Re: Living with Idratek

[Rob Heyes <mh001b4520@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for posting that Jon.  I'd already pretty much decided on
Idratek for my new house, but that
has just confirmed it.

re the dimming - I understand that a 4-channel DIN rail mounted dimmer is
in the works

I'm interested in the new display panels, care to expand on that?  By email
if they're top secret :)

--Rob

JonS wrote:
> A few weeks ago there was some discussion on the lines of did Idratek
> live up to the claims.  About a year ago I chose Idratek and am
> coming to the end of the main phase of my deployment; I have 18
> devices and about 180 "nodes" (relays, inputs etc).  In most
of the
> house I have retrofitted it to the existing mains wiring, in the
> kitchen and main living area it is all completely new and
> predominately radially wired.  Some bits have been up for several
> months but it has really come together in recent weeks.
>
> As well as cat5 to the Idratek devices I have a mix of cat5 and
> various types of alarm cable to sensors (reed switches) in the doors
> and windows plus a few PIRs.  So even where the mains cable is
> original, there was still a lot of chasing and even more time spent
> trying to coerce wires under floors etc.
>
> So far the main function it provides is automated lighting with web
> and email control & audio prompts; but alarm, IR distribution,
voice
> recognition,  telephone control & messaging, heating control, CCTV
> multi-room audio and home cinema are cabled for and will be
> controlled by Idratek.
>
> A list of pros and cons follows, YMMV, but I am delighted.
>
> Pros:
> + Robust and reliable ? Reflex (basic) control possible when/if PC
> running Cortex fails.
> 	+ Hardware designed to cope with mistakes in wiring it up,
> fuses and over current protection ?I've needed both !
> 	-+battery backed "Idranet" bus, with all my nodes connected
I
> draw ~40mA so the 4Ah battery provided should cover most outages.
> + Cortex, the main control software is superb.  Good interface, good
> help, controls that go far beyond the level of sophistication I want
> at the moment, light footprint, ~6monthly major releases, regular
> glitch free updates/fixes all delivered over the web.  My main
> problems have been rooted in the steep learning curve I've been on.
> + Support, absolutely second to none.  It has been a steep learning
> curve but I've had numerous patient explanations from Karam and
> Vivian by email and phone ranging from the rating and protection
> needed for relays or digital inputs to the interaction between
> different light meters giving unexpected (by me) behaviour and how to
> get it to do what I want.  Emails are usually replied to within a
> working day.  I've never felt fobbed off and often the explanations
> have been more comprehensive than necessary.  Good documentation and
> very good "Guideline" documents.
> + Presence detection very good when there is contiguous sensor (PIR)
> coverage, not always 100% with the number of people in each room, but
> it gets the right rooms as occupied.  Glitches I have had have been
> ironed out by adjusting time-outs (I changed some too aggressively
> while setting-up).
> + Instantaneous switching of lights and appliances based on presence ?
>  far quicker than you could manually switch a light on.
> + Comprehensive built in controls for lights, fans, other switched
> loads.  Took a bit of time to get used to the differences
> between "behaviour" "connections" and
"properties" but it all makes
> sense now.
> +  Free topology, re-use your existing lights and decentralise
> switching, add new circuits with centralised switching; radially wire
> the bus, loop it around ? I've mixed and matched as it suited me and
> it just works.
> +   Does everything I wanted in a single well integrated package.  It
> actually does far more so my plans have grown too!
> + Scene setting for lights  and other controlled items (curtains,
> screens etc) ? not used this yet but the capability is there.
> + Excellent value for money
>
> Cons:
> - Some of the current devices look/feel a bit cheap/flimsy or like
> scientific equipment, I understand this is being addressed.
> - No wireless capability, yet.  This was never an issue for me, DECT
> and Wifi really struggle to operate from one end of the house to the
> other!
> - Dimming options not as comprehensive as some light control
> solutions, there is one size/rating.  My concern is that the rating
> may not be sufficient for the lights I've got.  Mind you I have not
> played with one yet.
> - No roadmap for devices or capabilities in the pipeline.  Many
> organisations sell concepts on the drawing board with Idratek you may
> not get to hear about them until they are in production.  I've found
> this a little frustrating as I've got a few devices that I would not
> have bought (e.g. light and PIR) had I known a light temp device with
> digital inputs was on the cards (its easy to add off the shelf
> PIRs).  The plus side of this is that they aren't selling vapourware
> and where they have known my interest in e.g. the new Display panels
> they have been excellent at keeping me up to date with progress and
> very flexible and helpful in getting me started while waiting. I
> cannot have everything perhaps!
> - PC security ? the screen has to be left unlocked and you cannot run
> Cortex as a service, security on the web side is fine (as far as I
> can tell) but physical security required (esp if you have little
> people with curious fingers!)
>
> For me the pros far outweigh the cons, I am really pleased with my
> choice and would heartily recommend it to anyone who can face chasing
> their walls.
>
> HTH
> Jon
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