[Hai-users] Problem with ALC lighting on OmniPro II

[Dan Butterfield]

> My ALC experience has been disappointing enough that I'll be taking a long
> look at UPB, Z-Wave, and other technologies when the time comes for us to
> build another house.

FWIW, I've been experimenting with a limited (10-15 devices) Z-Wave 
deployment for a couple months (Intermatic brand controlled via 
HomeSeer/Z-Troller).  It's quite possible its my setup or software/hardware, 
but I would say it has its own share of problems.  I was surprised at a 
number of shortcomings: can't use tabletop controller buttons to initiate 
events in HomeSeer, no local control of devices except for pushing button on 
Z-Wave module, adding modules to network requires physically moving 
controller to each module, no easy way to delete modules no longer present 
in your network, any corruption of your network configuration requires 
rebuilding entire network and physically visiting each and every module, all 
on/off buttons literally apply to all devices in entire network.  Some of 
the advantages over X-10 were a lot less impressive in usage (speed of 
sending commands, "positive confirmation" commands were processed) than they 
were on paper.  While it's better than X-10, for being invented 30-40 years 
after X-10, it's amazing how *little* better it is!

Finally, I've found its network to be very fragile as well.  All modules 
were talking 100% when it was initially setup.  Within two months, some 
modules are intermittently reachable, some modules on the edge of the 
network are not reachable at all.  What's changed?  I don't know...  there's 
a ton of possible problems listed on the HomeSeer forums (radio 
interference, defective modules, HomeSeer bugs, etc).  Most of the 
troubleshooting steps involve completely deleting and recreating your 
network.  At less than 15 devices, this isn't so bad (although I have to get 
out a ladder for one of the modules), but if I had 100 modules I'd be pretty 
pissed after doing this a few times.  I've heard more modules makes the 
network more robust, but it also appears to increase your odds of having a 
defective module that can bring down the whole network by locking in a 
broadcast mode.

The moral of the story: there doesn't yet appear to be one reliable, 
flexable, affordable, well supported, easily installable and maintainable 
automation technology.  They all have their positives and negatives!