haul 10 ton things. Linux is a 10 ton thing which requires all the horse power + more.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Issacsim]

Hello Issacsim,

I can only provide you with an analogy since I do not know much about Vera apart from it being based on openWRT:

You would use a 10 ton truck to haul 10 ton things. Linux is a 10 ton thing which requires all the horse power + more.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

 

 

Thanks Michel,

 

Any ETA on Z-Wave yet?

I am hoping it will be available by year end.

[Xathros]

For what it's worth, I have a 994i-Pro with 90+ programs, 60+ network resources, 80 variables, 60 nodes and have a CAI web control board in near constant communication with the ISY. I haven't noticed a performance issue with the ISY under these conditions. I did upgrade from a 99i earlier this year. I can say that the Admin console "feels" quicker to respond than it did on the 99i. There have been some firmware updates since then so I can't say for sure that the improved feel is due to the 994 over the 99.

 

Guess I need to set up the 99 as a test bed. I just don't have enough leftover Insteon parts to make that worth while yet.

 

-Xathros

[oberkc]

Still flexible, moving to a new house end of January. Did not purchase anything yet

 

Hey Issacsim,

 

In my opinion, the more critical decision you have to make is which protocol (z-wave or insteon) you wish to pursue. I think that is a much larger factor than a comparison of the hardware specifications in the competing controllers (though, as a fan of the ISY, I cannot help that a comparison of controllers would tend to suggest taking the insteon route). In my experience, the "hardware" is fully up to the task that most people will ask of it. It is a little like how Rolls Royce specifies power in their cars: "adequate". You will be happy with it.

 

Do you prefer the hardware of Z-wave or insteon? Are you comfortable with a sole-source for you swiches and modules (insteon) or is multiple vendors important to you (z-wave)? Do you believe that one protocol has a better future than the other? Do you percieve performance of insteon or Z-wave to be superior?

 

These, in my mind, are the questions you should be asking and answering. Then, if you decide to go with insteon, the controller decision is made (ISY!). Likewise, if you prefer Z-wave, then perhaps another controller would be a better solution for you.

[Michel Kohanim]

Xathros, and oberkc, thanks so very much for the feedback!

 

Issacsim, we should have ZWave/alpha very very soon. This said, it will be in alpha with limited support for limited set of devices to begin with. So, I do believe the same as oberkc: your decision should be based on which protocol (INSTEON vs. ZWave) would become your primary protocol and which the secondary.

 

With kind regards,

Michel

[Issacsim]

Thanks Guys,

 

Your answers have been very helpful.

I will be going the ISY/Insteon route.

 

The product selection for Insteon is great, and I am Ok with the fact it's all one company.

Also the upcoming support for z-wave makes this an easy choice.

 

And the most important part, is the support and knowledge on this forum.

 

Will be getting the new house early next year, can't wait to get started...