Hardware – Page 4 – / Automation

Onzo unveils appearance of unique energy management tool

December 21, 2009 Ruslan Ulanov 2

Onzo, the global designer of domestic energy management systems, today reveals the images of the hardware components of its smart energy kit; the display and sensor. These will provide consumers with an unprecedentedly wide range of compelling information to help them understand and manage their energy use. The sensor measures and stores data on household energy use, and securely transmits this wirelessly to the in-home display. Commenting on the release of the images, Joel Hagan, Chief Executive of Onzo said: “We are delighted we can now share the appearance of our first products. Their combination of usefulness, ease of installation […]

Deal alert: ISY99i is on Sale

October 21, 2009 Ruslan Ulanov 1

If you (like myself) were impatiently waiting to get your hands on one of the ISY99i home automation controllers now might be a good time to get one as they are on sale at both Smarthome.com and Amazon.com. What is ISY99i? “The ISY-99i series is the most affordable and flexible standalone home automation solution for any INSTEON/X10 installation. Whether you are a DIYer, an electrician, or a home automation integrator you will enjoy the ease with which the once tedious task of programming INSTEON devices is accomplished.” ISY99i eliminates the need to run a dedicated PC (or MAC) computer to contol events and […]

Going green

March 10, 2009 Ruslan Ulanov 3

Just a couple of weeks ago I have enrolled in a SmartAC program offered by my local utility company – PG&E. What this program is about? It’s about saving energy. This Saturday morning I had a couple of PG&E guys at my place retrofitting my old (but still pretty decent) 4-wire Lux TX1500E thermostat to a new, 5-wire, Honeywell UtilityPRO.

New INSTEON products from Smarthome

March 5, 2009 Ruslan Ulanov 0

Smarthome has just updated their INSTEON portfolio with two new products. The first is the In-LineLinc Relay – INSTEON On / Off Module (Non-dimming) w/ Sense ($49.99). This wire-in module allows to automate existing motion-sensing floodlights or any other 120V switching sensor. Another addition is SeriaLinc – INSTEON to 2-Way RS232 Serial Converter ($149.99). This plug-in module is a protocol bridge between INSTEON network and any RS232-compatible appliance from whole-home audio to security systems to automation controllers. The products are currently on back-order and will be shipped on first-come-first-served basis.

Panasonic releases two new netcams

February 6, 2009 Ruslan Ulanov 0

Network cameras from Panasonic have been proving time and again to be reliable, high quality and good build devices for commercial and private surveillance applications. Most of the security systems available on the market today support Panasonic cameras straight from the box. I had a chance to prove that myself — I use a few different models (Ethernet as well as Wireless ones) in my own home. So, it’s a great news to know that Panasonic announces two new easy to use IP cameras for private use (also known as Pet Cams in Panasonic’s terminology).

First impressions: SmartLinc

August 29, 2008 Ruslan Ulanov 15

I have finally received my SmartLinc package yesterday. Yeay! Here’s my first thoughts. The installation process is pretty straight forward. Connect one end of Ethernet cable to SmartLinc, another to your router. Plug SmartLinc to available power outlet and you are ready to go. Or almost ready… Depends on your router’s configuration. In my case I have MAC filtering option enabled, so only devices whose MAC addresses are entered into router’s configuration are allowed to connect to my network. So, naturally, SmartLinc couldn’t get an IP from the router. It’s very easy to add a new MAC address to the router. […]

NetLinc becomes smarter?

August 14, 2008 Ruslan Ulanov 1

The Smarthome team has sent its customers the following email. Dear Loyal INSTEON® Customer, You are receiving this message because you have: Placed a NetLinc Pre-Order Added NetLinc to your Wish List or, Added NetLinc to email notification using “Notify Me” To avoid any confusion when you receive your shipment or notification, we would like to inform you that NetLinc has been renamed from: NetLinc – INSTEON Central Controller To SmartLinc – INSTEON Central Controller Please be aware that this is only a name change and that part number (2412N) and product functionality remain the same. Sincerely, The Smarthome Team What […]

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