The Wink home automation thread

[JoeKiv]

If the shortcuts have any commands for locks or garage openers, they are blocked. That is why some of mine are missing, anyway.

You are correct. I checked the missing shortcuts yesterday and found that they all contained an "Unlock" command. Removed 'unlock' from 1 and it immediately showed in the drop down list. You can use shortcuts with 'Lock', but not 'unlock'. Apparently IFTTT blocks 'unlock' for security reasons.

 

[JoeKiv]

Strange. I have several which use locks and they appear in the IFTTT list and work fine with IFTTT and Echo. e.g., One uses geolocation to lock doors when I leave the house. Another locks all doors along with changing various lights to lock up at a particular time at night. The same shortcuts also are used to trigger Echo to lock doors on command and/or invoke the same nightly lock up using the "Alexa trigger" command.

Wonder why some would have them appear and others not?

Because IFTTT blocks shortcuts which contain 'UNlock', but not 'Lock"

 

[Mike A.]

Because IFTTT blocks shortcuts which contain 'UNlock', but not 'Lock"

Ahhh... That's right. Forgot that unlocking was restricted.

 

[davidk2345]

From Leviton....

We will be running a Black Friday deal only for Wink owners.

40% off the normal Leviton e-Store price for 1 device
45% off the normal Leviton e-Store price for 3 devices
50% off the normal Leviton e-Store price for 5 devices

The code is WINKSALE

Mix and Match between the Wink enabled Dimmer, Switch, Outlet and Plug-ins.

http://store.leviton.com/DZC-Home-Automation/b/10154645011?ie=UTF8&title=DZC

 

[trunzoc]

For the People that want to unlock doors and open garages, or want to do just about anything else to their Wink devices, with Echo
and use Android
and use my Tasker project

http://wiki.winkathome.net/Supercharge_your_Echo_with_Tasker_and_IFTTT

 

[RodolfoDLV]

Because IFTTT blocks shortcuts which contain 'UNlock', but not 'Lock"

I think it's Amazon the one that block it. You can't tell Alexa to unlock your door.
Whoever it is that blocks them, they are blocked, so only way to do it is through Craig's Tasker project.

 

[JoeKiv]

For the People that want to unlock doors and open garages, or want to do just about anything else to their Wink devices, with Echo
and use Android
and use my Tasker project

http://wiki.winkathome.net/Supercharge_your_Echo_with_Tasker_and_IFTTT

I used your Wink, Tasker script for Google voice control. Excellent Script, Thank you for the hard work. I was thinking of using your "unlock" addition, but decided against it because all my windows are at ground level. I could imagine a burglar yelling "Alexa Unlock Door" through a window. I think in my particular situation, IFTT is correct with the security block.

 

[jrlnc]

It's been quiet here lately. I wanted to throw out a couple of things I've heard and seen that are curious.

1. Home Depot seems to have a newer model of the Wink Hub: PWHUB-WH18
2. On the Mac forum I frequent it was mentioned that Wink is planning on being an Apple HomeKit partner. Has anyone else heard about this?
   

I'm still waiting (anxiously) for the local control update and enjoying my Ecobee sensors and Lutron Connected Bulb Remotes. They work very well with Wink.

 

[RodolfoDLV]

It's been quiet here lately. I wanted to throw out a couple of things I've heard and seen that are curious.

1. Home Depot seems to have a newer model of the Wink Hub: PWHUB-WH18
2. On the Mac forum I frequent it was mentioned that Wink is planning on being an Apple HomeKit partner. Has anyone else heard about this?
   

I'm still waiting (anxiously) for the local control update and enjoying my Ecobee sensors and Lutron Connected Bulb Remotes. They work very well with Wink.

Nothing much to talk about, I guess. Pretty much all the talking is done in Facebook's Wink Users Group.
The question regarding the hub model Home Depot has, you can ask to the Wink employee that checks the Wink users group. She is usually really good about getting back to you.

We are all still waiting for the local control/processing. Word has it, the Beta people have it.

 

[zerogear]

I am debating between Wink and SmartThings -- how has experience been with Wink?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I am debating between Wink and SmartThings -- how has experience been with Wink?

Biggest concern with Wink is lack of compatible hardware. You have to wait for Wink to support something whereas with SmartThings, the community will general have a device driver ready for a new device within a few days of release. This is mostly true in the sensor realm. Good luck finding ANY temperature sensor to use with Wink outside of an eBayed Spotter or an entire Ecobee3 Thermostat with remote sensors ecosystem.

Conversely, I do think Wink has the better app, has better support for the "big" items (such as Nest and it also directly supports Lutron, which ST does not), etc. The fact that all of their hardware is on clearance does concern me so I hope Flex comes out with a statement on the future direction and soon. I also suspect (though I have no proof) that Wink's local control will be much better than what SmartThings currently offers.

 

[MjnMixael]

A point of note... Quirky's hardware is on clearance. Wink's is not. Flex did not manufacture all of Quirky's smart home products.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

A point of note... Quirky's hardware is on clearance. Wink's is not. Flex did not manufacture all of Quirky's smart home products.

Isn't everything but the hub branded as a Quirky product?

 

[MjnMixael]

Possibly, but I know that Pivot Power Genius and Spotter are controlled by Flex through their servers which is different from the other Quirky products. Either way, there's a distinction to be made between Wink and Quirky now.

I don't really know what happens to Quirky products like Tripper now that Quirky is out of the picture, but their being on clearance can hardly be a reflection on Wink anymore.

 

[jrlnc]

Possibly, but I know that Pivot Power Genius and Spotter are controlled by Flex through their servers which is different from the other Quirky products. Either way, there's a distinction to be made between Wink and Quirky now.
...

Although the Quirky products are going fast, Wink continues to support them.
The 2 products I have really liked from them were

• TAP-T Binary switch
• Outlink switched outlet

Both of them are Zigbee and (for me anyway) have worked much than Z-wave counterparts that I have tried.
Wsh I could pick up a few more of them at that clearance 50% off price!

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I don't really know what happens to Quirky products like Tripper now that Quirky is out of the picture, but their being on clearance can hardly be a reflection on Wink anymore.

Well, it IS a reflection on Wink when you can't find readily available and compatible hardware. The fact that you really can't find a cheap temp sensor is ridiculous.

 

[MjnMixael]

Now that I agree with. I did bring it up to the beta guys, and they agreed. Here's hoping they are working on something! I'd really love to have a simple small temp/humidity sensor in every room at the least.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Now that I agree with. I did bring it up to the beta guys, and they agreed. Here's hoping they are working on something! I'd really love to have a simple small temp/humidity sensor in every room at the least.

I would really recommend they add the new Iris sensors or at least some generic sensor that is 100% compatible with them. They're cheap, seem well built, and have been reliable for me so far.

 

[RodolfoDLV]

I would really recommend they add the new Iris sensors or at least some generic sensor that is 100% compatible with them. They're cheap, seem well built, and have been reliable for me so far.

All they really need to do for a "quick fix" is to enable the temp reading from the GoControl/Monoprice sensors which are already supported in Wink.

 

[dennisj00]

I don't have any Phillips Hue lamps but has anybody run into this with Wink?

http://hackaday.com/2015/12/15/philips-says-no-internet-of-things-for-you/

 

[JoeKiv]

I don't have any Phillips Hue lamps but has anybody run into this with Wink?

http://hackaday.com/2015/12/15/philips-says-no-internet-of-things-for-you/

I don't have any either, but I read an announcement from Phillips stating that due to customer complaints they are sending out a new firmware update that will Undue the previous update that prevented the use of NON-Phillips Bulbs.

 

[Artdeco]

They backed down from that, too many complaints

 

[Mike A.]

If you can still find any, the Trippers now have been moved to an inactive SKU at Home Depot and should ring up at $0.01. Around here anyway. Picked up several boxes that I found tonight. Tapt also is down a little more to $30.

 

[dennisj00]

It finally got below freezing here there other night. Hub reported that the Tripper in my mailbox had low battery but it was fine the next day as the temp rose.

While I realize the Tripper wasn't designed for outdoor use, any ideas for low temps?

 

[cherry911]

Maybe try a different battery .... Here's what I found ...."The BR2032 battery has the same dimensions, a slightly lower nominal voltage and capacity, and an extended temperature range compared with the CR2032. It is rated for a temperature range of –30 °C to 85 °C, while the CR2032 is specified over the range -20 °C to 70 °C. BR2032 also has a much lower self-discharge rate."