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syonker
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| Posted: August 17 2013 at 23:30 | IP Logged
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Hi gang. Looks like my PLM took a nose dive so I have to replace it.
Wondering if anyone would recommend (or recommend against) any
particular Insteon interface for use with PowerHome running on an
XP/32 machine? Are the ISY interfaces any more
reliable/faster/better other ways? Any other interfaces or ideas?
Probably ordering tomorrow as my house is "dead" and this saddens
me. 
-S
Edited by syonker - August 17 2013 at 23:32
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"I will consider myself having succeeded when my house becomes sentient and attempts to kill me."
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TonyNo
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| Posted: August 19 2013 at 18:05 | IP Logged
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My ISY is pretty good, but, has trouble talking to modules that are close and on the same circuit.
I've not been paying that much attention to it, but, don't know if there is a PH driver for it as an interface. I'm using mine to pull critical stuff away from PH so that I don't get thrown back to the stone age if the server goes down. ;)
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smarty
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| Posted: August 20 2013 at 07:15 | IP Logged
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TonyNo wrote:
My ISY is pretty good....
...I'm using mine to pull critical stuff away from PH so that I don't get thrown back to the stone age if the server goes down. ;) |
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My Elk provides this support.
However, I have the same question. Which Power Home interface to Insteon is the best? In a prior post somewhere, I thought Dave kind of had a preference towards a network based PLM (but I am not sure of the preference context).
Personally, I am a bit confused by
1) whether a device is legacy, I2 or I2CS and
2) which SmartHome PLM versions support what
3) which Power Home Insteon engines do what with #2 above.
....yet my system works fairly well.
Edited by smarty - August 20 2013 at 07:16
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dhoward
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| Posted: August 20 2013 at 11:05 | IP Logged
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Not too long ago, my favorite PLM was the SmartLinc (used to be the NetLinc), model 2412N (if memory serves) and was basically a network connected PLM. It had a very simplistic webserver built in with some limited stand-alone control but also was able to be used as a PLM via an undocumented port (don't know SmartHome never documented this ability since I think its a major feature). It looks though as if this device is no longer available and has been replaced with the Insteon hub (2242-222) which has been reported to work using the same port.
This device was great because it didnt require a physical connection to the PH machine and could be just hung off the network. With port forwarding on your router, you could run PH remotely and monitor/control a SmartLinc from anywhere. However, as it seems with all powerline connected PLM's, it was subject to hanging when powerline glitches occurred. Here in Florida, we have numerous glitches, sometimes multiple per day. Depending upon the season, I would have my SmartLinc (or any powerline PLM...USB or serial...it didnt matter) lock up requiring me to physically pull it out of the wall, wait 5 seconds and plug it back in. This led to using X10 appliance modules to disconnect power to the PLM via commands sent to PH using a CM17A and trying to write triggers to auto-detect a hang so I could reset the PLM. It didnt work very well and was just plain ugly.
I have now gone back to my Insteon Portable USB adapter (2448A7) and couldnt be happier. This device is just a little USB stick (RF only) that doesnt require being plugged into the powerline. It just needs to be near enough to a dual band device (or access point) to relay the RF signal on to the powerline. Since going back to this controller, I have not experienced a single controller hang. The one disadvantage that it has though is that it CANNOT send/receive X10 signals like a regular PLM.
I know Ken (gadgetguy) swears by this device as he has similar powerline induced problems with his setup. If you have a dual band device or accesspoint near your PH machine and you don't need the X10 commands, I would definitely consider this device (especially if you live in a area where the power is not clean and you experience regular hangs requiring the PLM to be unplugged). Its alot cheaper than any of the other PLM devices and is I2CS compliant.
Dave.
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lizaoreo
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| Posted: August 21 2013 at 07:28 | IP Logged
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I'll second the 2448A7, it's worked great since I replaced
my old PLM with it. I had a lot of issues with the old one
hanging and I've not had a single problem other than a few
devices falling into the disconnected state (I only have 3
dual-band devices, which I plan to re-mediate in the
future).
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syonker
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| Posted: August 21 2013 at 07:59 | IP Logged
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You guys provide great advice - every last one of you. I will check out the 2448A7 in detail...the "Insteon HUB" has gotten some sketchy reviews so I was leery of trying it.
On a side note, Skip gave me a procedure to do a "hardcore factory reboot" on my PLM and amazingly it worked...but the thing still does hang (as you mention) here and there, and is definitely dropping packets once in a while and in need of eventual replacement, but I think I can limp along long enough to make an intelligent decision, so I waited for a few replies in here before going there.
For those who are interested in doing more research on this, I am posting a picture of the interface and a link to it's "buy" page on Amazon (SmartHome is on Amazon now as well) below. There are only two reviews thus far, but they are 5-star reviews (which indicate the device is superior to the other Insteon interfaces that have been reviewed n amazon). For $50 I'm *definitely* going to give this a shot:
http://www.amazon.com/Insteon-2448A7-INSTEON-Portable-Adapte r/dp/B0046V767Y/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1377089538&sr=8-1&key words=2448A7
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"I will consider myself having succeeded when my house becomes sentient and attempts to kill me."
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syonker
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| Posted: September 15 2013 at 07:47 | IP Logged
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...and as if by magic, this interface suddenly seems to be
unavailable...nothing at amazon and not even showing up in the search
at smart home.....major grrrr face.
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"I will consider myself having succeeded when my house becomes sentient and attempts to kill me."
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lizaoreo
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| Posted: September 15 2013 at 08:04 | IP Logged
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I noticed the other day the price on Amazon jumped about $30, it was
like $70. Just checked my purchase history link and its unavailable now
:-(
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Handman
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| Posted: September 20 2013 at 00:59 | IP Logged
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This is insane. My PLM (2412S) is so bad I can't even get it to load the full Insteon IDs. That and periodic hanging makes this highly unreliable. So imagine how psyched I am to learn of a little USB stick PLM that Dave and everyone else loves.
Oh, but wait, Smarthome has discontinued it now. Are you kidding me? Does anyone have anything nice to say about the $80 2413S or 2413U? I need something pretty quick.
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syonker
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| Posted: September 20 2013 at 05:15 | IP Logged
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Handman, I agree.
I talked to smarthome online and on the phone the other day in hopes
that there was a replacement product coming and they said no, the plm
was the preferred interface. Giant crock. I am on my third one of them
and it too is beginning to fail.
So how do we as a consumer base raise this as a group to the
manufacturer in a way that will get them to reconsider? Does anyone
have any "pull" over there? Anyone know anybody at insteon? Anyone
live near irvine?
-S
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"I will consider myself having succeeded when my house becomes sentient and attempts to kill me."
><(((º>`·.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸><(((º>¸.
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lizaoreo
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| Posted: September 20 2013 at 08:00 | IP Logged
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Yeah, Syonker, I contacted SmartHome and got basically
the same response. There's no replacement for that at
this time and they recommended the Insteon hub to me.
I used the 2413U for a while, it worked for about a year
before I started having serious issues with hangups and
such. If you have the onboard serial though, I'd just
get the 2413S so you don't gotta deal with the USB-Serial
driver thing, sometimes when mine would hang, I'd have to
reinstall that driver.
The worst part is SmartHome's stuff is so locked down, I
think everyone that sells it is selling directly from
SmartHome, so they pull it, it's gone everywhere. Maybe
you can get lucky and find it in store at Lowes or Home
Depot? Or some 3rd party site like eBay selling one?
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lizaoreo
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| Posted: September 20 2013 at 08:07 | IP Logged
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http://www.sears.com/smarthome-2448a7-insteon-portable-usb-
adapter-black/p-SPM7291966108P?PDP_REDIRECT=false
Sears has it, seriously overpriced, but there it is. If it
wasn't so expensive, I'd buy a second just to be safe for
when this one eventually bites the dust. Maybe they'll
bring out another by then.
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Handman
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| Posted: September 20 2013 at 09:10 | IP Logged
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Wow! $102 plus shipping for a USB stick. Somehow I seriously doubt that the Sears Marketplace (whatever that really is) has this device - available from Angels Auto Parts & Accessories, no less. If I didn't actually want one, it'd be laughable that some of this stuff ends up online.
What about the 2412N? Dave kind of indicated that it worked well enough as a PLM with some backdoor port or such. Any thoughts on this device? At least there are some available with retailers.
For what it's worth, I have actually visited the Smarthome store in Irvine, and it was a really low budget operation (one woman in large room with hanging shelves). I got the feeling that the adjoining warehouse was where everything shipped from. I had some questions, and the woman did get someone I could talk to, but you really got the feeling that you were meeting the man behind the curtain, and that no one was making any money off this crap (big surprise...I could rant about Smarthome and the crappy Insteon hardware all day and still wake up the next day and rant some more...deep breath...in...out...in...out).
I was really hoping there was a non-SH devise. I have avoided the ISY line because of expense so far.
Edited by Handman - December 11 2014 at 13:59
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lizaoreo
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| Posted: September 20 2013 at 10:23 | IP Logged
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The ISY still uses the SmartHome hardware to interact with
the Insteon network. I'm pretty sure if it's Insteon, it's
made by SmartHome or uses something made by SmartHome to
make the connection to their devices.
I didn't realize Sears did reselling or whatever, sorry
about that O.o
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dhoward
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| Posted: September 19 2014 at 14:40 | IP Logged
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Old thread but I just discovered that the Insteon USB stick (2448a7) is again available at SmartHome: http://www.smarthome.com/insteon-2448a7-portable-usb-adapter .html. Guess I'll be ordering that spare since this is still my favorite Insteon controller.
Edit: Available but not in stock until 10/13/2014.
Dave.
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Handman
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| Posted: September 19 2014 at 15:25 | IP Logged
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Thanks for the head's up Dave.
My PLM is stable, but only because of the macro I have written to power down the outlet it's connected to through system message triggers in PH - and thanks to all here who helped me with that! I may have to buy one of these as a backup too.
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Herb Jones
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| Posted: December 10 2014 at 17:47 | IP Logged
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Smarthome has a sale on these. 25.99 at the following link:
http://www.smarthome.com/insteon-2448a7-portable-usb-adapter .html/
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dhoward
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| Posted: December 10 2014 at 19:11 | IP Logged
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Mr Jones!! Thank you for that post. Just ordered one for a backup.
Thanks,
Dave.
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BeachBum
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| Posted: December 10 2014 at 21:30 | IP Logged
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Me too... Ordered 3. Hope they work Dave.
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Handman
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| Posted: December 10 2014 at 23:11 | IP Logged
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Wow! I ordered one too, lest there be a run on these from the PowerHome diehards! Thanks for the notice guys!
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Topic: Absolute *best* Insteon-to-PH interface?
