Home control standards

We bought this recently from Lowe's.

I couldn't be happier with it. We plan on expanding to control a couple of more lights around the house.
We also leave the devices attached all the time, so that the lights are on when we get home (in case we're out later than we planned to be), but that also helps deter burglers as well, because the lights come on at the same time +- 15 minutes every single day.

What we bought: Starter kit (HA07C, HA03C - 2 of these), 1 additional outlet, 1 Light switch
Total cost: $170
What we will be buying: Lamp modules (HA05C), to control driveway lights that are being installed.

Two things that were not in the manual provided with the unit:
1) It appears that you cannot control both a light switch, and an outlet plug using the same event. With the ability to set up to 28 events, this is not a concern, since I was able to set 3 plug modules to operate (2 dimmer style, and 1 on/of style), at the same time.
2) If you want to remove an event, you simply have to remove all devices for an event, and the event will be emptied out when you cycle back to that specific event.

by cconn64 (See profile) - July 8, 2007 7:15 AM PDT

I have an Intermatic HA07 and it is junk. I got it to work once. Then I tried to add a module and it stopped working. Now it won't do anything. The manual is terrible. It is very poorly writen and I consider myself very tech savy. You cannot start over again after you have programmed it. I took the batteries out for a day and when I put them in the clock was the only thing that needed setting. So if you screw up the programming your finished. Even the people at Inermatic don't know how it works or how to program it. Don't buy this.

by rgard1923 (See profile) - September 19, 2006 12:52 PM PDT

I dont know, but after working with many different products such as Crestron, Elan, AMX to name a few, I worry about things like this not from the stand point of "oh my, there is a cheaper alternitive to home automation", but from the stand point of when these products do hit the selves how much support will these companies offer their clients, their distributors, etc.

From what I have seen and experienced personally in this area, is that the smaller companies build the "latest and greatest" and after a few years of production they either loose their momentium or their products in short just dont work to the expectations of the end users. Even though Crestron, Elan, and AMX are just simply put expensive, these companies have been in business for years and have a huge knowledge base of which they have at their disposal, as where these newer companies are just trying to replicate the bigger companies directives and eventually failing to meet the demands of the end users.

If these newer companies intend on remaining in the game of Home Automation, they better buckle up their pants and stop putting out garbage that simply doesnt work in the overall application designed to utilize these lesser quality products to attempt replicate the results the higher end companies produce. In closing, as a Audio Video Professional, I would suggest to those who are savvy to investigate the limititations of what these lesser quality products actually are, because when they try to compare their products to the bigger companies, all they are doing is a hyped up marketing directives, to sell their products working or not.

by cmccraryny (See profile) - May 18, 2006 6:59 AM PDT

What I've been wondering is when the prices will come down to a resonable range. Who's going to buy $20-70 light switches for their entire house. Not to mention the other automated products. Answer: only the rich who can splurge on anything or super geeks who consider it a hobby.

I mean if they can make a $30 VCR with all it's moving parts and complicated electronics then surely they can make a small switch (without moving parts) for $10-15.

In my opinion they should take the route of DVD players and aim for a high volume of consumers rather than just a few elite or rich ones.

by Pixelstuff (See profile) - January 18, 2006 9:19 AM PST

I'm glad that a re-design of home automation won for best emerging technologies, but personally I don't like the avaiable products of the winner - Z-wave. I'm going to take a chance on INSTEON. I like the backwards compatibility for any function that has yet to be moved to a next-gen home automation platform and also the dual-transmission wierless mesh/powerline communications method of the INSTEON technology.
Hopefully, the $20 ICON Switches/Dimmers are accompanied later this year by other low-cost Insteon enabled products.

by adriasc (See profile) - January 12, 2006 7:49 AM PST

How does this technology compare with Insteon? Why was it not even mentioned in the article? Are they not competing standards?

by floering (See profile) - January 10, 2006 11:16 AM PST

Aside from simple on/off/dim/brighten how does this solve any
real control problems?

by we-todd-did (See profile) - January 9, 2006 5:57 PM PST

The technology is simalar to X10 and way more expensive.

by Mylights (See profile) - January 9, 2006 8:45 AM PST

I've used X10 for a few years but it has its drawbacks, however, SmartHome just came out with Insteon which uses RF and is X10 comapatible. I am suprised they were not at CES 2006.

by pwalde (See profile) - January 6, 2006 4:32 AM PST

How long do I have to wait until I can control everything on my cell phone?

by Skohr (See profile) - January 5, 2006 1:38 PM PST