Re: I'm loving Insteon

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Thu, 02 Aug 2007 09:54:43 -0700, RickH <passport@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote in message  <1186073683.767819.196780@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>:

>I'm not associated with smarthome, in fact I think their prices are
>too high but service excellent, but I'm lovin Insteon.

[snip]
>
>Other than that, the Insteon hardware is rock solid and in conjuction
>with the smarthome developed software is a snap to program.

>Any other Insteon users here?


Our INSTEON installation (~35 switches+dimmers and ~ 10 RF+PLC) took some
time to get the kinks out but I am now more than pleased and glad I made the
decision when I did.

1) the HomeSeer driver was erratic and incomplete for a long time, in large
part because the underlying SDM from SmartLabs was buggy. (It's been running
without a burp for a couple+ months now and the built-in link editing,
performance monitoring makes the SmartLabs software superfluous),

2) Appliance modules that reportedly overheated,

3) Several of the V2 devices could be forced to show the 'dreaded' flicker
problem,

4) The original RF phase connector turned out to be unable to hear RF keypads
and so had to swapped out for smarter devices

5) the PLC controllers (USB and serial) wanted to be sent home for upgraded
firmware

6) Some of the V1.1 ICON dimmers would infrequently but visibly blink (RMA'd
replacement with free shipping both ways are on the way.)

7) and whatever else I forgot.

SmartHome was unrelentingly cheerful and efficient in facilitating the RMA's
and except for the RF coupler upgrade, paying postage both ways.

Fussing with these issues was penalty for being a relatively earlier adopter.
The upside was paying <$17 each, shipping included, for most of my devices
and the pile of spares. Total for the entire installation was about $1300
including three RF keypads.  That is ~1/2 of 1% of the median price of a US
home (2005 -2006). Considering that the ICON dimmers cost less than, and look
like manual Leviton/Lutron/HomeDepot Decora dimmers, the price was very
reasonable IMO.

The HomeSeer plugin makes maintenance of links fairly simple. Vastly better
than physically running around with a screwdriver to X-10 devices!

The namesake characteristic of INST[ant]ON is realized when you use the RF
remote in comparison to X-10. I ain't going back thar *ever* agin ...The
multiple press issue goes away if you play crotchets and not semiquavers on
the keyboard/pad.

 ... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
The Home Automation and Electronics Internet Porch Sale is jist gittin going
here: www.ECOntrol.org/porch_sale.htm