What to use to program Insteon switches?

Hi,

My house is 80% X10 and about 20% Insteon switches running in X10 mode. I'm going to get an Insteon PLM serial controller and the wireless repeaters so it will work with both phases. Question is, what do I need to program an Insteon switch? I have a X10 Maxi controller to program X10 code, but not sure about Intseon?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

htsource said:

Hi,

My house is 80% X10 and about 20% Insteon switches running in X10 mode. I'm going to get an Insteon PLM serial controller and the wireless repeaters so it will work with both phases. Question is, what do I need to program an Insteon switch? I have a X10 Maxi controller to program X10 code, but not sure about Intseon?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Click to expand...

I think most people would recommend the ISY99i (http://www.universal-devices.com/99i.htm). You can also purchase an X10 firmware module that will make the two systems seamless. I use the ISY and it's quite good, though I haven't used it for X10.
Another system that you may want to look at that seems even more versatile is the Vera 2 (http://micasaverde.com/vera.php). I've been thinking about picking one of these up, myself.

Thank you for your links, looks like these are controllers. What I'm after is a device that will allow me to set a code to the light switch. Like with the X10, I have to assign a code like A1. I assume I will need to do the same with Insteon switches?

I have a Cotrexa automation controller which will be hooked up, I doubt the ISY99 will work with Cortexa hardware.

Thanks

htsource said:

Thank you for your links, looks like these are controllers. What I'm after is a device that will allow me to set a code to the light switch. Like with the X10, I have to assign a code like A1. I assume I will need to do the same with Insteon switches?

I have a Cotrexa automation controller which will be hooked up, I doubt the ISY99 will work with Cortexa hardware.

Thanks

Click to expand...

Not too sure about the Vera 2, but I think you're right that it is only a controller.
Insteon devices come with a hardwired address. It's a 6 digit hexadecimal number separated into 3 pairs.
The ISY can be disconnected after you set up your scenes (after it links your various switches), but in order to use it for programs and timers, you have to leave it hooked up.
Sorry but I have no experience with Cortexa hardware, so I suppose you'll have to do some digging on the respective sites to see if you can manage something there.

You could always just link your devices and create your scenes manually, but it's a rather long and tedious process (IMHO).

Ah, thank you for your information. I didn't know the Insteon switches are pre-programmed. I'll look into the ISY device.

The Insteon devices can all be programmed by button-pressing. Press and hold the button on the controller device until the LED flashes, then go do the same on the responder device. To assign X10 addresses to them, you'll need a device that can send X10 commands. The X10 Maxi Controller you have should work fine for that.

The ISY is easier and substantially more powerful, and will save you the trouble of wandering around pressing buttons, but it's not required.

The dual-band devices you mention ("and the wireless repeaters so it will work with both phases", at least I'm guessing that's what you mean) will not repeat X10 commands. But I think you'll probably end up gradually replacing X10 devices with Insteon, and it will work for any Insteon-to-Insteon communication, so for expansion purposes you'll want them sooner or later.

The PLM is not intended as a standalone device, it would need a computer and some kind of software. (Or an ISY.) E.g. you could get HouseLinc which includes a PLM. If you take that approach, HouseLinc is also good for setting up links and such. The ISY is more powerful and does not need a computer on all the time, but HouseLinc is less expensive.

If I were you, I'd first find out what the Cortexa box can do. I have the old one, and right before they introduced the new one, they switched to the PLM for control. I think it manages the links for you, at least between the devices and the PLM, so it can track status. You may not need any other controller or software.

-Tom

I also recommend the ISY if you plan on doing any more than a few switches. It works very well and their (Universal Devices) customer service is outstanding.

I program all of mine using Homeseer and the 3rd Party (not Homeseer) plug-in. Works like a charm. I've good things about the ISY but have no experience with it.

PowerHome has good (IMHO) insteon support.

The OP is looking for something like Insteon Explorer - Free, BTW...

Terry

Although ISY excels at setting up Insteon links (scenes), I don't think you can set X10 codes for Insteon devices with it (ISY). Well, at least I couldn't find a way to remove X10 codes from my Insteon devices with ISY after I replaced all my X10 switches with Insteon ones.

If you already have a separate controller, and don't want to buy another one (such as ISY), you can assign X10 codes and link Insteon devices with 2414U - PowerLinc.