3 ms·

I've been using the Wink hub with a variety of different z-wave light switches, electrical outlets, plug adapters, and even a thermostat for the last 6 months.

I've been using the Wink hub with a variety of different z-wave light switches, electrical outlets, plug adapters, and even a thermostat for the last 6 months. I DEFINITELY feel like the Wink hub is the weak link. It needs resetting frequently enough that I don't really trust that I'll be able to turn on my heat remotely when coming back from vacation, so my neighbor is usually on notice for manual backup (let himself in, turn on the heat). Just today I was reading about the SmartThings Hub (Samsung) and the Casa Verde Vera Lite- It really seems like the Hub is where the polish needs applying in HA. I can link the Wink to my Echo and control things very easily, adding new things is relatively easy, but jeez that Wink hub is finicky.

underbluewaters 11y ago
My conclusion was that any hub that requires a round-trip to a internet service is just not realistic for home automation.
- manyxcxi 11y ago
  It's realistic in that the RT to an Internet service isn't where it seems to break down. It breaks down at the hub that spazzes out and goes into limp mode (which as far as I can tell is simply a flashing status indicator of different colors) and won't respond to commands. Sure, it can cause lag and sometimes there is a full second or two difference from command to action, but it's usually snappy enough that the light on z-wave control turns off barely slower than the light directly toggled by the switch. That being said, if there was a hub that required the Internet service just to perform the away from home/mobile functions but let all the scheduled timers, scenes, robots, etc. perform without Internet, I would happily jump ship. OpenHAB is a PITA and the shortcuts in iOS that you get with Wink/IFTTT and the Amazon Echo integration would all have to be hand rolled. While I've already written some of my own Alexa Apps, I don't want to go back to OpenHAB for all the rest.

underbluewaters 11y ago

My conclusion was that any hub that requires a round-trip to a internet service is just not realistic for home automation.

manyxcxi 11y ago
It's realistic in that the RT to an Internet service isn't where it seems to break down. It breaks down at the hub that spazzes out and goes into limp mode (which as far as I can tell is simply a flashing status indicator of different colors) and won't respond to commands. Sure, it can cause lag and sometimes there is a full second or two difference from command to action, but it's usually snappy enough that the light on z-wave control turns off barely slower than the light directly toggled by the switch. That being said, if there was a hub that required the Internet service just to perform the away from home/mobile functions but let all the scheduled timers, scenes, robots, etc. perform without Internet, I would happily jump ship. OpenHAB is a PITA and the shortcuts in iOS that you get with Wink/IFTTT and the Amazon Echo integration would all have to be hand rolled. While I've already written some of my own Alexa Apps, I don't want to go back to OpenHAB for all the rest.