The Wink home automation thread

[JFHughes08088]

Applied android software update today and can now arrange light icons in any order. Not sure what other features were added so when someone notices, kindly post.

 

[TexasWinkUser]

My hub updated yesterday to 0.56. Lights do seem to be more responsive.

Funny, I have a robot set up on the tripper for my front door. It never ever works. Most of the other tripper robots work about 85% of the time. Most all of my tripper batteries are reporting "yellow" now. They've been installed less than a month. Hope they get that bug worked out or I'll end up spending more batteries than the trippers cost originally (or I'll just stop using them).

Also, after 2 weeks of waiting, they finally sent me an RMA to return all my stuff. I may just hang on to it and see if they can ever get their bugs worked out. Certainly not going to buy much more, though I do need one more Link bulb.

Just got a notification of iOS app update to 2.5.0. Just says "bug fixes". Am noticing that the trippers activity actually shows up now.No idea if that's new, but I don't remember that working before (I did post earlier that it did not work).

 

[hanly2]

I have a suggestion for a feature they should add to the Wink App. (I know, I know, they need to get everything working reliably first.)

A "Capture Lighting States" Button
I suggest that there be a button to capture the way you currently have all your lighting set up: what's on, what's off, brightness levels, etc. That way, you can actually tell in real life if your settings are going to be bright enough for your schedule/routine instead of just a stab in the dark (see what I did there?).

I am not suggesting saving all the captured lighting states in a list... because that's basically what a shortcut is. I mean, anywhere you can set an activity to happen (like when creating a robot, shortcut, or schedule), you should be able to go around the room and set everything the way you want it, and then click the capture button. Now all the devices' current states show up as settings under the Make This Happen: section of the robot/shortcut/schedule you're creating! You can then add more settings on the app, or you can just click SAVE/DONE.

Of course, you would have to be able choose which devices or lighting groups are captured when you hit the "capture" button.

Maybe this would work for all the other devices that have a "state" too.

Basically just a refresh button would make you feel like it's accurate at the least.

 

[simple2010]

Applied android software update today and can now arrange light icons in any order. Not sure what other features were added so when someone notices, kindly post.

You can rearrange the main product list on the home screen as well. Just long press one of them.

 

[ramblinwreck001]

I tried delete failed node but not replace..will try that once it comes back..thanks

Not sure if this is helpful, but in the iOS app i have "removed failed node" and "replace failed node". When using "removed failed node", and the app indicates it is successful, the corresponding switch/light icon is not removed from the "lights" screen. That alone is not enough. I discovered that I also had to power cycle the hub in order to make the icon to disappear.

I discovered this after Wink support told me about the "removed failed node" option, and then googling it, which led me to this:
https://twitter.com/thewinkapp/status/549997925984911360

 

[fletchb]

Not sure if this is helpful, but in the iOS app i have "removed failed node" and "replace failed node". When using "removed failed node", and the app indicates it is successful, the corresponding switch/light icon is not removed from the "lights" screen. That alone is not enough. I discovered that I also had to power cycle the hub in order to make the icon to disappear.

I discovered this after Wink support told me about the "removed failed node" option, and then googling it, which led me to this:
https://twitter.com/thewinkapp/status/549997925984911360

Thank you - I will try that next time I need to remove a zwave device.

Last night Wink had me log in and out/ also reboot the hub while troubleshooting so it is something to consider when having problems.

Also they could not fix my problem last night (getting my zwave devices back into wink) and then said they tried to put a zwave device into their own network and could not. They were pretty sure there was a problem on the cloud side of wink and told me to try again tonight. Well before work this morning I tried and still no go. Well just tried again and it worked like it should so back in business. Got to install the remote switches this weekend and I will post how they work (levinton remotes).

Also thanks to a poster on this thread I got a good deal (1/2 price) on a Honeywell. I am installing a new 5 wire thermostat wire right now (need the c wire) ..hopefully have it up before bedtime or sometime in the am.

It's fun to tinker with this stuff!!!

 

[blampen]

Looks like the new app update has added a few devices. There is a new GE Link hub, a linear Siren, motion sensor, and door contact. There is also a generic z wave sensor option now.


I am really curious what this new hub is as it looks very small and plugs directly into a wall outlet

 

[JohnK203]

With regard to the .56 update interestingly enough I was on an airplane probably someplace in the middle of the country when I read here about the update...when into the wink app and saw I had the update waiting - did not have it the day before. When i got to my home (north east) I looked again and no more update....wonder if they are rolling out by geography.....ok so maybe this is only interesting to me....

 

[sprchrgd1]

With regard to the .56 update interestingly enough I was on an airplane probably someplace in the middle of the country when I read here about the update...when into the wink app and saw I had the update waiting - did not have it the day before. When i got to my home (north east) I looked again and no more update....wonder if they are rolling out by geography.....ok so maybe this is only interesting to me....

Great! I'm in a fly over state. LOL

 

[BillinGlendale]

A "Capture Lighting States" Button

That functionality is in the API, it's called a "Scene". They just need to integrate it into the android/ios apps.

 

[dennisj00]

Looking at the calendar, I've had Wink a month - opened it up before Christmas. Overall, I'd give it a B with lots of potential.

So far I have:

1 GE link bulb
2 Pico Remotes / 1 Caseta plug in controlling a LED Lamp in bedroom (generic Ikea bulb)
Nest Interface
Chamberlain MyQ interface on Garage door
2 Quirky Trippers (no battery problems - only a week into them)

Edit ( forgot 2 Kidde alarms)

Everything works. . . first week was quirky (no pun) but I think they were trying to scale servers for Christmas onslaught.

In the last 2 weeks, one schedule failed to turn off. I think that was in the limbo to .56 version.

I know there have been a lot of problems reported and I've had to repeat a few things to get to this point. But I've also put up with X-10 for 30+ years!

Again, I think it has a lot of potential. Herding the multiple protocols into one working system that's easy for the consumer is a pretty high bar.

 

[Sid33]

Updated the iOS app. They added the activity log for the trippers!

 

[fletchb]

Thank you - I will try that next time I need to remove a zwave device.

Last night Wink had me log in and out/ also reboot the hub while troubleshooting so it is something to consider when having problems.

Also they could not fix my problem last night (getting my zwave devices back into wink) and then said they tried to put a zwave device into their own network and could not. They were pretty sure there was a problem on the cloud side of wink and told me to try again tonight. Well before work this morning I tried and still no go. Well just tried again and it worked like it should so back in business. Got to install the remote switches this weekend and I will post how they work (levinton remotes).

Also thanks to a poster on this thread I got a good deal (1/2 price) on a Honeywell. I am installing a new 5 wire thermostat wire right now (need the c wire) ..hopefully have it up before bedtime or sometime in the am.

It's fun to tinker with this stuff!!!

Got the Honeywell going. The funny thing is running the new cable for the C wire was the easy part. Not hard at all. But their wifi software has issues. It could not properly detect my wifi security setup and kept getting it wrong. Would tell me the password was wrong. I had to change the settings on my router to force it to work. It did update after that so maybe the firmware update fixed that. But they probably get a lot of returns from average joes because of the poor setup.

Installed 2 levinton remotes today. They were no problem and worked first time. The last remote is in the same box as 2 other switches and I am going to have to clean up the wiring as it is too crowded. May see if a larger box is available. but the remotes work fine.

But when I woke up, I found 5 phantom zwave switches in Wink. Called them and they are going to try to fix them remotely . Will see what happens when I wake up in the morning. Not sure why, but it seems like everytime I have a problem with Wink it happens overnight when sleeping. The must do some kind of maintenance or something.

Had to drop my GF off at a hospital for a sleep study last night. When I was driving this am to pick her up, I just happen to see a sign that caught my eye: It was the "Iris factory". This used to be a rural part of town and it is located in the woods. The campus looked new. Not super large by no means
but nice looking anyway. I hope they do well for our town's sake. I hope they don't price themselves out of the market like they did last time when they were a computer company.

 

[aosmer]

So just an update on my Wink experience so far. Most everything has been functional, except I've been having serious issues with the Pivot Power Genius. Every time my internet goes down (even for a second), the Pivot Power Genius turns all the "smart" outlets off. What's really annoying about it, is that if I go press the button on the side of the power strip to manually turn it on, it doesn't do anything. It is 100% not functional if your internet stops working. This is super annoying, because I have it tied into IFTTT so if it turns off, it turns everything else off.

I contacted Wink, and they confirmed that by design that is what supposed to happen . So I may end up returning it, but I really wanted the IFTTT functionality. Like others have experienced, support has been a mess, had a call back scheduled and they never called. Had to actually call them back myself.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I believe the Tripper battery life issues have been resolved with the latest firmware. Both batteries, previously showing low, now show full. I don't think it was just a case of faulty reporting before; one battery was definitely dead.

Since these things also apparently work on SmartThings, I may order another set as I need one for an outside gate. I'll need to paint and weatherproof it.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Looks like the new app update has added a few devices. There is a new GE Link hub, a linear Siren, motion sensor, and door contact. There is also a generic z wave sensor option now.


I am really curious what this new hub is as it looks very small and plugs directly into a wall outlet

Anyone try this device?

http://www.amazon.com/Ecolink-Z-Wave...sin=B00FB1TBKS

A reviewer said he got it working with Wink BUT robots were unable to trigger. I'm hoping the new firmware and app additions might have changed that. I'd like to get a motion sensor but I'd want one that also works with SmartThings since I may go that route when V2.0 is released.

 

[The Neck]

I can confirm the eco link z wave motion sensor works like a charm after the .55 update. It was working in the .54 hub software but not available in the robots. Since .55 update and .56 they have been working great with my robots to activate lights.

I had to pair them with the hub using the z wave controls but other then that everything has gone very smoothly with them (I have two at the moment)

 

[alnames]

Just got the new Cree Connected LED from Home Depot for $15. So far it works pretty well. I wanted it as it's a frosted bulb unlike the GE Link bulb. It's definitely a less harsh light.

A nice touch is that the Icon for it in the App is different from the GE bulb making it easier to differentiate from the GE.

Otherwise functionality is pretty much the same as the GE. It's made with vents instead of heat sinks like their newer bulbs.

 

[smhawkes]

I can confirm the eco link z wave motion sensor works like a charm after the .55 update. It was working in the .54 hub software but not available in the robots. Since .55 update and .56 they have been working great with my robots to activate lights.

I had to pair them with the hub using the z wave controls but other then that everything has gone very smoothly with them (I have two at the moment)

How did you get it to work? I can add it and it shows up as a selection in robots but there is no way I can to actually use it. I am on firmware .55 and Android.

 

[The Neck]

I assume they show up but whn you click on them to use them in the robot nothing shows up in the sub menu?

Thats exactly what was happening to me... then after a hub update the menu was suddenly populated with two "detect motion" options. I did use the exclusion/inclusion options a few times when initially getting them paired up with the hub....maybe that had an effect(i doubt it though).

Im also running on android app version 2.5.0.3... wink hub is on .56 now. Id suggest updating then you should be ok...?

 

[smhawkes]

I assume they show up but whn you click on them to use them in the robot nothing shows up in the sub menu?

Thats exactly what was happening to me... then after a hub update the menu was suddenly populated with two "detect motion" options. I did use the exclusion/inclusion options a few times when initially getting them paired up with the hub....maybe that had an effect(i doubt it though).

Im also running on android app version 2.5.0.3... wink hub is on .56 now. Id suggest updating then you should be ok...?

Still waiting for the .56 update.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I assume they show up but whn you click on them to use them in the robot nothing shows up in the sub menu?

Thats exactly what was happening to me... then after a hub update the menu was suddenly populated with two "detect motion" options. I did use the exclusion/inclusion options a few times when initially getting them paired up with the hub....maybe that had an effect(i doubt it though).

Im also running on android app version 2.5.0.3... wink hub is on .56 now. Id suggest updating then you should be ok...?

So let's say I get a motion sensor. With the current app, is it possible to do the following?

1. If motion is detected and time >= 6:00 PM, turn a light on.
2. If no motion detected in 10 minutes, turn lights off.

EDIT: NM, I played around and it can mostly do what I need but not #2 above. I really wish you could set a timer on a robot.

 

[MjnMixael]

Yeah, i've told them that we really need timers & and/or logic in robots.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Yeah, i've told them that we really need timers & and/or logic in robots.

Yeah, I'd love timers and the ability to do some really advanced logic and workflows with the robots.

I went ahead and ordered that motion sensor to play with. From the reviews, it seems that once it detects motion, it starts a timer on the device to reset itself after 4 minutes. I'm assuming this might trigger a status change in Wink and that might work for my uses. I am going to put it in the upper corner of my office, facing my desk, and probably use it to trigger lights after 5:30 or 6:00 and then have another scheduled activity that if lights are still on at 11 or so, they will turn off.

I am thinking I may still order another set of Trippers and attempt to paint and weatherproof one for use on an outside gate.

 

[azgdds]

I received a new hub with .56, but I can't get anything to connect. I deleted the old hub off my app and have it unplugged, but the Link lights will not connect to the new one. They will not do the blinking thing when turned on while the hub is in connection mode. Also, really oddly, one of my link lights randomly turned on last night at a time that I have never had an event at, and it, nor anything is connected to any hub. I am at a loss. Any ideas? Is there a way to delete everything off my account and start over? I was trying to delete things individually and the app keeps crashing.