The Wink home automation thread

[bigverm24]

Got the new switch hooked up and paired up easily.....works great from the app and scheduling. Anyone seen this though?

 

[fletchb]

Got the new switch hooked up and paired up easily.....works great from the app and scheduling. Anyone seen this though?

Do you mean the zwave controls at the bottom?

 

[bigverm24]

Yeah..what is that for?

 

[fletchb]

Yeah..what is that for?

Sometimes the normal install routine doesn't work. I had to use it to remove/reinstall an appliance module.

 

[bigverm24]

Thanks. I emailed support and actually got a response super fast about it. They have def beefed up their support capabilities coupled with live chat on the website.

 

[dgruhin]

So I have been at this for a little bit tonight.

Converted my PHP to jQuery to rebuild the Status Widget, which I added to the web control panel.

I figured out how to hide the devices that had no real reason to show up due to not having actual controls. I built in some css classes to the HTML output and then did some modification of the table layout to make things a bit more seamless.

I think this should be setup on Github, but I do not want to step on the original developers toes.

Here is a screenshot of my latest changes. I built in a placeholder hoping there is a way to display light groups and shortcuts via the API for quick access, almost like a web based "Wink Relay"

It is fully responsive and working decently at this point on all devices.

If the devices types could be broken up in to individual tables allowing me to link the sidebar nav to different sections of the page that would be good too!

Here is a link to my "Fork" of this project with included modifications. Add your username and password to the js/wink.js

I put the project on Github https://github.com/davidgruhin/WinkPost

 

[BillinGlendale]

How's it been working out for you in practice so far? Do you find yourself using it more than your phone for home control?

The only time I use the phone anymore is if something doesn't work(pretty rare) or I'm in bed(the phone is closer).

 

[BillinGlendale]

I am a frontend UI developer, any chance I can get access to your project? I would love to help on the design front if you are interested.

The two files are in the zip, the html and the wink.js file. I'd welcome your input, thanks.

 

[BillinGlendale]

Just to consolidate a list of resources:

Thanks, that's really useful.

 

[BillinGlendale]

Can you access light groups and shortcuts from the API??

Yes you can, it's a bit non-intuitive though for groups.

 

[BillinGlendale]

Yes you can, it's a bit non-intuitive though for groups.

I'll explain before I go to bed:awe:. The API call to change the state of a device is Update(PUT.../{device_type}/{device_id}); for a group, you ACTIVATE it(POST ... /groups/{group_id}/activate). Groups also have UPDATE, that's to update group membership.

 

[BillinGlendale]

Is the Wink Hub API the check to see if the hub has connectivity? The reason I had an entry for the hub(I didn't initially, but added it) was that I was having problems with hub connectivity. I moved the hub further from the router(actually to the bathroom), and I've not had further problems.

However, I still think that the status of the hub is useful.

 

[twomonsters]

So I've had my trippers for alittle over a month and they have stopped reporting there activity and the battery level is showing low and it turned yellow. Should I replace the batteries and try to re-pair them?

 

[Kaido]

So I've had my trippers for alittle over a month and they have stopped reporting there activity and the battery level is showing low and it turned yellow. Should I replace the batteries and try to re-pair them?

Check for a firmware update for the Hub first (open the app, tap on the Hub, see if there's an update). The Hub update solved the battery issue for some people here.

 

[Kaido]

Thanks, that's really useful.

Digging through some old notes & found some more, plus some new ones:

Wink Hub integration with OpenHAB for local control
+ OpenHAB running on a Raspberry Pi with Wink integration

"Blink" Server scripts and Android app to control a Wink hub on a local network

Extensive comparison of the GE Link vs. Cree Connected smart LED bulbs

Youtube videos:

GE Link bulb teardown.
Removing the Zigbee controller from a GE Link bulb for use as an IoT electro-mechanical relay. Very clever
Demonstrating a Moto 360 smartwatch controlling Wink-connected smartbulbs
ETI LED Module with Wink Hub. Not sure what interface module he's using, appears to be in Chinese/Japanese. Maybe like an Xbee?
Using Tasker to bypass Philip's restrictions on using Wink's Shortcuts & Robots. This idea of command interception, coupled with extracting the GE Link Zigbee controller ($15 Zigbee board, whoohoo!), could lead to some pretty interesting device control...

Same idea with a Cree bulb radio extraction - small Zigbee board that needs 3V power, has PWM output, and you can have some IFTTT fun for triggering for IoT goodies

Rooting:

Unofficial Wink Rooting forum
Wink Hub rooting thread on XDA
Rooting step-by-step & a bit more on the public/private key setup
Wink Hub rooting blog on Wordpress: https://winkhubroot. wordpress.com/ (linking directly to Wordpress is banned here)

Hackaday suggestion of Dropbear for generating public keys on the Wink Hub

I think it would be pretty interesting to develop a custom firmware for the Hub - disable all cloud integration & handle remote-access via a web portal to an in-home web server, which then handles local relaying for improved control & faster response speeds. That would let us overcome the limitations that Philips, Lutron, etc. place via license agreements in the software. Or we could just wait for SmartThings v2

 

[Kaido]

Wink’s rocky launch hasn’t stopped it from gaining market share:

https://gigaom.com/2015/01/21/winks-rocky-launch-hasnt-stopped-it-from-gaining-market-share/

 

[Kaido]

It is fully responsive and working decently at this point on all devices.

It would be cool to see that tied into a web-based, dynamically-buildable workflow visualization editor. Kind of like Visio, or like Decisions.com:

http://decisions.com/platform/flows/

Basically integrating Indigo Domotic's workflow design functionality into a web-based platform. People are visual; Windows took off because you don't need DOS commands, you could just click on a Start button. Would be cool to see the automation structures at-a-glance like that!

 

[fletchb]

Thanks. I emailed support and actually got a response super fast about it. They have def beefed up their support capabilities coupled with live chat on the website.

I have had good luck just calling them on the phone. The longest I have had to wait is only about 4-5 min so far, most of the time they answer right away.

Now If I could only get this frustrating tasker to work!
I made my GF mad yesterday I was working on it for so long. Almost got it working but still not there yet.

 

[bigverm24]

Anyone have experience with GE Z-wave switches?

Levitons run anywhere from $50 to $70 for a single switch up to a single dimmer.

Lutrons starts at $55 I believe for a single switch along with a remote...still have to buy the wall plate and mounting bracket so basically $70 for a 3 way.

GE's seem to be relatively cheap in price starting at $40-45 for a single switch....looking to expand so I'm trying to figure out if its worth it to go with one of the more expensive brands.

 

[CAL7]

Regarding support, my experience is now orders of magnitude improved in the past few weeks. It's usually not the answer I want, but, whether by phone or email, it's pretty quick.

Compatible switches are a weakness. I haven't found one yet that I think is affordable for mass implementation. How can we have a dimmable bulb for $15 and no switch for thrice the price?

I'm trying to get several non-certified Z-Wave devices to pair with zed luck so far. These are: 1) Ecolink tilt garage sensor, 2) Ecolink PIR that appears to be compatible with Linear or GoControl, 3) a siren made by Aeotec http://aeotec.com/z-wave-siren , 4) a GE Z-Wave outlet. The last one paired and actually worked for a while but suddenly disappeared and I can't get it back.

Wink support answered me about the garage tilt sensor to say it wasn't supported. I'm able to get it to show up as a "sensor" but not use it in any robot, etc.

 

[fletchb]

Those of you that having tasker working with voice:

Are you using the playstore version or the beta version?

Thanks.

 

[BillinGlendale]

Are you using the playstore version or the beta version?

Playstore.

 

[bigverm24]

I'm seeing some decent reviews on the Linear switches....starting at $35

 

[dennisj00]

Tried to do this with a Toshiba tablet. Moved all of my Wink shortcuts to the desktops but they work for awhile then revert to "loading".
Any ideas?

I have a similar problem with the LG V410 tablet that I posted a link to. Wink shortcuts work in the app (and on IOS Notification screen on iPad / iPhone), but placing them on the home or lock screen, they get funky.

They work for several sessions and then go dumb with no response. I can't find any correlation between time or number of on / off / lock sessions.

Rebooting the tablet starts them working again for a while.

In my case they just become dumb icons. Any ideas?

 

[blampen]

Anyone have experience with GE Z-wave switches?

Levitons run anywhere from $50 to $70 for a single switch up to a single dimmer.

Lutrons starts at $55 I believe for a single switch along with a remote...still have to buy the wall plate and mounting bracket so basically $70 for a 3 way.

GE's seem to be relatively cheap in price starting at $40-45 for a single switch....looking to expand so I'm trying to figure out if its worth it to go with one of the more expensive brands.

I started with purchasing the ge switches but found them to be not as nice as the levitons. When you physically press a ge switch there is a very slight delay before the internal contact closes and the lights turn on. This did not pass the wife test she immediately started complaining about it. I find the levitons to be instant and a much better feel. I have put them throughout my whole house now and have never heard any complaints. They do cost a little more but you are getting in my opinion a higher quality switch.