Re: $20 Insteon dimmer switch

["BruceR" <br@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ahh yes, All Agony Airlines (from USAir's former moniker Allegheny
Airlines). The kept me waiting plenty back then!

Fedex reports that my Insteon Translator is here and on the truck for a
Tuesday Delivery. More exciting that Christmas (this) morning! Even my
wife is excited that we soon have more reliability from Insteon.

Merry Christmas everybody!!


From:Dave Houston
nobody@xxxxxxxxxxxx

> Manny,
>
> From comparing the specification pages in the Icon & V2 user manuals,
> the Icon has only a 1 year warranty and does not support programmable
> ramp rates. The clear plastic housing probably costs less also. I
> think these will likely be the biggest sellers. There's really no
> need for programmable ramp rates for most switches and you can always
> use the more expensive models where it is desired.
>
> While waiting for Insteon motion detectors, etc., the two-way
> Insteon/X10 translator should help you continue to use the X10
> versions. Bruce Robin should be telling us how well it works before
> the end of the year.
>
> My only experience was with a loaner starter kit but I also felt the
> tabletop controller could do with more buttons. It's a rather bulky
> unit for so few buttons.
>
> Keep us apprised of your experience with Insteon. I'm sure there are
> many wanting to hear from "hands on" users. I'm eager to learn
> whether my initial views based on my limited tests will be borne out
> in widespread use.
>
> If they prove reliable and the $20 price isn't just an introductory
> promo, I think PCS will rue going the premium price route with UPB.
>
> For those watching these Insteon threads, I think I made a mistake in
> a recent post (I think the one about the translator). I believe I
> said the Insteon devices have 10mV sensitivity. That's their X10
> sensitivity. Their Insteon sensitivity is 1mV.
>
> "Manny Bhuta" <Testing@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>> Too bad that I did not know about Icon line of switches a month ago.
>> I just bought over $3,000 worth of Insteon switches.  Even with 10%
>> discount Smarthome gave me, may be I would have saved a lot of
>> money.  Only difference I see is that Icon has less memory and lacks
>> the LED indicator for brightness level.
>>
>> Based on replacing 8 X10 switches used to control CFL lights, I have
>> found the following:
>> 1.  Insteon switches are quilt easy to install and configure.
>> 2.  Any switch can also be a one button controller.  It can control
>> not only the load connected to it but also other switches linked to
>> it.  Linking is a very simple procedure.  This makes multi-way
>> switching very easy.
>> 3.  With X10, the lights in one of my bedrooms could not be reliably
>> controlled from a controller in my living room.  With an Insteon
>> Keypadlinc, it works every time.  I tested this by assigning the
>> same X10 address to a button on the Keypadlic and the switch in
>> bedroom.  If I unlink the two and use only the X10, it does not
>> work.  When I link the two, it works every time.
>>
>> Ultimately, I expect to end up with about 50 switches controlling
>> about 80 lights.  I hope Insteon will work better than X10.  IMHO
>> Insteon controller with only 5 sets of buttons is not enough.  There
>> should be at least 16 as in X10 controller.  I also can't wait for
>> Insteon motion detector.