Re: Do these exist: "Instant on" or very rapid start CFL???

[Marc_F_Hult <MFHult@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, 14 Jun 2011 14:33:17 -0500, Mark Lloyd <mlloyd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote in message  <hadfv6pnr646sb0re81hhavgfr509eer17@xxxxxxx>:

>When I tried Insteon, it was MUCH WORSE than X10. Often, a device
>would work the first couple of times, until I added another device.
>Then it would get weird. I'd never know if pressing a button would do
>nothing, turn the desired device on, turn another device off, or
>something else. It keeps behaving as it was about start working,
>something a lot worse than not working at all.  I tried it about a
>dozen times, in different rooms (including one where a limited X10
>system works almost perfectly). Smarthome still owes me about $90
>(failed to credit returns).

Did you remove the homebrew X-10 couplers and other devices from your system?
In particular, I remember a picture of a modification to a dryer that you
showed to comp.home.automation years ago via a url.

But sounds to me, based on the sparse info provided, that your INSTEON issues
were caused by incorrect/conflicting programming of the individual devices
rather than primarily signal problems.

There are two solution that I know of and have used to successfully install
INSTEON: 1) Either be very careful, and accurate, and methodical, and take
notes while manually and individually programming the devices using
Smarthome's instructions, or 2) Do all the programming through an ISY
controller. www.universal-devices.com

For anything but a very small or toy system, I'd recommend installing an ISY
despite its added cost. I have about 70? INSTEON devices at this point. In
two decades of experimentation, updating and reconfiguration, I never, ever
had X-10 working as dependably, or quickly, or flexibly or powerfully as
INSTEON. That includes INSTEON RF vs X10 RF.  Issues faced by early adopters
have been resolved by SmartHome in my experience and ISY. And despite what
some comp.home.automation participants post here, INSTEON is not exactly a
closed proprietary system (Witness: ISY).

On alternate days I sometimes consider replacing the hard-wired
Homebrew/Centralite lighting system on the first floor with INSTEON (but on
the next, not ;-) The T0-D0 list keeps getting longer, not shorter).

All things INSTEON can be controlled at anytime and from any place with
internet or 3G connection using my iPhone and eKeypad ( www.eKeypad.net),
which also can also serve as the internet interface to security cameras and
Elk M1G home controller.

My iPhone is always with me so I can (almost) always control most everything.
No compelling need for expensive and obtrusive in-wall touch screens, PC
monitors and other HA-specific hardware interfaces.

Slick as a whistle and also no unavoidable need for PC-based software such as
Homeseer. But the ISY does competently and non-competitively co-exist with HS
and the HS plug-in is mature enough to not be an issue.

HTH ... Marc
Marc_F_Hult
www.ECOntrol.org