Smarthome Forum – Insteon FAQ smarthome.com

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Smarthome Forum, Insteon FAQ, www.smarthome.com, Home automation lighting control.  Insteon.  Universal Powerline Bus UPB.  Simply Automated.  Leading supplier of home automation lighting control.

This is a user-generated list of Frequently Asked Questions (with answers). See the end of this post for notes about how to contribute.

The FAQ is located here: http://goo.gl/qNTNr
(It’s hosted on Google Docs because this makes it easy for multiple people to edit.)

The current contents of the FAQ are:

GENERAL QUESTIONS

What kinds of questions can I have answered here?
How do I ask my question?
What components do I need for a working system?
What are dual-band devices / Access Points, and when do I need them?
Can I use an X10 coupler instead of dual-band devices?
What if I have multiple electrical panels?
Will Insteon work on a 3-phase electrical system?
Will Insteon work on any electrical system other than 110/220v 60hz?
Can I control my lights from a smartphone?
Where can I find full instructions for using my devices?

WHAT CAN I CONTROL?

Can I use an Insteon dimmer to control devices besides lights, like fans?
If I have a non-dimming device like a fan, controlled by an Insteon relay, is it ok to link a dimming device like a KeypadLinc Dimmer to it?
Can I use a dimmer with CFL lights?
Can I use Insteon to control LED lights?

SYSTEM CONTROLLERS AND SOFTWARE

Why would I want software or a system controller?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Smartlinc vs HouseLinc vs ISY?
Can I control the system with other software?
Can I write my own software?

WIRING

If I replace a 3-way switch with an Insteon switch, do I need to replace all the switches on the 3-way?
Do I need a neutral in the box?
What does that even mean? “Neutral in the box”?
I’m trying to install ____ but I don’t understand the wiring I see in the box.

RELIABILITY AND LINKING

My KeypadLinc buttons are not showing the status of devices they are linked to.
My Insteon devices can be turned on, but not turned off.
My Insteon devices can be turned off by linked devices, but not turned on.
My Insteon devices are erratically responsive, sometimes they work, sometimes not.
What kinds of devices create noise?
How can I prevent noise from interfering with my system?
I have lights plugged into a LampLinc or ApplianceLinc, and they never completely turn off.
My Switchlincs or Icon switches can be controlled by linked devices, but don’t work when I press the paddle switch on them.

SMARTLINC ISSUES

My SmartLinc is not keeping time accurately.
How can I change the Port my SmartLinc uses?
Why should I change the Port? What Port should I pick?
My SmartLinc occasionally stops communicating with other network devices (such as computers).

INSTEON HUB ISSUES

How do I set up port forwarding?

HOUSELINC ISSUES

If I want to back up my settings from HouseLinc, where are the files stored?
What is a half-link?
What is the difference between Triggers, Conditions, and Actions?
When setting up event statements in Houselinc, can I specify multiple triggers, conditions, and actions, in one event program statement?
Does the order of Actions matter? Or, how I can I control what happens first?
How do I set up a low battery notification from my wireless motion detectors in Houselinc?
How do I use HouseLinc with the Insteon Hub?

GLOSSARY

The FAQ is located here: http://goo.gl/qNTNr


 

I started this FAQ because I thought we should have one. Parts I wrote, parts I took from other people’s helpful posts in the forum, parts have been contributed by others. It remains a work in progress, especially as the Insteon line-up changes.

Everyone is welcome to make suggestions and contribute text here.

Anyone who has answered questions on this board is welcome to edit it directly. Just contact me with your email address (click my username and then pick E-mail User from my profile, you don’t have to post it here) and I will give you the necessary permissions.


Insteon FAQ: http://goo.gl/qNTNr

Edited by – jdale on 04/10/2013 9:34:46 PM

Tfitzpatri8
Administrator

USA
8829 Posts

Posted – 07/31/2011 :  11:03:15 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote


Excellent idea!

Volunteer Moderator & Home Automation Enthusiast

 

About UPB Technology

UPB technology provides an inexpensive and reliable solution for residential and commercial powerline communications applications. While other powerline communication technologies exist, none compare to UPB in cost per node, functionality and reliability.

Highly Reliable — The UPB method of communication is 100 ~ 1000 times more reliable than current X-10 technology and 10 ~100 times more reliable than CEBUS or LONWORKS powerline technologies.  UPB is 99.9% reliable versus 70%-80% reliability of X-10.*

UPB transmits farther (over a mile), is less susceptible to powerline noise and capacitive attenuation (signal reduction) than other technologies for three reasons:

Pulse Position Modulation is a highly reliable time based method of sending bits; it narrows the possibility of power line noise affecting communication, unlike X-10 and other carrier modulation technologies.

UPB pulses on the power line are approximately 40 volts; more than five times greater than the 5 to 7 volt signals of X-10.

UPB transmits at low (4 to 40 kHz) frequencies, carrying much more power than higher frequency technologies like X-10 that transmits at 120 kHz.

When put on one phase of a home’s two phase power line, the signals are so strong they go out to the street side transformer and are induced on the opposite phase, returning back to the home.  Since UPB transmits at a low frequency, it does not affect other powerline devices or appliance/loads.

No New Wires – UPB dimmer switches are installed exactly like regular dimmer switches.  They connect to a home’s standard wiring. Since no new or special wiring is required, they work great in retrofit applications too.

Affordable — UPB dimmer switches can be as affordable as high end non-communicating dimmers.  When comparing costs of home upgrades (theater TV, remodeled bath or kitchen) adding lighting automation and control to a room or whole home provides a surprising improvement in quality of life at a comparably low cost.

Simplicity – Adding lighting control can be as simple as plugging in dimming modules or replacing dimming switches Pre-Configured Series. Unlike radio frequency (RF) wireless switches, where reliability is proportional to the number of ‘mess-networked’ switches installed, UPB provides reliability and performance anywhere in the home without the need of repeaters.       

Peer to Peer – No host computer or central controller is necessary for single, point-to-point control or group (lighting scene) control.  UPB is a no-host, peer to peer network.  Interruption of power, or single point controller/repeater failure, will not affect a stand-alone UPB network.

Two Way Communications – Hardware, software and protocol design allows for two-way communication in all products.  Status can be confirmed with polling or automatically transmitted upon local/manual load changes.  

House Separation – Neighbors with UPB will not control each other’s lights.  The UPB addressing scheme allows for 250 systems (houses) on each transformer and 250 devices on each system. It incorporates over 64,000 total addresses compared to 256 for conventional X-10.

Interaction – UPB communication can be used in the presence of all X-10, CEBus, HomePlug or LonWorks compatible equipment with no interference between either. The UPB technology uses a completely different frequency range than any of the wide-band, narrow-band, or spread spectrum technologies. The physical method of UPB communication is entirely different than the modulation-demodulation techniques of all X-10, CEBus, or LonWorks.

Higher Speed – 20 to 40 times the speed of X- 10 in terms of data transmitted. This is equivalent to over ten full commands per second. The average latency of command to action is less than 0.1 second.

 

UPB System Description X-10 to UPB Migration

 

* Reliability is defined as the percentage of transmitter/receiver pairs that correctly operate upon initial installation. The UPB test units are randomly installed in the environment typical of the target market. This market is defined as the single-family residential market in the US, homes with a median size of 2500 Sq, Ft. This environment is defined to be the existing base of homes, without any modifications, which means there should be no “fixing” the electrical system of the residence by adding couplers, repeaters or filtering.

 

One comment on “Smarthome Forum – Insteon FAQ smarthome.com

  1. Smarthome forum is a good resource for questions,I have found sometimes a bit biased towards insteon (expected), but these are all good questions,smarthome website does a great job providing information.

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