Belkin Puts HomeKit Compatibility Plans for WeMo Product Line 'On Hold'

[WilliamG]

Did a quick grab into an old bag. Here is the image:

View attachment 625243

There were lots of branded products from many firms. Radio Shack was a big player back then.

That said, clearly software is much better today than back then. The hardware end is somewhat better than before, but its still an involved process for the entire setup with a few dozen lights and schedules. Schedules are a weakness, as that part is always a bit more involved that many may initially expect. Things like weekend verses weekday, differences in rooms. Then there are sensors, or the lack of support for them...

When a known geek is available to assist, its clearly easier. When no such person is around, it becomes more daunting for the average novice. It will get better, its just not there yet.

It's involved for scheduling, but it's very, very simple. Lutron makes it so simple it's hilarious, for scheduling whatever you like.

 

[Ed217]

Now, my mother-in-law is doing it, and she only had a passing interest in it! I'm not saying HA is going to take off and become the norm in everyone's house. I'm just saying it's a lot simpler, especially in newer houses with regular recessed lights, and if my mother-in-law can do it, anyone who's actually INTERESTED in doing it - can, too. If you can work an iPhone and install a light switch, it's a doddle to figure out the rest.

So for your mother-in-law case, what was the process there?

It sounds like she ended up with Lutron products. Sounds like a good example to look at in more detail.

1. How did she hear about HA products
2. Where did she get her HA products
3. Did she already know what she needed or did she figure it out at the store/mail order
4. Did she take the products home by herself and do the install unassisted
5. What modules and controls were used to handle lights
6. Where any wall plates replaced, which involves turning off power at the breaker box

You mentioned recessed lighting. Those quite often use a wall switch for both on/off and dim control.

 

[WilliamG]

So for your mother-in-law case, what was the process there?

It sounds like she ended up with Lutron products. Sounds like a good example to look at in more detail.

1. How did she hear about HA products
2. Where did she get her HA products
3. Did she already know what she needed or did she figure it out at the store/mail order
4. Did she take the products home by herself and do the install unassisted
5. What modules and controls were used to handle lights
6. Where any wall plates replaced, which involves turning off power at the breaker box

You mentioned recessed lighting. Those quite often use a wall switch for both on/off and dim control.

1.) She had seen some ads at Best Buy, I believe.
2.) She got her HA products at... Best Buy.
3.) She just was curious - and spoke to people at the store (and me).
4.) She took them home. Her husband installed the wall switches, since she'd never done it before.
5.) Lutron Caseta light switch x3 and hub.
6.) Yes. Three.

Recessed lighting does indeed use a wall switch. I'm not sure what the issue is, here? My house is almost entirely recessed lighting, with one large chandelier, and several globe-style lights in the bedrooms (triple-bulb setup). Zero issues with HA, and no way to "mess it up" or have it "not work." So I'm not sure what you're getting at?

I have full control of my lights when I'm at home, across the world, whether on wifi or otherwise. Also, since I have an Apple TV, I can use Siri to control my lights/shades without being on my home network. If you don't have an Apple TV, you can only control everything outside the house (i.e. not on local wifi), via the app. If you have an Apple TV, you can use Siri over 3G/4G/LTE etc. There may be other workarounds to this, but I haven't cared since I have an Apple TV.

Also, as I may have mentioned earlier, my neighbor saw my setup, and drooled. I showed her at her house - how to install a light switch, in just a couple of minutes. She's now done the rest herself, including installing a bunch more light switches. I didn't speak to her about the app, nor did I show her Siri integration. She figured it all out herself. It's NOT rocket science.

 

[Ed217]

1.) She had seen some ads at Best Buy, I believe.
2.) She got her HA products at... Best Buy.
3.) She just was curious - and spoke to people at the store (and me).
4.) She took them home. Her husband installed the wall switches, since she'd never done it before.
5.) Lutron Caseta light switch x3 and hub.
6.) Yes. Three.

Recessed lighting does indeed use a wall switch. I'm not sure what the issue is, here? My house is almost entirely recessed lighting, with one large chandelier, and several globe-style lights in the bedrooms (triple-bulb setup). Zero issues with HA, and no way to "mess it up" or have it "not work." So I'm not sure what you're getting at?

I have full control of my lights when I'm at home, across the world, whether on wifi or otherwise. Also, since I have an Apple TV, I can use Siri to control my lights/shades without being on my home network. If you don't have an Apple TV, you can only control everything outside the house (i.e. not on local wifi), via the app. If you have an Apple TV, you can use Siri over 3G/4G/LTE etc. There may be other workarounds to this, but I haven't cared since I have an Apple TV.

Also, as I may have mentioned earlier, my neighbor saw my setup, and drooled. I showed her at her house - how to install a light switch, in just a couple of minutes. She's now done the rest herself, including installing a bunch more light switches. I didn't speak to her about the app, nor did I show her Siri integration. She figured it all out herself. It's NOT rocket science.

Its not an issue, but wall switches do require more effort than the simple plug in modules. Break box iterations and wiring removal and replacement. Not hard, but takes a few minutes each (typically in the range of 5-10 each). In a home with a few dozen lights like that, time goes up quite a bit as that cycle is repeated for each light.

My system has similar features. Remote and local use via app and PC and Macs. While I have 2 Apple TVs, neither is used in the HA setup, just Insteon products.

No, its not rocket science (something I actually did for a few decades). Its generally a straight forward process for most,. Doing schedules can take longer as can take a while before one begins to decide what level of control they want. Naming each light is also a good thing, so that changes later are easier to identify for things like rooms and scenes.

The real limitation for HomeKit for me is lack of sensor support. I have 5 of them and they trigger different events and push notifications.

 

[WilliamG]

Its not an issue, but wall switches do require more effort than the simple plug in modules. Break box iterations and wiring removal and replacement. Not hard, but takes a few minutes each (typically in the range of 5-10 each). In a home with a few dozen lights like that, time goes up quite a bit as that cycle is repeated for each light.

My system has similar features. Remote and local use via app and PC and Macs. While I have 2 Apple TVs, neither is used in the HA setup, just Insteon products.

No, its not rocket science (something I actually did for a few decades). Its generally a straight forward process for most,. Doing schedules can take longer as can take a while before one begins to decide what level of control they want. Naming each light is also a good thing, so that changes later are easier to identify for things like rooms and scenes.

The real limitation for HomeKit for me is lack of sensor support. I have 5 of them and they trigger different events and push notifications.

Scheduling will take time to figure out then no matter what. That's not a limitation of HomeKit, but a limitation of human behavior.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. I love my setup. My MIL loves her setup, and my neighbor loves her setup. I like being able to say "Turn on the Kitchen Area lights," and have a bunch of lights in my kitchen turn on, including the under-counter lights.

THAT said, it's a bit stupid that I can say, "TURN my bedroom light to 62%", but not "SET my bedroom light to 62%."

Some fine-tuning is certainly needed.

We'll get there.

 

[Ed217]

Scheduling will take time to figure out then no matter what. That's not a limitation of HomeKit, but a limitation of human behavior.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter. I love my setup. My MIL loves her setup, and my neighbor loves her setup. I like being able to say "Turn on the Kitchen Area lights," and have a bunch of lights in my kitchen turn on, including the under-counter lights.

THAT said, it's a bit stupid that I can say, "TURN my bedroom light to 62%", but not "SET my bedroom light to 62%."

Some fine-tuning is certainly needed.

We'll get there.

I have a lot of schedules for different things. Although apps can do the schedules, I instead use a PC system from some years ago to do all that. That tends to be much faster than anything on the phone, and also more flexible. That system also supports rules, so that one event (sensor, light, etc) can trigger other desired events/lights/changes/notifications.

I have a dehumidifier downstairs that runs in the warm months. It tends to fill up with water, so I have a pump that comes on once each day for 1 minute and pumps it outside.

I have similar things for door locks and differences in rooms and areas based on day of the week. I can also keep different sets of schedules (winter, summer. etc) and switch from one to the other with a few clicks. Lights can be fixed times, times based on sunset/sunrise, random times, or adjustments either duration from these as well.

 

[WilliamG]

I have a lot of schedules for different things. Although apps can do the schedules, I instead use a PC system from some years ago to do all that. That tends to be much faster than anything on the phone, and also more flexible. That system also supports rules, so that one event (sensor, light, etc) can trigger other desired events/lights/changes/notifications.

I have a dehumidifier downstairs that runs in the warm months. It tends to fill up with water, so I have a pump that comes on once each day for 1 minute and pumps it outside.

I have similar things for door locks and differences in rooms and areas based on day of the week. I can also keep different sets of schedules (winter, summer. etc) and switch from one to the other with a few clicks. Lights can be fixed times, times based on sunset/sunrise, random times, or adjustments either duration from these as well.

I get some of that. I like that if my Nest Protect detects a leak, it will tell the Nest thermostat to shut off the gas, and then automatically turn on my lights in the rooms I designate, so I can vacate the premises more easily at night. Fun stuff, and again - simple to set up.

The key is that it's easier now than it has been. And that's a good thing.