re: Official WINK HUB Home Automation thread

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I don't think the outlet works like that. I see this question pop up all the time with no answer

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Panamax makes BlueBolt products which can do this however they are not Zwave and cost more than most products listed in this thread.

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See if you could set up a robot to ping that switch every like 5-10 mins or hour. If

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That's basic scripting 101.

The problem is whether the Wink app can detect that or maybe you could use the Winkathome website to trigger something off a device going offline or being in an offline state.

I don't know why that capability isn't in there already. It's the equivalent of error handling which should be part of any app.

"If device x fails to respond then..."

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I don't know why that capability isn't in there already. It's the equivalent of error handling which should be part of any app.

"If device x fails to respond then..."

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Because of false alarms, most likely. You would have a very high alpha error rate.

Leaksmart actually has a notification when it goes offline. You can't make robots based on it though.

Possibly. Just thought of an expensive solution...buy a leaksmart valve and plug it in with no batteries. Bam, notification of power outage at plug.

i freaking love schlage! called about a problem and they said 'we'll just ship you a new one.. and just toss the other in the trash'

they have crazy great customer service.

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ill take it if it still works. then ill call about the problem and get a new one. LOL

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my charity only extends so far..i've already offered you an add-a-wire kit for free and an outlink and now you want my touchscreen deadbolt??

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an event that happens far more often than something going offline.

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I think you severely overestimate the reliability of these connections.

Anyone want an additional $20/off a flair starter kit?

That would make a puck plus smart vent only $80 together.

LINK

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I want to start with a smart light switch

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most home automation 'things' are either PRIMARY wifi enabled devices (myQ garage door opener, wifi thermostats, wifi webcam) that can be controlled and scripted from a single app like wink or vera or smartthings or whatever..the key point being they connect DIRECTLY TO YOUR WIFI NETWORK NO ADDITIONAL HARDWARE REQUIRED.

however, you are jumping into the SECONDARY level which is the world of door sensor, switches, smoke detectors, door locks, etc etc that require a brain because they use a low frequency radio signal that isn't as easy as adding a new widget to your wifi network.

make sense? so you need to consider both the cost of the 'brain' (lutron bridge, staples hub, lowes' iris, home depot wink, vera, samsung smart things, hue bridge, tcp connected, etc.) as well as the actual switches or whatever you are buying to make it usable.

the brain is an important consideration. several of those listed above are proprietary (philips hue, tcp, lutron bridge, etc) and so you are very limited as to what you can add. they want to lock you into buying their smart things only and that's a very narrow world view.

consider instead an open brain like smartthings or wink so you can decide as you go what smart bulbs or switches make the most sense..without having to stick with just lutron (which is pricey but good but has some drawbacks depending on the application)

you probably already know some of that, but read this thread..there's a couple posts a few pages back with pics of different light switches and hopefully you'll think through your plan before buying anything..even if its just a couple switches to control fans in your kids' rooms for now.



smart switches are a gateway drug