The Wink home automation thread

[brinkbart]

Yeah, I've made fun of Ben Kaufman before, but he definitely was outstanding in this situation.

I have, too. I said he was immature. But somehow you can just tell he's passionate about his company and the customers that will KEEP him in business.

 

[brinkbart]

If anyone here needs a step-by-step walk-through of how to get their Wink Hub back online after the debacle, please PM me on Anandtech or e-mail me at immahelpuwithwink@outlook.com.

Unless you have a stupid ISP-provided modem/router that doesn't let you change your DNS, I can probably have you up and running in mere MINUTES!

Edit: No, I do not work for Wink. Please stop asking.

 

[enyce9]

Followed the instructions, hub back is back online. No problems at all.

 

[qkslvr221]

Has anyone tried interfacing the Orvibo Allone infrared controller with the Wink system?

It supports commands via the Tasker UDP sender plugin, and the Ninjablocks folks have already made a working driver over at https://discuss.ninjablocks.com/t/beta-ninja-allone-driver-for-orvibo-allone-ir-blaster/2325

Got mine for 30 bucks off Amazon, it's a learning-capable device with excellent range.
The included app isn't bad, but it'd be perfect if Wink were able interface with it!

 

[SchillerM]

Figures. My Motorola Surfboard doesn't allow me to change DNS info :\

So I have a brand new in box day 1 HUB, I am assuming it would never work moving forward? Sounds like it is time to root it and proceed with the various hacks that are out there.

Matt

 

[Kaido]

Official instructions posted:

http://recovery.wink.com/

 

[RossMAN]

This thread has over 1/4 million views, wow!

 

[alnames]

Everything seems to be back to normal, I ended up re-pairing all 7 GE Link bulbs. I also had to redo 2 robots that had GE Bulbs in them.

A tip on pairing GE bulbs: If you have trouble pairing where the bulb is located, use a cheap poyrtable lamp(with no shade or a plastic shade) and pair it by the hub and then put it in it's regular location.

This is the only way I can pair a bulb in my house (GE or Cree). No matter what I do, only my sons cheap desk lamp will pair bulbs. No other fixture in my house will allow pairing. Bulbs work in any fixture after pairing

 

[BillinGlendale]

This is the only way I can pair a bulb in my house (GE or Cree). No matter what I do, only my sons cheap desk lamp will pair bulbs. No other fixture in my house will allow pairing. Bulbs work in any fixture after pairing

I had quite a few clip-on lamps I was using, many of them have metal shades. I had the hardest time pairing bulbs in these lamps. I realized that the metal shades were a problem, popped the shade off one, pairs right away.

One of the reasons I was a bit out of sorts about this outage is that using Wink and the Link bulbs allows me to use the built in lighting fixtures, this is also the reason I used to use quite a few clip-on lamps. So the outage severely reduced my light choices.

 

[tctmonkey]

If anyone here needs a step-by-step walk-through of how to get their Wink Hub back online after the debacle, please PM me on Anandtech or e-mail me at immahelpuwithwink@outlook.com.

Unless you have a stupid ISP-provided modem/router that doesn't let you change your DNS, I can probably have you up and running in mere MINUTES!

Edit: No, I do not work for Wink. Please stop asking.

Ah HA!!!!!!!!

 

[tctmonkey]

OK, still mad but enough of a man to admit, they are trying. Yes activated it on a stupid ISP controlled modem who knew....... guess I am sending mine in.. Ugh.. no usb port ... sigh. OK so score card.. Me 1 for saving a penny pincher and using a ISP provided modem. Wink has a few on there side but they are trying. BTW the pink blinking light is annoying.

 

[matt-wink]

Update - We have worked to enable a self-service fix for users who are comfortable making some quick changes to their home’s router settings. Instructions for Recovering your Wink Hub yourself can be found at http://recovery.wink.com. Please note, this requires some degree of technical skill. If you are at all uncomfortable with this solution, we suggest you opt into the replacement program.

The replace and repair program is in full swing. If you haven’t already requested a replacement and need one, visit hubrepair.quirky.com. For those who have filled out the form, your request has been processed and you’ll receive a box from us within a few days. We will update daily with our shipment and processing progress.

Also, we have learned that it is harder than expected to give a $50 Wink gift card to affected users in a quick and controlled manner. We apologize for this and stand behind our promise. If you had an affected hub and have not received your code- please email hubcard@wink.com from the email address associated with your Wink account.

We are incredibly sorry for the magnitude of this weekend’s issues. We know it takes a lot to earn your trust and fully expect that we’ve lost a great deal of it over the last 24 hours. We hope to move quickly to regain your faith in our platform.

We are available always at 1-844-WINKAPP , or on twitter @thewinkapp

 

[Yuriman]

Also, we have learned that it is harder than expected to give a $50 Wink gift card to affected users in a quick and controlled manner. We apologize for this and stand behind our promise. If you had an affected hub and have not received your code- please email hubcard@wink.com from the email address associated with your Wink account.

We are incredibly sorry for the magnitude of this weekend’s issues. We know it takes a lot to earn your trust and fully expect that we’ve lost a great deal of it over the last 24 hours. We hope to move quickly to regain your faith in our platform.

We are available always at 1-844-WINKAPP , or on twitter @thewinkapp

I noticed when I first tried to use my code that I was able to put 1,000 GE Link bulbs in my cart with a $15,000 discount.

I decided to order a single $50 powerstrip instead.

 

[quagga]

Since just about everything on wink.com is "Temporarily Unavailable" I'm not sure how useful those gift codes are going to be but oh well.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Since just about everything on wink.com is "Temporarily Unavailable" I'm not sure how useful those gift codes are going to be but oh well.

Yeah I noticed that last night. I hope they still at least have some bulbs.

 

[steveg2112]

Morning all, hope everyone is feeling better after the weekends events, for the record my hub survived the debacle. I was out Saturday evening but had an enjoyable time Sunday morning reading all the posts.

Anyway, on to the the main reason for my post.

Has anyone had any success with location based robots with time restrictions? I have tried on several occasions (and then deleted them without success) to create a robot to turn on lights when arriving home after dark. I have tried using specific start and end times, the new sunset/sunrise options and (based on a recommendation read elsewhere) created two robots so that the time range didn't pass through midnight all without success. I did have one day last week after I first tried splitting the times that the lights grouped in the robot came on several times during the day outside of the set time range, but apart from that nothing.
Does having the Wink app on multiple devices affect the location option, if one device is always home does it think I never arrive at my location on the other device?

Any advice?

 

[fletchb]

If anyone here needs a step-by-step walk-through of how to get their Wink Hub back online after the debacle, please PM me on Anandtech or e-mail me at immahelpuwithwink@outlook.com.

Unless you have a stupid ISP-provided modem/router that doesn't let you change your DNS, I can probably have you up and running in mere MINUTES!

Edit: No, I do not work for Wink. Please stop asking.

I always advise family and friends to reject those isp modem/routers because the companies refuse to give the customer control over them.

Also around here Comcast charges about $8 a month for the privilege. They also open them up as a hotspot for other customers to use.

 

[trunzoc]

I always advise family and friends to reject those isp modem/routers because the companies refuse to give the customer control over them.

Also around here Comcast charges about $8 a month for the privilege. They also open them up as a hotspot for other customers to use.

This is exactly why I told them to F themselves with their $8/month router and bought my own Motorola Surfboard 6121 on Amazon for $40

 

[fletchb]

I had to go out of town both Sat and Sun and missed much of the "excitement"

How do we cancel the Wink replacement box? I sent off for it, but no longer need it because of the easy fix.

 

[fletchb]

This is exactly why I told them to F themselves with their $8/month router and bought my own Motorola Surfboard 6121 on Amazon for $40

Yep me too. It's like throwing money away if you rent from them. Plus give them control over your DNS/ No port forwarding/ etc.

No Comcast dns hijacking for me

 

[wagohn]

I'm actually happy I held off purchasing the Wink Hub. I'm using the 'cheapo' Link hub that came with 2 bulbs for $25 from Home Depot. Works great. Only works with bulbs but after this Wink debacle, it will be a long time before I trust a third-party with the security, locks, or heating of my home.

Ironically, I was on a trip to the East coast last week when 'Wink Gate' happened. Id hate to think I would be thousands or miles and days away from my home which is entrusted to Wink and its QA team as my 'smarthome' goes haywire.

 

[aosmer]

Posted on twitter.

If you were able to reconnect your Wink HUB & don't need to ship back for repair, pls submit your email address here: http://*******/1Ho3qTk

EDIT: Working link: https://wink.typeform.com/to/dylyMh

 

[brinkbart]

Yep me too. It's like throwing money away if you rent from them. Plus give them control over your DNS/ No port forwarding/ etc.



No Comcast dns hijacking for me

I didn't actually know that was a thing. Our old modem went out and they showed up with this thing. I don't even use the wireless cause my existing router works just fine. I'll see about getting a dedicated cable modem and send this thing back now that I know!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I have a possible scenario coming up with a remodeled room and would like some opinions. The room currently has two sconces on one wall controlled by one light switch. I am looking into having two sconces installed on the opposite wall which will be controlled by a separate wall switch - I think it will be two difficult and expensive to connect them all to one switch. However, I'd really like them to be controlled by a single switch. What Wink and SmartThings compatible option do I have in terms of switches? Yes, I could potentially get sconces and put GE Link bulbs in them, but I'd rather solve this with a switch for ease of use for my wife or guests.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I didn't actually know that was a thing. Our old modem went out and they showed up with this thing. I don't even use the wireless cause my existing router works just fine. I'll see about getting a dedicated cable modem and send this thing back now that I know!

Your ISP will have a list of compatible modems and which tiers of service the modem is capable of supporting. Once you have that information, buy a modem (and separate router if you need one) and then just call the ISP to install it over the phone. It is easy and you save a ton of money.