The Wink home automation thread

[millards]

It would be useful if Wink had an area to leave suggestions, maybe they do and I'm not aware of it. I love the GE Link floods, where I live you can't see your hand in front of your face at night and the switches for two corners of the house are on the first floor. Now from the second floor where the master bedroom is, I can just hit one button and turn on the outside floods. Very nice. I like many people, played with X10, which wasn't very reliable, this system is getting there. Finally home automation that works (for the most part) and is affordable.

 

[Narumi]

Yup... I tell ya what. These outages need to be fixed up. They either need to reeeaaaallly beef up their server setup or they need to push out a way for you to have local network control without a server should the need arise.

In the grand scheme it's only been like 1.5 outages a month for a few hours each.. so we're talking maybe 8-12 hours total of downtime for a whole month. But when they happen at peak times like today... man. This system just won't sell if it has reports of losing complete control of everything at least once a month or more.

Wonder if we could set up our own server at home? That would be nice if we could just put it on a comp that ran 24/7. I know most people will not have this but if your home and your computer is on why not?

Also how's the beta program working out? I was thinking of trying to get into that program if it will help with their improvements.

 

[MjnMixael]

It's nice to have a voice. That's the biggest thing about the beta program. I'm in active conversation with the Wink guys about what it's like to use this stuff in the real world (vs lab testing which only goes so far).

Because Wink doesn't have a blog and their Twitter is rarely updated, sometimes they may feel out of sync with us, the customers. At least that's how I felt before I got into the beta program. In the program, I can see that they are reading everything, they are trying very hard to make things work.

Kinda like the server status page they just put up. It doesn't really do much, and it doesn't stop the outages, but at least I know and the helps with any first world frustration.

The free gear is cool too.

 

[Narumi]

Haha, yeah free stuff is always a good thing. I may just ask straight up if I can get in on the beta program then.

Like you said I also noticed that their web site is a bit too "simple" and not much on there about status and updates. When an update rolls around, or there's a new firmware I'm not aware of it until several days or even weeks later.

Also the server's going down. They have our emails...if it's been down for over 1-2 hours it would be nice if they could just send a little note saying so. Before that status page I had to email to find out what was happening.

 

[Kaido]

Wonder if we could set up our own server at home? That would be nice if we could just put it on a comp that ran 24/7. I know most people will not have this but if your home and your computer is on why not?

Indigo Domotics for Mac follows that idea:

http://www.indigodomo.com/

Downside is that they only support Z-wave, INSTEON, and X-10 right now. They've been around for a long time, however, and have a pretty mature product...I'd be curious to see if they added support for like a USB ClearConnect adapter, USB Kidde adapter, and so on.

My biggest complaint with Wink right now is the dependency on the cloud to operate.

 

[Narumi]

Indigo Domotics for Mac follows that idea:

http://www.indigodomo.com/

Downside is that they only support Z-wave, INSTEON, and X-10 right now. They've been around for a long time, however, and have a pretty mature product...I'd be curious to see if they added support for like a USB ClearConnect adapter, USB Kidde adapter, and so on.

My biggest complaint with Wink right now is the dependency on the cloud to operate.

Well I guess I was not clear. What if there was something of a "server" like app that we could run that would act like a wink server. That way if wink's cloud were to go down we would still have functionality. I only say this because it seems like the local caching has done nothing. I have come home to a dark apartment because the lights did not turn on when I had set them to turn on.

 

[abelaguilar]

Sorry if this has been discussed before. Wondering if multiple wink hubs can be used to extend the range. ?

 

[MjnMixael]

I asked them about using multiple hubs and they didn't recommend it at the time. That was a while ago. Are you actually having range problems? My hub is in the basement central to the floorplan and I've had no range issues at all.

 

[abelaguilar]

I have cinder block outside walls that are now internal walls. All of these walls limit the range on one end of the building.

 

[daudet419]

Hello everyone,

just bought the Wink hub at 50$ on Amazon. Was hoping to get my GE Dimmer Switch 45612 and my appliance module to work with Wink. But I haven't found the way to do it.

Googoling for help I end up to this topic on Wink. So first thing I did was to read all the 15 + pages. Very interesting and lots of comments.

Then I had hard time to register on the forum. It wouldn't accept my registrations pretending they have tight security about spammer!!! I use "daudet" has user name in about 50 others forums without glitches. I tried 3 different emails and still not accepted. I email the forum owner and no answer.
Finally I tried again by usin changing mmy user name to. daudet419 and voila i am in now.

Back to Wink, I found out in this topic, that Wink rely only on external server to work. I thought that the Hub was handling all the stuff localy with the help of the external server only for a'ces from outsite my home network. I am really disappointed.

My ZWave and 1-wire network is working fine and I currently use OSA software on my own small server. Wink Hub was attractive with his multi platform radio's but cannot interface with OSA.

If I can get my GE modules to work with Wink I will keep it to experiment until they (Wink) get better. If not I will sell it back and concentrate with OSA as my platform.

Did anyone had success to pair GE modules? if so can anyone provide details.
I found a document on Jasco site about GE product and Wink Hub but it does not work.

I have read that Wink hub is using ZWave Plus protocols. I also found that ZWave + is backward compatible with ZWave. So don't know why it is not working.

I will keep watching this tread as I have subscribed to it and see if Wink Hub will improve.

A bit about me and my interest.
I am in the telecom business for the past 35 years. As Radio tech. then telecom tech.
Now I am specialized in VoIP and callcenters on the Avaya Aura portofolio.

Amateur Radio operator for the past 30 years, I am running a personnel weather station since 2005.

Started in HA a couple years ago with OSA has the platform with some GE modules and remotes, and half dozen 1-wire thermometer.

I have a couple WEMO switch for specific application like the front door light to go on/off at sunset and sunrise. And another plugin module to turn On the Rain gauge heater when temp goes below 4 degrees C and Off above 4 C.

My next projects, for this winter add more devices to my HA, build a lightning detector module for the Blitzortung network and proximity reading tags with an Arduino to integrate with HA.

That's it for now.

Daniel
VA2DG
http://meteohautrichelieu.com

 

[Matt L]

I've been seeing a few things about wink, here and there recently investigating it a bit. As a long, long time user of X10, still functioning 100% of the time, I'm not yet in the market for a new system but am trying to keep current. To be honest at this point I see many conflicting systems out there, and while there is some interoperability I get the feelings it's a VHS vs. Beta world in automation at the moment.

Perhaps I'm not the norm but I have fixed lighting schemes and really don't need to control lights with my phone or tablet. My X10 is set to turn them on at sunset plus or minus what ever amount I choose and off at preset times. As for thermostats I have a pretty set routine and a programmable stat fit's my needs fine. I'd be interested in trying some of the newer systems if they were backward comparable with the dozens of X10 controllers I have and use, but I don't see that happening.

 

[Kaido]

Well I guess I was not clear. What if there was something of a "server" like app that we could run that would act like a wink server. That way if wink's cloud were to go down we would still have functionality. I only say this because it seems like the local caching has done nothing. I have come home to a dark apartment because the lights did not turn on when I had set them to turn on.

Yes, agreed. The Hub should act as a local server, with the cloud doing replication (mirroring what is on the local hub). That way, the Hub stays synced with the latest device drivers for new hardware, and the Cloud stays synced with anything that goes on in the Hub.

It would be HUGE if they implemented that, especially for people who want to use it offline, like at a vacation home that doesn't have (regular) Internet access.

 

[Kaido]

Back to Wink, I found out in this topic, that Wink rely only on external server to work. I thought that the Hub was handling all the stuff localy with the help of the external server only for a'ces from outsite my home network. I am really disappointed.

My ZWave and 1-wire network is working fine and I currently use OSA software on my own small server. Wink Hub was attractive with his multi platform radio's but cannot interface with OSA.

If I can get my GE modules to work with Wink I will keep it to experiment until they (Wink) get better. If not I will sell it back and concentrate with OSA as my platform.

Did anyone had success to pair GE modules? if so can anyone provide details.
I found a document on Jasco site about GE product and Wink Hub but it does not work.

I have read that Wink hub is using ZWave Plus protocols. I also found that ZWave + is backward compatible with ZWave. So don't know why it is not working.

Welcome aboard!

1. Yes, it is disappointing that Wink relies on a cloud server to function. That seems silly since it powers your home, and should work even if you lose your Internet connection or if their cloud service goes down (which has happened). I would like my light switches to work via remote control even if my Internet or their cloud is down.

2. Wink officially supports only Wink Certified products. There is no guarantee that products that do not have a Wink Certified logo on them will work. If the GE modules are not Wink Certified, they may or may not work. Have you already tried doing Zwave pairing in the app? (the method for unsupported devices)

3. Outside of Wink, we have a pretty big thread on general home automation going on if you want ideas for other things:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2358016

 

[Kaido]

I've been seeing a few things about wink, here and there recently investigating it a bit. As a long, long time user of X10, still functioning 100% of the time, I'm not yet in the market for a new system but am trying to keep current. To be honest at this point I see many conflicting systems out there, and while there is some interoperability I get the feelings it's a VHS vs. Beta world in automation at the moment.

Perhaps I'm not the norm but I have fixed lighting schemes and really don't need to control lights with my phone or tablet. My X10 is set to turn them on at sunset plus or minus what ever amount I choose and off at preset times. As for thermostats I have a pretty set routine and a programmable stat fit's my needs fine. I'd be interested in trying some of the newer systems if they were backward comparable with the dozens of X10 controllers I have and use, but I don't see that happening.

Wink is working maybe 90 to 95%. If your X10 is working 100%, I would not upgrade unless you really want the new features & don't mind a decrease in performance. Plus you'd have to buy all-new equipment.

 

[CAL7]

I bought the bundle of two lights plus hub from Home Depot, and add a $20 spot bulb. I haven't played with it enough to give a definitive review, so with that caveat... it's really flakey. Found the hub with no problem. But, the bar code for the lights wasn't recognized, which would have been the easiest way to pair them. Next, the first bulb was never seen by the hub - followed instructions from start to finish a dozen times with no success. Second bulb worked first time (really gratifying to see the blink acknowledging some kind of communication had occurred). Third bulb same as the first.

It's really not ready for prime time. I'm actually OK with that because I bought it with the expectation that it was an experiment and I'm willing to test it as a throw-away. But the mass audience they are after will be returning them in droves.

 

[MjnMixael]

Well I can tell you that the last week was a very unfortunate time to be working with Wink. They upgraded(?) their servers which caused days of intermittent issues. Blah.

I know the GE Link bulbs are also kinda odd. I have no problem linking my Bulb to my retail hub. However, the issues you are describing I have seen while trying to pair the Bulb to my beta tester hub. I don't know what the root cause is, but I do know they asked me to retest that just a few hours ago and that they fixed some things. We'll see when I get home.

But yet, the whole system could have used a lot more testing and refinement before the major reveal. I imagine they were feeling pressure with Samsung buying Smarthings and really wanted to get their foot in the door.

 

[millards]

I've got 6 GE Link floods (par 38) paired and a couple of GE Link A19 bulbs paired. I had to pair two of them over as the weren't all going off. They would go on but then not turn off. Seems to be working now. I set up a shortcut to turn the floods all on together. How do you get to the shortcut once you have set it up? Can't find any examples at winkapp.com. Could call support, but I'm sure they have other things to do. They are very helpful, but if they had better documentation that would save them a lot of calls.

 

[MjnMixael]

Dear lord yes.. documentation is an issue.

Shortcuts are in the sub-menu (press the three dots on the top right). Alternatively, you can create a group. Go to the sub-menu and scroll down past the list of your list and you'll see 'Add a new Group'. After setup, the group will appear as an option in your main light control screen.

 

[millards]

Thanks that is what I was afraid of. Hopefully they will be moved to an easier place someday. I've done groups and on the android version of the app, they show up in the lights menu with no way to hide the lights they compose the groups. Oh well, certainly not a show stopper. Thanks for the info.

 

[Kaido]

I bought the bundle of two lights plus hub from Home Depot, and add a $20 spot bulb. I haven't played with it enough to give a definitive review, so with that caveat... it's really flakey. Found the hub with no problem. But, the bar code for the lights wasn't recognized, which would have been the easiest way to pair them. Next, the first bulb was never seen by the hub - followed instructions from start to finish a dozen times with no success. Second bulb worked first time (really gratifying to see the blink acknowledging some kind of communication had occurred). Third bulb same as the first.

It's really not ready for prime time. I'm actually OK with that because I bought it with the expectation that it was an experiment and I'm willing to test it as a throw-away. But the mass audience they are after will be returning them in droves.

That's weird, the GE Bulbs were actually my easiest ones - scan, blink, done! The only time I had an issue with it was when I unplugged the lamp to move it - I had to re-sync it to get the Hub to "see" it again. That, and scheduling issues, but I think that's due to the recent server downtime.

I do agree about it not really being ready for prime time yet. It's been out since summer...so it's been July, August, September, and now October, 4 months now, and it's still not completely polished. Plus they have a $300 lightswitch coming out...definitely not investing in that until the get their act together. Not that it's horrible right now, but $300 is a lot to invest in something that acts kinda flaky from time to time.

 

[Kaido]

yes.. documentation is an issue.

Yeah. Too sparse. Just read through the Amazon reviews to see how much that has affected people's experiences:

http://www.amazon.com/Wink-Connected...dp/B002YVHYF2/

 

[Kaido]

Thanks that is what I was afraid of. Hopefully they will be moved to an easier place someday. I've done groups and on the android version of the app, they show up in the lights menu with no way to hide the lights they compose the groups. Oh well, certainly not a show stopper. Thanks for the info.

Yes, it needs an improved interface. I like the idea behind the GUI, but it's somewhat childishly designed...very basic, strict functionality. Half the time I just get up & press the light because of the steps I have to through to actually do what I want from the phone, you know?

 

[Kaido]

But yet, the whole system could have used a lot more testing and refinement before the major reveal. I imagine they were feeling pressure with Samsung buying Smarthings and really wanted to get their foot in the door.

Yeah, a Microsoft-style release...release something sub-par to flood the market, then fix it later. XP & 7 are actually pretty great products, so I'm hoping Wink will bring their game up later on down the road.

 

[mcrimm]

Yeah. Too sparse. Just read through the Amazon reviews to see how much that has affected people's experiences:

http://www.amazon.com/Wink-Connected...dp/B002YVHYF2/

I don't know about anyone else, but I always read Amazon reviews before spending anything on products. I am honest is my assessment of products and find most people are as well. I have stayed away from Quicken updates because of the bad reviews.

I got my hub for $0.99 so I'm not out much but before I invest more I'd like to see polling of devices so my phone tells me exactly whether my lights are on or off. I'd also like to see quicker response.

I have 4 CFL spots in my living room I’d like to replace with GE Link Bulbs but I think I'll wait for a while. I'd also like to replace the 20 or so incandescent bulbs on the outside of my house and detached garage – but I think I’ll wait here as well too.

Mike

 

[LegendKiller]

I am tired of my Vera3, which was bricked by their idiotic UI7 2 weeks after I got the thing running. What a bunch of screwups, been in the market for how long and they can't even fix their stuff? Horrible interface, horrible apps, horrible support.

Anyway, what's the benefit of Smartthings over Wink? I am returning my Vera3 and getting one of these two.