Are the scenes stored in the devices the way the Insteon hub did it, or do the devices simply respond to commands? Hi Kevin I am not an expert in this field only know what I read. Filed Under: Featured, How-To Tagged With: amazon alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Home Assistant, HOOBS, Hubitat, hubs, Insteon, openhab, Samsung SmartThings, smart home. A group of people bought it out and are bringing it back. And who really want upwards of 40-100 or even more light switches all talking over WiFi? You do have a system that has a single pojnt of failure. I am truly a 75 year old novice who along the way of living with a rather simple Insteon system have lost many of the skills that I previously had. they send simple ASCII commands to an Insteon Hub/PLM/USB. There is also an Alexa skill that works with the ISY so all my voice commands still work perfectly too. When checking out, you will need to create a new Insteon . Heaving just gone through one of largest class action suits in the state of South Carolina, this will probably not create much satisfaction to us the purchasers of the product. It seemed like they were being left behind as competition heated up. Ive got at least 20 devices including 5 FanLincs installed, three of them on our lanai controlled by a single keypad. Instead, you can put devices into Home Assistant Areas. However, the price point and the availability of Insteon hub have always been an issue for customers. I meant it is *now* part of Home Assistant core software. The Insteon Hub however is based on a cloud service and if their servers remain offline, replacing the hub won't help. If so, would you please share your thoughts? Thanks, I contacted HomeSeer today, they seem to actually have access to a software program that was developed for Insteon, prior to the development of their hubs, so it was developed to handle all the Insteon features, it works with in conjunction with their interface which will work with Alexa, I may have to enter all the six digit identifiers that are on each device, it will take time and effort, hopefully but unlikely they are on the front of device but I doubt it. After evaluating other options, I went back to Amazon, bought 21 wifi devices in total to replace everything and it cost me only $235. Does anyone know if any of the above recommendations will work with Alexa? Overnight, the platforms servers were disconnected, leaving their customers without a functional smart home. Once its set up, the system is rock solid. any one else try to using it? Nest Hub. And who really want upwards of 40-100 or even more light switches all talking over WiFi? I have well over 40 Z-Wave devices in my home automation. I hope it goes well for you. Also I hear something about a new protocol or standard that may be near at hand that put the final nail in the coffin for insteon, but I have heard nothing about this and dont want to start replacing or trying to solve current issues only to have to do it again soon. A HOOBS hub costs $229.99 but if you have compatible hardware, such as Raspberry Pi, you can get the software for a suggested $10 donation. I do not know. An ISY is NOT A REPLACEMENT for an insteon hub. If you are not comfortable with this then feel free to contact me for making offers for hubs and switches. But I cant figure how they are at fault, for closing up operation for a service that they were not charging us for. So you will need a PLM. So smartthings has published its API but is leaving it up to the other side of the equation to do the heavy lifting. So too has the company up to this point. I may be biased but it is way beyond Z-Wave or Zigbee in stability, implementation and quality. These switches have the latest 700 series Z-Wave chip for improved range and security. Steve, totally agree with you on all points. Sure I tried the HomeSeer out yesterday. If you are not using Apple Homekit, get IKEAs Tradfri Gateway. To register devices: Go to the plugin Devices page, Click Add device, enter the insteon id, and other info, then click Add device. Download Homeboy for Insteon Hub and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch. Last on this list is the Nest hub from Google, which prides itself on better customization options. Its a less expensive way to keep using the old devices and given that most of the solutions are open-source software, Id expect them to be around for years to come. What are Insteon device owners and service users to do? And at $99: the HomePod mini makes a good hub/smart speaker. I had a significant amount of scenes previously and they had to be on the hub as well. Good luck to all you out there that have had similar problems as I have had hopefully this will help you resolve your problems. Those businesses died out, when companies such Insteon made it very simple to expand smart devices in homes with the only addition of hubs, and smart apps which were made available through google or Apple app stores. It took about two hours pausing and stopping the video to follow along, but I finally got it. So because the actual message to the switch via RF and/or wireline is proprietary, and they have left the building with the plans, there may be no way to recover. I was the first certified Insteon install in Central Florida and for a long time the only certified installer in Central Florida. American company HomeSeer also said it offers an alternative to users. And its not only the Insteon benefits. It has a reputation for being the first thing to quit. This experience has taught me to diversify. I have Border Router controllers from SmartThings, Ikea, Sengled, Hue, Aqara, and DIY with homeseer and Home Assistant on a Raspberry Pi. It controls you Hub/PLM/USB. Hello Im looking for an automatic light switcher to control my lights. Both protocols allow IoT devices to form a mesh network (with a hub in between) to communicate with each other instead of having to connect to . By Sebastien Bini | More Programs (1) Alternative apps : Games Game Character Hub is a program aimed at both video game developers and sprite artists. I am adding a very large addition to my house right now and wish that I could still get the Insteon devices, but hopefully zWave is up to the task. Its worth noting that Universal Devices sells an Insteon hub that relies mostly on local control. Even if that is the only asset left. And the laws might be different in other countries. or can you just use one of the options or devices above without the insteon Hub? I tried HOOBS that was disaster, spent over 9 hrs and nothing worked. To me ISY = control devices, Home Assistant = control life. By Sebastien Bini | More Programs (1) Alternative apps : Games Game Character Hub is a program aimed at both video game developers and sprite artists. You state that it runs on a local server. Now that they will be in even more short supply. Others, like Hubitat, have an integration for a working Insteon hub. Were we Android users, Id lean towards Google Home followed by Amazon Alexa as a platform, although SmartThings is still a viable and good option. Thanks very much, Kyle. Better said, it can likely control the device that controls the switches meaning if you have a hub or a PLM, it can more than likely control that hub/plm which in turn speaks to the switches. Universal devices http://www.universal-devices.com It controls all of the Insteon devices plus has a new NodeServer system which allows almost any smart device. If your current routines are complex, like if statements with and and or and multi layer logic, then you will have to make a decision about which of the more sophisticated platforms you want to go to. The PLM has USB or RS232 interfaces and plugs into the wall. But I can pair hue, sengled, sonoff, third reality, seedan, as well as Ikeas own devices to their hub. A lot like my Home Assistant and my up load insteon devices. This includes dimmers, switches, keypads, outlets, plug-in modules, in-wall products, the fan controller, DIN-rail modules, sensors, etc. Here are a few alternatives for reliable smart home solutions that are most popular among our customers and the team here at The Smartest House. We will just have to wait and see what happens. It is NOT a replacement. Is it true that with Home Assistant you would need to purchase their subscription service to have voice controls with Alexa? They are paying over retail on most Insteon switches. 2. When I moved to a brand new home 5 years ago I always knew this house would have to be put back to dumb home to sell it one day, but Insteon became integrated into my life. 2) What if the device in my home that is used to speak to switches (my Insteon Hub, my PLM, or my USB stick) fails. I also appreciate the security aspects Apple bakes in, particularly with their connected camera options. John. Ive had an Insteon system throughout my house for 5 years. Kevin, thank for your offer and I will be contact with you towards the end of this week, still have few tasks, I am sure I can probably handle before that that need attending regarding this process. As I have said 1,000 times in this thread if you do not believe that, unplug your Insteon Hub/PLM and try. The modem can be connected to the openHAB server either via a serial port (Model 2413S) or a USB port (Model 2413U). INSTEON for Hub By SmartLabs | More Programs (1) Report software : Business Productivity. May 10, 2020 There are two conversations here that people should separate or understand that they are separate. The folks at HomeSeer recently touted their Insteon compatibility and provide full details on the integration process. With systems worth hundreds or thousands, someone should be reverse engineering the PLM and selling it! That Insteon has managed to arise from the ashes of Smart.com is a testament to both the continued viability of the technology and the devotion of the considerable user base. Todd Stabelfeldt (the quadfather) is one of Apples accessibility consultants and has a number of videos on his HomeKit experiences. But someday I will get there. This is one of the most robust home automation systems out there. Apple has been strongly committed to accessibility for years, and their voice navigation options work quite well, much better than most competing platforms. However, once everything is integrated with the smart hub, everything will become effortless. I just bought two extra hubs on E-Bay before the idiots stormed in and (laughing) now people are bidding $500 for a USB controller (fools). Just my two cents. Insteon is back from the dead, thanks to a group of customers. You provide very useful information. I use Home Assistant and Nabu Casa and Alexa. Z wave is a slower communication protocol. This hub serves as a great henry option, and you can always upgrade to a better unit for more compatibility. So why do I want to get of my Insteon devices? You have a lot of Insteon devices but you want a simple plug and play solution. On the other hand, if youre more interested in the comprehensive integration with thermostats and sensors, then going with complete smart hubs will serve you better. Includes Free HomeSeer Mobile app for Apple . You can browse through countless smart skills and add voice controls to your light switches and sensors. So, you will often notice owners complaining about not being able to secure an Insteon hub for their homes. The schematic is published but the important bit is an Insteon custom chip which is probably unobtainable. Its a relatively simple process. Grossb2@gmail.com. Free shipping. What causes the hub to notoriously die is one little capacitor on its board. Thats just typical in the industry today. I have had X10 then Insteon installed for over a decade in my home. Just re-read your post. Homeseer, Hoobs, Habitat, Hardware change out? Add 100 light switches? Even so, Id be cautious and think twice before resetting an Insteon hub. This is really no different that many of the other things people mention on here .. ISY, Homeseer, etc. Those clauses have held up with previous companies, including Revolv, Iris, Wink, Staples Connect, and the ADT/SmartThings dual logo security system. Arguably, no other home automation offers the reliability of communication of their dual-band implementation, nor the relative ease of their interoperability. I would greatly appreciate your thoughts on the above and if I am pointed in the right direction. That whole process took 10 minutes and all my Insteon devices where back on Alexa. If it successful, I will sent an acknowledgment once i actually go through the process. You have linked buttons for a fixed scene. And that normally comes at the very end of a bankruptcy/dissolution process, because the people overseeing a bankruptcy are legally obliged to try to get the maximum financial value out of the assets the company owns, including any intellectual property, in order to try and get as much as possible for the creditors who have not yet been paid. Bulbs, Plugs and others seem to be rock solid no matter what I pair them with. But these smart lights and plugs can be slow to react as you keep adding more smart home devices and clogging your network. I have an extensive Insteon setup in my house. It is merely another layer. Bus schedules, energy management. But WeMo has said that they will release new devices that work with matter, their old ones will not. SMART HOME AUTOMATION NEED SOME ADVICE. If they had tried that approach they still might be in operation, but they were also impact with there inability to get hardware product to sell or there credit dried up as well that they couldnt secure hardware to sell. HI Jamesper your comment April 21, are you saying that a Universal Device ISY994 can replace my dead Insteon 2245-222 hub? To some up what you stated, my understanding is that Thread offers slightly less latency and you can use multiple border routers (Home Pod Mini devices for which currently I have two) to help improve the mesh network. All functions perfectly. We put together a short list of the essential smart home components below to make your transition from Insteon a little easier. It just doesnt have native control to integrate with Alexa (which is my current pain point.). I have three Insteon equipped houses and have had my primary running for over 15 years. That means Alexa - the voice-assistant service and ecosystem of Echo - essentially constantly gets smarter. OK, they shut down and maybe likely will not make new devices. Commands are also stored in the Cloud and are analysed by Amazon. Everything else people are talking about is just a way of attaching a new app to the existing Insteon hub. Im all in on HomeKit, mainly because we use iOS and because the connected devices we use are rock solid when it comes to stability. These options arent for everybody. The real question is why are you looking to not use Insteon. but thats just me. And that ownership tends to tie up the proprietary options as they reach end of life. 1. It was designed as a secure local automation system with signal speed and reliability in mind. These were set up with Alexa to allow voice control on most lamps, and all outdoor lighting. No matter what I try to do to resolve this. But you do have to dig deep and talk to the people already using the system. Insteon Hub is a decent product that is capable and promising, but the experience and flexibility it provides are limited compared to the likes of SmartThings and Wink 2. Homeseer -> Insteon Switches. A couple months ago I re-wrote my application to use the API, it worked fine then suddenly stopped after some apparent changes to the API. It currently doesnt support Z-Wave, the protocol of choice for home automation thanks to its high speed and low interference with other connected devices in your home. It is a well known, documented defect. There really isnt a more superior hardware choice you can run out and buy at the moment for a whole-house level integration. Since I am setting up my home automation from scratch, I was considering Home Kit since it is a little more secure. Matter-compliance means diddle right now as it isn;t really released. Homeboy for Insteon Hub 4+ Insteon app alternative Homeboy Software Inc. One goal of this project is the complete elimination of the Insteon-compatible hub (from all manufacturers), while at the same time recovering control over the Insteon house-wiring network. In my own experience, HomeSeer can do just that. Im pretty satisfied. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. These three with their ability to link with smart home devices brought smart home devices to such a simple level that any novice could develops smart home systems. The only way for them to handle that increasing overhead is to charge a subscription cost associated with their cloud services. An ISY cannot control a switch. I would like something that is reliable, responsive and durable. This is what controls it all. On top of that, only a few basic steps need to be followed to install and integrate your system. You operate your system via the Insteon Hub app, which is compatible an android phone, Windows phone, or . I believe all of the options discussed so far do have their own integration with Alexa, including Homeseer, Home Assistant, HOOBS, and Hubitat. Image courtesy of InsteonNext is to consider one of two options: Either plan to replace your hardware or try to integrate your current devices with another platform. The Bottom Line. We must remember the reason why Insteon was an attractive tech, to me at least, is the ability to communicate to devices via the electrical power lines of the building/home , in addition to Radio Frequency (RF), and finally . So until they are sure they cant sell the whole thing as a package, it wont be possible to legally reverse engineer the PLM. 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