Re: $20 Insteon dimmer switch

[nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Dave Houston)]

"Mark Thomas" <mrt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

>Dave Houston wrote:
>> I expect UPB to function well but think Insteon will do just as well and
>> offer more devices with much better prices.
>
>While I agree about the better prices, I'm not so sure about the more
>devices part. I'm currently using UPB right now specifically because I
>need the fixture modules and I/O modules that allow me to integrate all
>kinds of things into my HA system. Insteon doesn't have these things,
>and I'm not even sure how they could make a fixture module work, since
>you have to touch a device to set it up.

I'm sure I/O modules will appear simply because the Insteon protocol is
better suited for data than is the UPB protocol. I think someone will likely
marry an Insteon switch or module with the Allegro current sensor chips -
it's a natural.

As to fixture modules - what the devil is a fixture module? ;)

I'm wondering whether SmartHome will have Insteon versions of their
ToggleLinc switches. I'm slowly getting my brain reprogrammed to deal with
the spring-loaded, center-off toggle of the switch I put in one bathroom to
control an old fluorescent fixture.