Yes, it does actually work. It works because: * every single device is a repeater! * they repeat by simulcasting. if 10 of your 50 devices hear the signal, all 10 will retransmit together in unison, generating one seriously strong signal. * Unlike X10, they are very very fast. X10 has 1/3 to 1/2 second latency. Insteon is practically instant. Certainly fast enough to be percieved as "instant", anyway. * Unlike X10 which degrades as you add devices, Insteon improves as you add devices. * You have RF bridges
The dimmer modules are nice. But the appliance/switch models suck. They're still using relays! Use a triac. I know triacs switch at exactly the wrong time and may put noise into X-10 and Insteon communucations, but regardless, other devices use triacs, so they're just going to have to work around it. And then use triacs themselves.
Other problems: The modules are all switches. If you buy just two dimmer switches for a 3-way system in your hallway, one of them is never used as a switch, yet it has all that switch/dimmer circuitry. Why? It just needs to transmit data.
The software is still a bit wonky. They have multi device control panels that fit in outlet boxes, but using them confuses other devices a bit. For example, one thing you might want on a panel is a button that turns on the light the switch is near and another that turns on all the lights in the house of area (panic). But since the two buttons are on the same device, other devices can't tell them apart very well, so, for example, you can't program one button to turn on the lights partially or smoothly, and the other full on instantly.
The RF modules are a joke too. They are ugly, block an outlet, and don't even behave as a switch to a device plugged into them! And Insteon acts as if you shouldn't use the old RF bridges to connect the legs in your house.
Plus, the switches, even the good ones, are made from cheapo plastic.
All in all, perhaps it'll win out, after all it is better than X-10. But I don't see it really taking off. A good system like this would just plain replace all dumb switches in all future construction. This system just isn't straightforward enough or reliable enough to the user to allow that.
Yes, it works as it says it does. (Score:5, Informative)
* every single device is a repeater!
* they repeat by simulcasting. if 10 of your 50 devices hear the signal, all 10 will retransmit together in unison, generating one seriously strong signal.
* Unlike X10, they are very very fast. X10 has 1/3 to 1/2 second latency. Insteon is practically instant. Certainly fast enough to be percieved as "instant", anyway.
* Unlike X10 which degrades as you add devices, Insteon improves as you add devices.
* You have RF bridges
meh (Score:2)
Other problems:
The modules are all switches. If you buy just two dimmer switches for a 3-way system in your hallway, one of them is never used as a switch, yet it has all that switch/dimmer circuitry. Why? It just needs to transmit data.
The software is still a bit wonky. They have multi device control panels that fit in outlet boxes, but using them confuses other devices a bit. For example, one thing you might want on a panel is a button that turns on the light the switch is near and another that turns on all the lights in the house of area (panic). But since the two buttons are on the same device, other devices can't tell them apart very well, so, for example, you can't program one button to turn on the lights partially or smoothly, and the other full on instantly.
The RF modules are a joke too. They are ugly, block an outlet, and don't even behave as a switch to a device plugged into them! And Insteon acts as if you shouldn't use the old RF bridges to connect the legs in your house.
Plus, the switches, even the good ones, are made from cheapo plastic.
All in all, perhaps it'll win out, after all it is better than X-10. But I don't see it really taking off. A good system like this would just plain replace all dumb switches in all future construction. This system just isn't straightforward enough or reliable enough to the user to allow that.