Long time Insteon user here.
Insteon doesn't currently have a reliable remote control product. Remember the 2440 remote control? I still have and use one. It always works. Has worked ever since Insteon rather rapidly replaced x10 in the market. My first Insteon product purchase included this remote. My original one was originally manually linked then later added to ISY as my automation expanded. A battery change is very rare and I use it multiple times every single day. It uses AAA batteries. It just works. ALWAYS WORKS for years and years and years between battery changes.
The current product is the various Insteon mini remotes. I have 3 of them. Single button and 4 button versions. They have never stayed working very long. You go to use it and it doesn't work. It needs charging. That means you can't quickly get it working. You have to take it somewhere and connect it to charge then wait for it to charge. Once charged they have never worked all that long. Months not years. They self discharge. You can even turn it's power switch off and the battery still self discharges such that when you turn it's power back on like a month or 2 later it doesn't work until you charge it again. Motion sensor batteries are replaceable and they last many times longer. As a result, I eventually tried to get more of the old 2440 remotes but those I could get were used, had button problems, and are no longer supported to add to ISY anyway. They are too outdated.
Use an app you say? That runs on a jack of all trades device that is never ready to just operate something. Not a viable substitute for a dedicated physical remote.
Use voice you say. Do I need to list all the problems with that?
A AAA battery powered physical remote just works. It is sitting right where you need it. Just reach over and push the button. You don't have to pick it up, just poke the button. You don't have to get up and go to a wall mounted controller. It doesn't get accidentally activated by sound. It doesn't depend on an internet connection. It doesn't stop working because of something outside of the insteon ecosystem. It just works. I've used programming to minimize the need for physical remotes but that only goes just so far and increases energy use. Still not a viable substitute for a physical remote that just works.
Insteon doesn't currently have a reliable remote control product. Remember the 2440 remote control? I still have and use one. It always works. Has worked ever since Insteon rather rapidly replaced x10 in the market. My first Insteon product purchase included this remote. My original one was originally manually linked then later added to ISY as my automation expanded. A battery change is very rare and I use it multiple times every single day. It uses AAA batteries. It just works. ALWAYS WORKS for years and years and years between battery changes.
The current product is the various Insteon mini remotes. I have 3 of them. Single button and 4 button versions. They have never stayed working very long. You go to use it and it doesn't work. It needs charging. That means you can't quickly get it working. You have to take it somewhere and connect it to charge then wait for it to charge. Once charged they have never worked all that long. Months not years. They self discharge. You can even turn it's power switch off and the battery still self discharges such that when you turn it's power back on like a month or 2 later it doesn't work until you charge it again. Motion sensor batteries are replaceable and they last many times longer. As a result, I eventually tried to get more of the old 2440 remotes but those I could get were used, had button problems, and are no longer supported to add to ISY anyway. They are too outdated.
Use an app you say? That runs on a jack of all trades device that is never ready to just operate something. Not a viable substitute for a dedicated physical remote.
Use voice you say. Do I need to list all the problems with that?
A AAA battery powered physical remote just works. It is sitting right where you need it. Just reach over and push the button. You don't have to pick it up, just poke the button. You don't have to get up and go to a wall mounted controller. It doesn't get accidentally activated by sound. It doesn't depend on an internet connection. It doesn't stop working because of something outside of the insteon ecosystem. It just works. I've used programming to minimize the need for physical remotes but that only goes just so far and increases energy use. Still not a viable substitute for a physical remote that just works.
Comment