Re: Current mid-range technology?

["Robert L Bass" <Sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Russ in San Diego" wrote:
>
> While looking into UPB, I found my way over to SmartHome again (a UPB
> outlet), and noticed that they seem to be pushing Insteon pretty
heavily...

They push Insteon because it's their own product.

> Any consensus on it?

There seem to be varying opinions on Insteon.  Several folks here like it a
lot.  Others have posted about problems they had (some or all of which may to
have been resolved).  My only concern is that Insteon is a single-source
product line.  SmartHome makes it.  No one else does.  When (not if) they drop
the line, no further support and no replacement products will be available.
IMO, this is the most significant drawback of any proprietary technology.  I
sell a lot of CCTV equipment in my online store.  We frequently get calls from
people who have purchased integrated systems conmsisting of a monitor,
recording device and several cameras.  If it's proprietary and out of
production, the whole system has to be scrapped when a single component fails.

Since Insteon also uses X10 (along with SH's proprietary technology) to
transmit signals, a failed dimmer or switch can usually be replaced with an
X10 device.  It won't have any of the benefits of Insteon though.  Also, when
a controller fails, there will be nothing to replace it.  This may not happen
for several years or even for 10 years.  But it is certain to happen at some
point.  The problem is you have no way to know whether the line will be
dropped in 10 years or the day after tomorrow.

UPB and Z-Wave are supported by hundreds of manufacturers, including the many
of largest firms in the electrical industry.  Even Intel is getting on board
with Z-Wave, claiming their next PC chips will support the technology.  If any
manufacturer drops the line, any other company's products will still work with
your system.

Another advantage of going with a more widely supported technology is that
there are far more product options available.  Instead of limiting your
options to whatever SH continues to make, you can choose from thousands of
components from a raft of manufacturers.  It gives you a bigger universe.

<disclosure>Though I believe I'm being fair in my comments, I'm not entirely
unbiased since I sell Z-Wave and UPB based products.</disclosure>

> SmartHome seems to be claiming that it's most reliable of any of the
> technologies, while cheaper than UPB (although more expensive than X10).

It's their own product.  :^)

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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