Home Automation - New Installation = Insteon

Author

New Installation = Insteon

TheWalkman@comcast.net

2007-05-07, 1:25 pm

I'm thinking about incorporating some home automation into a big
renovation project. Initially, I'm looking at basic lighting control
and was leaning towards Insteon. I don't really need to do any
dimming but want to control cove lighting, under cabinet, etc. which
is fluorescent. Eventually, I'd like to tie this into an IP based
controller (remote monitoring), smart thermostats, etc.

It seems that there are no Insteon wall outlets (other than the lamp
modules which I really would prefer not to use.) Isn't this a huge
gap in their offerings? The Smarthome folks have said for a year that
they're just around the corner...

Would I be better off with an alternative technology? I'm getting a
funny feeling in my gut that Insteon is dying on the vine. I've been
casually monitoring this technology for a bit over a year and it seems
Insteon has stalled.

Does anyone know if someone will soon offer plug modules? Is Insteon
the way to go? Are there better alternatives? Any thoughts/ comments
appreciated.

Dave Houston

2007-05-07, 1:25 pm

You'll have to decide for yourself whether Insteon has a future. FWIW, I
think it does.

There is a 3rd party IP-Insteon bridge...

http://www.smarthome.com/31272p.html

They are about to start shipping RF access points and an RF remote.

http://www.smarthome.com/2443.html
http://www.smarthome.com/2440.html

You can always use X-10 outlets until Insteon outlets become available.
There are some issues with this - how many outlets are you planning?

You will likely need filters if you are planning CFL fluorescents.

Have you tried the Smarthome Insteon forum?

http://www.techmall.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=9

TheWalkman@comcast.net wrote:

>I'm thinking about incorporating some home automation into a big
>renovation project. Initially, I'm looking at basic lighting control
>and was leaning towards Insteon. I don't really need to do any
>dimming but want to control cove lighting, under cabinet, etc. which
>is fluorescent. Eventually, I'd like to tie this into an IP based
>controller (remote monitoring), smart thermostats, etc.
>
>It seems that there are no Insteon wall outlets (other than the lamp
>modules which I really would prefer not to use.) Isn't this a huge
>gap in their offerings? The Smarthome folks have said for a year that
>they're just around the corner...
>
>Would I be better off with an alternative technology? I'm getting a
>funny feeling in my gut that Insteon is dying on the vine. I've been
>casually monitoring this technology for a bit over a year and it seems
>Insteon has stalled.
>
>Does anyone know if someone will soon offer plug modules? Is Insteon
>the way to go? Are there better alternatives? Any thoughts/ comments
>appreciated.

TheWalkman@comcast.net

2007-05-07, 1:25 pm

On May 7, 11:31 am, nob...@whocares.com (Dave Houston) wrote:
> You'll have to decide for yourself whetherInsteonhas a future. FWIW, I
> think it does.
>
> There is a 3rd party IP-Insteonbridge...
>
> http://www.smarthome.com/31272p.html
>
> They are about to start shipping RF access points and an RF remote.
>
> http://www.smarthome.com/2443.html
> http://www.smarthome.com/2440.html
>
> You can always use X-10 outlets untilInsteonoutlets become available.
> There are some issues with this - how many outlets are you planning?
>
> You will likely need filters if you are planning CFL fluorescents.
>
> Have you tried the SmarthomeInsteonforum?
>
> http://www.techmall.com/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=9
>
>
>
> TheWalk...@comcast.net wrote:
>
>
>
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thanks.

I've seen the bridges.

It seems that if you're really into dimming incandescents, Insteon is
really neat technology. I want to control 15 - 20 grouped fluorescent
linears in cove/ under cabinet lighting so I can control groups of
these at a time

For what I want to do, I suppose the Inline Linc (http://
www.smarthome.com/2475s.html - $46 per) will work or I can use $19
X-10 plugs (http://www.smarthome.com/2040.html).

My concern/ point, is why wouldn't someone offer something as basic as
this as a true Insteon receptacle product?

If I'm going to the effort to install a technology, rigging it to work
with X-10 seems to negate most of the benefits of going with Insteon
to begin with.

Am I missing something or do the guys at Smarthome need to switch to
caffeinated coffee?

Robert L Bass

2007-05-07, 1:25 pm

> It seems that there are no Insteon wall outlets
> (other than the lamp modules which I really
> would prefer not to use.) Isn't this a huge
> gap in their offerings? The Smarthome folks
> have said for a year that they're just around
> the corner...

Take a look at Z-Wave. There are over 100
member companies currently shipping or
developing Z-Wave compatible devices. These
range from lighting controls to thermostats,
swimming pool controllers, etc. There are a
number of home automation controllers and
software based systems which support
Z-Wave.

Among the major companies supporting the
protocol are Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss,
Intel, Intermatic, Leviton, Monster Cable,
Universal Electronics, Wayne Dalton, Zensys
(developed the Z-Wave technology).
Intel says their next PC chip will include Z-Wave
integration.

On the other hand there is SmartHome's
Insteon product line. A few people love it. A
few have posted about problems with the
hardware. Insteon lacks the support of
major industry players that it will need to
remain a viable product line.

> Would I be better off with an alternative
> technology? I'm getting a funny feeling in
> my gut that Insteon is dying on the vine.
> I've been casually monitoring this technology
> for a bit over a year and it seems Insteon
> has stalled.

I believe you're right. Then again, since I
sell Z-Wave I'm not entirely unbiased. :^)

> Does anyone know if someone will soon
> offer plug modules? Is Insteon the way to
> go? Are there better alternatives? Any
> thoughts/ comments appreciated.

Besides Z-Wave you could take a look at
UPB. I have limited information on both it
and Z-Wave on my website. I'll post more
time allows.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

Dave Houston

2007-05-07, 1:25 pm

TheWalkman@comcast.net wrote:

>My concern/ point, is why wouldn't someone offer something as basic as
>this as a true Insteon receptacle product?

Given the volume of X-10 business that Smarthome does, they probably have a
pretty good handle on what the market wants so I suspect sockets are not in
that much demand. Most people seem to want dimmers, even with fluorescents.

>If I'm going to the effort to install a technology, rigging it to work
>with X-10 seems to negate most of the benefits of going with Insteon
>to begin with.

True, but all Insteon controllers can also control X-10 and all Insteon
devices can be configured as either or both.

T. C. Conde

2007-07-05, 3:25 am

I have done several houses in UPB and it is the way to go. It is actually
X-10 version 2.0 and it is just great. FOR ME, it has been 100% bulletproof.
I have had a few issues with things that didn't work when they were
installed but they were covered under warranty and all was good. All the
modules have been easy to wire in and since I use it for handicapped and
disabled people who REALLY depend on it, I would know if it failed for some
reason. There is probably nothing wrong with Insteon per se. I just needed
whole house solutions and Insteon was not there. I needed thermostats, IR
sending devices, switches, plugs, appliance modules, etc. and Insteon didn't
offer a full range of products, while UPB did. X-10 is just too hit and miss
and Z-Wave will probably be good, but there is very little hardware for it
now.

If you want to know more about UPB, let me know aned I will turn you on to
some sources.

Tim
tcconde@sbcglobal.net

<TheWalkman@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:1178549032.739249.188680@o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
> I'm thinking about incorporating some home automation into a big
> renovation project. Initially, I'm looking at basic lighting control
> and was leaning towards Insteon. I don't really need to do any
> dimming but want to control cove lighting, under cabinet, etc. which
> is fluorescent. Eventually, I'd like to tie this into an IP based
> controller (remote monitoring), smart thermostats, etc.
>
> It seems that there are no Insteon wall outlets (other than the lamp
> modules which I really would prefer not to use.) Isn't this a huge
> gap in their offerings? The Smarthome folks have said for a year that
> they're just around the corner...
>
> Would I be better off with an alternative technology? I'm getting a
> funny feeling in my gut that Insteon is dying on the vine. I've been
> casually monitoring this technology for a bit over a year and it seems
> Insteon has stalled.
>
> Does anyone know if someone will soon offer plug modules? Is Insteon
> the way to go? Are there better alternatives? Any thoughts/ comments
> appreciated.
>
>

Charlie

2007-09-10, 9:25 am

"T. C. Conde" <tcconde@sbcglobal.net> wrote in
news:Vg1ji.998$bz7.40@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net:

> I have done several houses in UPB and it is the way to go. It is
> actually X-10 version 2.0 and it is just great. FOR ME, it has been
> 100% bulletproof. I have had a few issues with things that didn't work
> when they were installed but they were covered under warranty and all
> was good. All the modules have been easy to wire in and since I use it
> for handicapped and disabled people who REALLY depend on it, I would
> know if it failed for some reason. There is probably nothing wrong
> with Insteon per se. I just needed whole house solutions and Insteon
> was not there. I needed thermostats, IR sending devices, switches,
> plugs, appliance modules, etc. and Insteon didn't offer a full range
> of products, while UPB did. X-10 is just too hit and miss and Z-Wave
> will probably be good, but there is very little hardware for it now.
>
> If you want to know more about UPB, let me know aned I will turn you
> on to some sources.
>
> Tim
> tcconde@sbcglobal.net
>
> <TheWalkman@comcast.net> wrote in message
> news:1178549032.739249.188680@o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>

Tim, do you have a link to UPB? I got the Insteon starter kit a year
ago. I've heard a lot of bad things about Insteon products since then,
and am reluctant to use them. Since my starter kit is capable of sending
X10 commands, can I use this to address UPB?

Neil Cherry

2007-09-10, 9:25 am

On 10 Sep 2007 09:06:51 GMT, Charlie wrote:
> "T. C. Conde" <tcconde@sbcglobal.net> wrote in
> news:Vg1ji.998$bz7.40@newssvr22.news.prodigy.net:
>
[color=darkred]
> Tim, do you have a link to UPB? I got the Insteon starter kit a year
> ago. I've heard a lot of bad things about Insteon products since then,
> and am reluctant to use them. Since my starter kit is capable of sending
> X10 commands, can I use this to address UPB?

UPB doesn't understand X10 commands, actually Insteon protocol doesn't
understand X10 either but many Insteon devices have support for X10
the X10 protocol too.

Here's a link to a site with some info on UPB:

http://www.pulseworx.com/

I'd recommend searching for upb and dimmer that should get you other
sites with further info.

There is an X10 to UPB translator:

http://www.architechtronics.com/chameleoplc.html

I have no affiliation with either of these links.

--
Linux Home Automation Neil Cherry ncherry@linuxha.com
http://www.linuxha.com/ Main site
http://linuxha.blogspot.com/ My HA Blog
Author of: Linux Smart Homes For Dummies

Charlie

2007-09-10, 1:25 pm

Neil Cherry <njc@cookie.uucp> wrote in
news:slrnfeadq5.d2u.njc@cookie.uucp:

> On 10 Sep 2007 09:06:51 GMT, Charlie wrote:
>
>
> UPB doesn't understand X10 commands, actually Insteon protocol doesn't
> understand X10 either but many Insteon devices have support for X10
> the X10 protocol too.
>
> Here's a link to a site with some info on UPB:
>
> http://www.pulseworx.com/
>
> I'd recommend searching for upb and dimmer that should get you other
> sites with further info.
>
> There is an X10 to UPB translator:
>
> http://www.architechtronics.com/chameleoplc.html
>
> I have no affiliation with either of these links.
>

Much thanks, Neil. I was hoping that Insteon would be able to send X-10
to UPB as you refer to it as "X-10 version 2.0".

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