Intermatic: Z-Wave on steroids

["Robert L Bass" <no-sales-spam@bassburglaralarms>]

Intermatic showed their new InTouch(tm) system at the EH Expo in Orlando.  The system incorporates all standard Z-Wave features and
adds two significant improvements.

1.  Transmitters can make up to 8 hops instead of the standard 4.  This increases the maximum coverage of a Z-Wave system
geometrically.  The Intermatic Z-Wave system should handle virtually any home.

2.  Intermatic's dimmers, switches, motion detectors, etc., are true 2-way devices.  They report local changes (i.e., button
presses) back to the control panel.

These improvements offer a solution to the two most common objections made by some CHA participants -- scope and status reporting.

The down side is that Intermatic's controls cost more than most other Z-Wave stuff.  The up side is they are fully compatible with
legacy Z-Wave.  The only thing one would not get is local status change reports from non-Intermatic units.

Given the highly competitive nature of the industry, it's probably safe to assume that other manufacturers will soon follow suit
with true 2-way reporting and increased hops.  Meanwhile, Intermatic has upped the ante significantly with their InTouch controls.

I spoke with Intermatic about ELK-M1G compatibility.  They indicate that ELK has committed to make their Z-Wave module fully
compatible.  I have yet to confirm or get a proposed release date from ELK.  If anyone needs that info let me know and I'll give
them a shout this week.  Note: I'm not yet offering Intermatic online.  Various other online retailers are.  I'll make a list and
post it as soon as I have time.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>


begin 666 Robert L Bass.vcf
M0D5'24XZ5D-!4D0-"E9%4E-)3TXZ,BXQ#0I..D)A<W,[4F]B97)T.TP-"D9.
M.E)O8F5R="!,($)A<W,-"D]21SI"87-S($AO;64@16QE8W1R;VYI8W,-"E1%
M3#M73U)+.U9/24-%.CDT,2TX-C8M,3$P, T*5$5,.TA/344[5D])0T4Z.30Q
M+3@V-BTQ,3 P#0I!1%([5T]22SH[.S0X.#,@1F%L;&-R97-T($-I<F-L93M3
M87)A<V]T83M&3#LS-#(S,SM54T$-"DQ!0D5,.U=/4DL[14Y#3T1)3D<]455/
M5$5$+5!224Y404),13HT.#@S($9A;&QC<F5S="!#:7)C;&4],$0],$%387)A
M<V]T82P@1DP@,S0R,S,],$0],$%54T$-"D%$4CM(3TU%.CL[-#@X,R!&86QL
M8W)E<W0@xxxxxxxxxxxx<F%S;W1A.T9,.S,T,C,S#0I,04)%3#M(3TU%.T5.
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:-S S,3%4,3<Q-C(W6@T*14Y$.E9#05)$#0H`
`
end