The Wink home automation thread

[Mike A.]

anyone gonna try something with the Amazon Dash now that it's "hacked?"
https://medium.com/@edwardbenson/how-i-hacked-amazon-s-5-wifi-button-to-track-baby-data-794214b0bdd8

im gonna get 1 just to set it up as a doorbell. when someone presses, it will send an msg to my phone then to my watch. heheh

Thanks. Got one during the free beta deal assuming that someone would come up some more interesting uses for it. That gives me some ideas.

Another example that's a little closer to doing HA stuff:

https://community.smartthings.com/t...-button-to-control-a-smartthings-switch/20427

 

[Kaido]

My Casetas do not have slow start up - I click the on button or the Pico and they're on almost immediately. Agree they might feel a little cheap though.

Yeah, with the Pico remote or the wallswitch, my Casetas have an instant response (the only lag is when Wink is used to control them). They do feel kinda cheap & I absolutely hate the flat buttons, but ultimately I decided the convenience is worth it. Someday when I buy a house, my plan is to have all of the switches in the electrical room, and then just use wall-mounted Pico remotes in all of the rooms (assuming that's up to code & the distance works out). So like in the bedrooms, I can have a switch by the entry door & a switch on either side of the bed, and not have to run any electrical wires since the Pico remotes have an advertised 10-year battery life (and the batteries are easily replaceable). Eventually tie in the blinds (sunscreen & sunblock) & ceiling fan. That'd be awesome!

 

[MjnMixael]

Yeah, with the Pico remote or the wallswitch, my Casetas have an instant response (the only lag is when Wink is used to control them). They do feel kinda cheap & I absolutely hate the flat buttons, but ultimately I decided the convenience is worth it. Someday when I buy a house, my plan is to have all of the switches in the electrical room, and then just use wall-mounted Pico remotes in all of the rooms (assuming that's up to code & the distance works out). So like in the bedrooms, I can have a switch by the entry door & a switch on either side of the bed, and not have to run any electrical wires since the Pico remotes have an advertised 10-year battery life (and the batteries are easily replaceable). Eventually tie in the blinds (sunscreen & sunblock) & ceiling fan. That'd be awesome!

Interesting idea. I much prefer the actual switch to the Pico remote because the switch shows it's current dim level. Alternatively, I find that I often wish the actual switch included a 'favorite dim level' button like the Pico remote does... Either way, I'd just wire lights normally up to code because future upgrades and tech will still assume light switches to be in the same room as the particular light it controls. Someday that might change, but I wouldn't expect so very soon.

 

[EdJr]

My wife really likes the Lutrons. 'nuff said.

 

[CAL7]

I have nothing to add to the Lutron debate except to voice support for everything that's been said. Pico remotes are super easy to implement 3-way or 4-way or N-way switches. No neutral is a big differentiator. It's the only device that I've found to be solid with Wink. Everytime, with a little effort, I've been able to buy the switch+Pico combo for under $50. The human factor is not the greatest - like Kaido, I'd prefer a toggle.

PLEASE Samsung, make it work!

 

[CAL7]

Question: I'm going to operate Wink and SST side-by-side to evaluate the platforms. The "Z" protocols seen sensitive to distance and interference. Do you think I'll have a problem locating the Wink Hub and the SST Hub, literally, side-by-side?

 

[lsd]

My Casetas do not have slow start up - I click the on button or the Pico and they're on almost immediately. Agree they might feel a little cheap though.

Otherwise, aosmer explains it well I think. And judging by the ST forums, others agree.

AH I see, didn't know about the neutral wire issue. I was thinking was some sort of performance/reliability advantage the lutrons supposedly had that I never saw.
Anyway the ST hub preorder is sold out and there seems to be some unhappy v1 owners who were not able to order in time. The code was meant for v1 owners and judging by the slickdeals thread with 68,000 views the v2 sold very well..

 

[Kaido]

I have nothing to add to the Lutron debate except to voice support for everything that's been said. Pico remotes are super easy to implement 3-way or 4-way or N-way switches. No neutral is a big differentiator. It's the only device that I've found to be solid with Wink. Everytime, with a little effort, I've been able to buy the switch+Pico combo for under $50. The human factor is not the greatest - like Kaido, I'd prefer a toggle.

PLEASE Samsung, make it work!

Yeah, I've made the decision to hold off on the STv2 until it's been vetted - I don't want to go through the beta-testing process again Even though that was a nice bundle deal for $99, my Wink setup is working just fine these days. If the promised local control ever comes through, I honestly will probably never upgrade from it for my current residence. I've been careful to only buy Wink Certified gear as well, so that way everything plays nice. But, it will be staying with the place when I move, so I'll see what the future holds in the next year or so.

 

[lsd]

Question: I'm going to operate Wink and SST side-by-side to evaluate the platforms. The "Z" protocols seen sensitive to distance and interference. Do you think I'll have a problem locating the Wink Hub and the SST Hub, literally, side-by-side?

For a short time I did have the wink and ST hub operating at the same time but I don't think I had them near each other. It worked fine with all the z-wave devices on the ST hub and just caseta's on the wink.
I think I had the ST hub on the top of my kitchen cabinets and the wink on the counter top, so about 5'ish

 

[Kaido]

For a short time I did have the wink and ST hub operating at the same time but I don't think I had them near each other. It worked fine with all the z-wave devices on the ST hub and just caseta's on the wink.
I think I had the ST hub on the top of my kitchen cabinets and the wink on the counter top, so about 5'ish

Speaking of interference, Google just announced a combination wireless router & home automation hub, made by TP-Link for $199. It has 13 antennas in it to help avoid congestion:

http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/cat-9_TGR1900.html

Interesting article on it here:

http://www.wired.com/2015/08/google-onhub-wi-fi-router/

They're more limited than Wink tho - 802.11ac for wifi, Bluetooth Smart, and Thread (the new 802.15.4 ZigBee). The router will work with Weave (Google's IoT protocol) & Brillo OS (Google's Android-based OS for IoT devices). Since they already have Nestcam (formerly Dropcam), Nest Thermostat, Chromecast & Android TV, Android OS for mobile devices, etc., that is a pretty interesting option to consider. I wonder if (1) they're going to introduce bridges for existing stuff like Zwave, and (2) if they're going to have some sort of repeaters available for full house coverage. My current place has foil-lined insulation & even though it's small, I still have to run dual routers for full wifi coverage. My Wink seems to do fine with the HA radios, however, and I don't have a ST for additional interference. But it'd be cool to consolidate the wireless router with the smarthome hub for sure...

 

[Davidms]

I'm having an issue with a pivot power genius I've recently added to my wink system. Every time I start the wink app and go into the pivot power it will show that outlets #1 & 2 are off. But if I go somewhere else in the app and then back to the pivot power it will show that outlet #1 is on, even though it's not. This creates a problem because setting up a schedule for outlet #1 doesn't work if wink already thinks it's on.

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[jlslate]

You might try removing the app and reinstalling it. It has fixed other weirdness before.

 

[Davidms]

Hmm I could try that. Will I have to go through all my setup again or is that saved?

 

[jlslate]

I believe it is all saved, but you might want to contact support first.

 

[Davidms]

Just installed wink on my iPad for the first time. The configuration comes in fine so it must be stored on the wink server. However I see the same behavior on the iPad. Outlet one appears to come on even though it's not on.

 

[jlslate]

Maybe try removing the PPG and reading it? I've got a couple of them and no issues like you report. Support is usually quite helpful in resolving issues, too.
Edit: Re-adding it. Sorry. Stoopid otto-corekt.

 

[Davidms]

Maybe try removing the PPG and reading it? I've got a couple of them and no issues like you report. Support is usually quite helpful in resolving issues, too.
Edit: Re-adding it. Sorry. Stoopid otto-corekt.

Here is the response I received from support:

"Thanks for reaching out to Wink. We are aware of this issue with the Pivot Power Genius and are diligently working to get this issue fixed for the next update. If possible, please reply to this email with screenshots of the Pivot Power and incorrect activity feed stamps so we can gather more information for our Engineers!"

 

[wagohn]

I'm having an issue with a pivot power genius I've recently added to my wink system. Every time I start the wink app and go into the pivot power it will show that outlets #1 & 2 are off. But if I go somewhere else in the app and then back to the pivot power it will show that outlet #1 is on, even though it's not. This creates a problem because setting up a schedule for outlet #1 doesn't work if wink already thinks it's on.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Im seeing similar. If I go look at the PPG icon -its 'on', if I then leave the page and return it's 'off'. The actual power is off.

Good catch.

 

[ppkk]

I'm having an issue with a pivot power genius I've recently added to my wink system. Every time I start the wink app and go into the pivot power it will show that outlets #1 & 2 are off. But if I go somewhere else in the app and then back to the pivot power it will show that outlet #1 is on, even though it's not. This creates a problem because setting up a schedule for outlet #1 doesn't work if wink already thinks it's on.

Has anyone else experienced this?

In regard to your scheduling problem, could you get around it by issuing an OFF then an ON?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Got an email from Amazon -- they've added official support for SmartThings to the Echo.

 

[Slockman]

I'm new to all this 2 years ago I gutted a house built in 1900. I am trying to make it an energy efficient and smart home or automated. Boy living there yet but have all z-wave smoke detectors 2 minisplit units mounted on the roof running 8 indoor units...... Long story but I would like to use wink and I want to use ted pro with spider to monitor the power usage of ac several small breakers and the electric tankless hot water heater the question is will wink tie into it or run 2 seperate apps

 

[Kaido]

I'm new to all this 2 years ago I gutted a house built in 1900. I am trying to make it an energy efficient and smart home or automated. Boy living there yet but have all z-wave smoke detectors 2 minisplit units mounted on the roof running 8 indoor units...... Long story but I would like to use wink and I want to use ted pro with spider to monitor the power usage of ac several small breakers and the electric tankless hot water heater the question is will wink tie into it or run 2 seperate apps

Wink currently doesn't have support for Ted. Would love to see it added! I know the SmartThings community was tinkering with support last year:

https://community.smartthings.com/t/ted5000-energy-monitor/1438/13

 

[mfridman]

Hi, brand new Wink Hub user here. I made the mistake of buying a Leviton zwave switch as my first device--it had the blue house icon on the package--at Home Depot. Well, my luck, the Leviton switch won't trigger robots.

What I want is a way to have a light to run, say, 3 hours after it is turned on manually, and then turn itself off. Because my kids leave lights on all the time!
Is there a list somewhere of which switches and dimmers will trigger Robots?

 

[MjnMixael]

Wait. Is that something in the app saying it won't trigger robots? Or is the device just not available to choose when creating a robot? I'd be very surprised that you can't do robots with Leviton switches.

 

[mfridman]

Wait. Is that something in the app saying it won't trigger robots? Or is the device just not available to choose when creating a robot? I'd be very surprised that you can't do robots with Leviton switches.

The app specifically says you can't trigger off of Leviton switches.