The Wink home automation thread

[Edubbwa]

Anyone still have the 2.5.0.3 android version available... I forgot to make a backup copy and for some reason I remember being able to setup robots based on light states?

 

[MjnMixael]

I haven't played with it yet, but I imagine that Tasker project could do it. I'm fairly certain Tasker can do timers. So just set or reset a time when motion is detected. If no motion is detected, then the time will complete and Tasker can send the cue to turn off the light.

 

[blampen]

I haven't played with it yet, but I imagine that Tasker project could do it. I'm fairly certain Tasker can do timers. So just set or reset a time when motion is detected. If no motion is detected, then the time will complete and Tasker can send the cue to turn off the light.

Tasker is android only is it not? I'm on iPhone.

 

[Edubbwa]

I have yet to ude tasker as well but I have found a user that has used tasker directly with the wink api... Not sure if any of it is helpful .....Now for lots of reading and learning...

https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z12guxibomastvsgh04cgfvpfvbdvvwjm1k

 

[The Neck]

I talked with Wink Support and they are planning to implement relative timing ie a timer to keep a light on for say 10 minutes after motion is detected. Hopefully soon but they didnt tell me when.

In the meantime you can use tasker (which I linked some great API code to previously) to check the device status and turn lights off at certain intervals, unfortunate tasker is not notified when a robot is triggered so it cant use that effect to trigger the timer so there is still some gaps trying to get a timer function on motion detection through Tasker.

 

[blampen]

I'm almost thinking about trying to pick up a cheap android phone on Craigslist just to do some of this stuff with tasker. Seems like it might be the easiest way.

 

[ieee_raider]

I'm almost thinking about trying to pick up a cheap android phone on Craigslist just to do some of this stuff with tasker. Seems like it might be the easiest way.

Can get a cheap prepaid phone deal too

 

[blampen]

Good idea

 

[BillinGlendale]

unfortunate tasker is not notified when a robot is triggered

You can have a robot send a notification and have Tasker act upon that.

 

[Edubbwa]

First time I have used tasker and Thru trial and a lots of errors I somehow have tasker working ... With a robot on motion Wink turns selected light on and sends a notification... I used the autonotification tasker plugin to intercept the notification and then a wait state before I somehow fiqured out how to use.... https://plus.google.com/app/basic/stream/z12guxibomastvsgh04cgfvpfvbdvvwjm1k ... and setup a task to turn selected light off again.

No where near optimal... But works...

Lots more learning to do before getting it proper

 

[dennisj00]

There's a Unlocked LG G Pad V410 GSM - New for $89 - on ebay. No contract required. I ordered one at the endorsement of some android folks as an experiment for tasker. . . http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-G-Pad-V41...item58bd19ad6b

Now we need a tasker for IOS . . .

edit . . Updated ebay link . . http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-G-Pad-V4...667?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58bd19ad6b

 

[Kaido]

I picked up a Schlage lock yesterday. The zero-degree temperatures finally got the best of my ancient deadbolt, so I needed a same-day replacement. Works pretty good! Pricey at $199, but it does have a lot of features:

1. Key
2. Number pad
3. Z-wave (with Wink support for lock & unlock)

The keypad is fairly dim in the bright sun. You can pretty much guess at where the numbers are, or just shield your hand over it if needed. However, my only real complaint is how cheap the electronics inside look, specifically the battery connector. The whole setup feels like a cheap Chinese R/C car that you get from the drugstore...it has a pull-out plastic tray for the batteries with a little 9V-style connector plug. It would be VERY easy to accidentally rip the battery connector wire harness out of the unit. The connector is pretty snug once you put it on, so you have to be extra-careful when removing it to pull out the battery tray not to rip those wires out:

http://i.imgur.com/ffrI65k.jpg

Other than that, everything is peachy so far! Looks really nice & operation is easy. To leave the house, you unlock the door, shut it from the outside, and press the Schlage button, which locks the door with the motor. To enter, press the Schlage button again & the keypad lights up (or use a key or Z-wave). Inside the house, just manually turn the deadbolt knob to lock. I'll see how it does over the next week with my Wink system.

 

[Kaido]

There's a Unlocked LG G Pad V410 GSM - New for $89 - on ebay. No contract required. I ordered one at the endorsement of some android folks as an experiment for tasker. . . http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-G-Pad-V41...item58bd19ad6b

Now we need a tasker for IOS . . .

edit . . Updated ebay link . . http://www.ebay.com/itm/LG-G-Pad-V4...667?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58bd19ad6b

If you're looking for a non-cellular tablet, the Suprapads from Hot Deals have pretty good reviews. The base model is only $69 new:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...-022-_-Product

 

[MjnMixael]

Now we need a tasker for IOS . . .

Unlikely. iOS just doesn't allow that sort of integration. (Yet)

I picked up a Schlage lock yesterday. *SNIP*.

I've got two of them. I love them. The Wink integration is fairly minimal, but I'm about to begin testing new lock features in the beta program. Integration is going to get much better.

 

[Kaido]

I've got two of them. I love them. The Wink integration is fairly minimal, but I'm about to begin testing new lock features in the beta program. Integration is going to get much better.

Nice! Yeah, I know that SmartThings supports lock, unlock, and status, and are working on remote code editing, which would be really convenient, especially for temp codes. I wanted to go with the Okidokey system, but I literally only have one lock in my house (rear door is a sliding glass door has a built-in locking latch, which doesn't lend itself to automation), plus I'm moving at the end of the year & wanted something I could leave with the place as a selling feature. And really, it's a 2-way street...the manufacturers have to add full feature support via their API. Just look at how castrated the Hue is right now. They'll get there, in time...

 

[lsd]

I picked up a Schlage lock yesterday. The zero-degree temperatures finally got the best of my ancient deadbolt, so I needed a same-day replacement. Works pretty good! Pricey at $199, but it does have a lot of features:

1. Key
2. Number pad
3. Z-wave (with Wink support for lock & unlock)

The keypad is fairly dim in the bright sun. You can pretty much guess at where the numbers are, or just shield your hand over it if needed. However, my only real complaint is how cheap the electronics inside look, specifically the battery connector. The whole setup feels like a cheap Chinese R/C car that you get from the drugstore...it has a pull-out plastic tray for the batteries with a little 9V-style connector plug. It would be VERY easy to accidentally rip the battery connector wire harness out of the unit. The connector is pretty snug once you put it on, so you have to be extra-careful when removing it to pull out the battery tray not to rip those wires out:

http://i.imgur.com/ffrI65k.jpg

Other than that, everything is peachy so far! Looks really nice & operation is easy. To leave the house, you unlock the door, shut it from the outside, and press the Schlage button, which locks the door with the motor. To enter, press the Schlage button again & the keypad lights up (or use a key or Z-wave). Inside the house, just manually turn the deadbolt knob to lock. I'll see how it does over the next week with my Wink system.

I didn't have any problems with the schlage touch screen with the wink but support was minimal so there isn't much to go wrong. Did they add battery status to the device page?

The ST hub with a modified device profile also allows you to change the alarm and auto lock functions. Activity notification is superior to the wink.

 

[MjnMixael]

Nice! Yeah, I know that SmartThings supports lock, unlock, and status, and are working on remote code editing, which would be really convenient, especially for temp codes. I wanted to go with the Okidokey system, but I literally only have one lock in my house (rear door is a sliding glass door has a built-in locking latch, which doesn't lend itself to automation), plus I'm moving at the end of the year & wanted something I could leave with the place as a selling feature. And really, it's a 2-way street...the manufacturers have to add full feature support via their API. Just look at how castrated the Hue is right now. They'll get there, in time...

I'm also hoping for battery status.

Oh man.. Hue... I wonder if they are aware that they are aiming the gun at their own foot?

 

[BillinGlendale]

Unlikely. iOS just doesn't allow that sort of integration. (Yet)

Probably ever. Here's a post from the Tasker support forum re that question. The last comment is from "Pent", Tasker's developer.

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!searchin/tasker/ios/tasker/NdW0ysHgIbM/SLWORWe0DfMJ

 

[MjnMixael]

I got the Tasker thing up and running and it's really, really great. You give it your Wink credentials and run a particular task and then it's ready to go.

I say 'OK Google, turn off bedroom light' or 'OK Google, lock the front door'. You can even dim lights. 'OK Google dim bedroom light to 50%'.

And yes, it can activate shortcuts. 'OK Google, activate lock house'.

 

[Kaido]

I got the Tasker thing up and running and it's really, really great. You give it your Wink credentials and run a particular task and then it's ready to go.

I say 'OK Google, turn off bedroom light' or 'OK Google, lock the front door'. You can even dim lights. 'OK Google dim bedroom light to 50%'.

And yes, it can activate shortcuts. 'OK Google, activate lock house'.

Wow nice, that's great!

 

[Kaido]

Got my Hub updated today. The popup message in the app said it could take up to 30 minutes, yikes! Only took about 10 though. I am now on firmware version 00.56. I am starting to have more confidence in their system; a quick glance at their server status shows a pretty solid history for the month of January. The only system-wide hiccup was on January 5th, with separate issues throughout the month for the Pivot Power Genius, MyQ Garage Door, Nest API, and TCP bulbs:

http://status.winkapp.com/history

I just got a new wireless router (Asus RT-N66R, which is awesome btw) & was able to setup my Wink Hub on the guest network quite easily. This solves two problems: first, it segregates the Hub from the rest of my network (overly cautious, but makes me feel better!), and second, I was able to set it up with a 2.4ghz WPA-PSK configuration, so even though my primary network has stronger encryption, my Wink Hub can still get on with no monkey business.

The Schlage lock is working nicely with my Wink Hub. It lets you name each lock (i.e. "Front Door") and has a simple slide-to-unlock graphic. It shows you whether the door is locked or unlocked, and has a locking & unlocking indicator when you've sent a command. The "..." menu has an Activity tab that shows lock & unlock command history. The tutorial said you can get notifications whenever the door is unlocked, although I haven't tried that out yet.

My current tentative plan is to upgrade to the SmartThings Hub v2, provided it has good reviews (unlike the new Vera hub). Offline support, battery backup, and 3G connection backup all sound mighty good to me. I will stick with my Wink Hub until then. I poked around the FAQ again today and there are a lot of little entries for possible future hardware & software upgrades, like "Will my HUB work on a Wired LAN (Local Area Network)? As of right now you need a Wi-Fi connection to send commands to the Wink HUB, but Wink is looking into other forms of control." Again, I understand they are a growing company & have a new product that was more or less rushed to market due to competitor pressure, and they're doing a lot of neat stuff as it is right now, so we'll see how this year goes!

As far as future equipment upgrades go, I'll probably pick up a couple more Kidde smoke alarms, and maybe a Nest one for the kitchen since the button would be easy to reach. I have access to a storage garage & want to put a MyQ adapter on it at some point, as well as a Honeywell thermostat in the house. I haven't decided on lightswitches yet. My first Caseta switch died & we all hated having flat wall switches, but the Pico remote was really super handy. Leviton has some rocker switches, but they don't have a remote & cost the same ($60), so it'd be crazy money to replace all of the switches in my current place (upwards of a grand, and for switches I don't even like!). Not really sure what to do on that front yet.

 

[Kaido]

I didn't have any problems with the schlage touch screen with the wink but support was minimal so there isn't much to go wrong. Did they add battery status to the device page?

The ST hub with a modified device profile also allows you to change the alarm and auto lock functions. Activity notification is superior to the wink.

No alarm controls or battery status that I see in 00.56.

 

[MjnMixael]

Kaido, did you ever figure out why the Lutron died? I still haven't had any problems. Was this switch inside or outside (like in a garage)?

 

[Kaido]

Kaido, did you ever figure out why the Lutron died? I still haven't had any problems. Was this switch inside or outside (like in a garage)?

Inside switch. Haven't dug it out yet, maybe this weekend. I'm hoping it's just a wire loose or something stupid like that.

 

[Kaido]

GE is going to be linking fridges into Wink:

http://www.engadget.com/2015/02/02/ge-wants-to-connect-existing-fridges/

Certain 2009 & newer fridges are equipped with Ethernet jacks; GE is developing a Wifi Connect kit & will be giving away 20k units as part of a trial run. It's unclear exactly what it will do, but at minimum it should give you a heads-up if your fridge dies. Happened to my buddy the other day!