The Wink home automation thread

[free_electron]

well, i got my hub today. not impressed... Zwave support is a catastrophy. i cannot get past the connect screen for zwave. it is always stuck in step 4.

here are the problems
- does not suport zwave naming. zwave devices from a certain firmware up support storing names. apparently this hub cannot retrieve them.
- does not support pairing or paired elements ( i have wall switches that have no local actuator but control a remote actuator. these are 'paired' elements . i'm not talking scene controllers ! i am talking a z-wave switch that actually directly controls another z-wave element) this doesn't work
- teach-in from existing controllers doesn't work . i tried from a Cooper Aspire Rf and from a Honewell 5200 alarm system with z-wave. doesn't work.

i had a vera with similar problems. only homeseer could handle this correctly (paired devices)

so far i have not found a single z-wave controller that works in an easy way. include all devices , tell it what control talks directly to what alese , and make a graphical user interface for it. they are all kludges.

 

[Kaido]

Got my wink hub yesterday and like everyone else I'm not impressed . I find the wink app to be slow and clunky on my gs4.
I was able to pair my trane thermostat, utilitech siren and schlage fe599 handle set but:

The schlage manually pairs but only works once, after that the app says the lock failed to open/close.
I paired the trane thermostat as a honeywell thermostat. Manual control seems to work ok but the ambient temp is sometimes way off. I have not tried scheduling (I have the tstat itself scheduled) and auto mode is not listed.
The utilitech siren work fine but is listed as a light. I don't think there's a way to change or create a new category. I'll keep looking.

I have the wink spotter and a casetta light switch/remote coming at the end of the month, I guess I will see if those certified devices work any better.

Good luck with the Spotter, that thing has terrible reviews on Amazon...I wanted to get one too, but after reading review after review of issues, I decided to hold off. The Caseta stuff seems to be doing well with the Wink Hub, however.

The majority of the reviews I've read on Amazon, Home Depot, and other places discuss the lack of Zwave support. I think this is a major glitch in their marketing...all of their descriptions advertise the "Zwave radio", but unless you read further that you need the Wink seal for 100% compatibility, then you won't really know that general Zwave device compatibility is limited. They need to either remove that or add a note that says that while it has a Zwave radio, it's intended for Wink-Certified Zwave devices. People are buying it for Zwave support & it doesn't work; that's a huge advertising problem because their combined reviews are pretty bad now.

 

[Kaido]

well, i got my hub today. not impressed... Zwave support is a catastrophy. i cannot get past the connect screen for zwave. it is always stuck in step 4.

here are the problems
- does not suport zwave naming. zwave devices from a certain firmware up support storing names. apparently this hub cannot retrieve them.
- does not support pairing or paired elements ( i have wall switches that have no local actuator but control a remote actuator. these are 'paired' elements . i'm not talking scene controllers ! i am talking a z-wave switch that actually directly controls another z-wave element) this doesn't work
- teach-in from existing controllers doesn't work . i tried from a Cooper Aspire Rf and from a Honewell 5200 alarm system with z-wave. doesn't work.

i had a vera with similar problems. only homeseer could handle this correctly (paired devices)

so far i have not found a single z-wave controller that works in an easy way. include all devices , tell it what control talks directly to what alese , and make a graphical user interface for it. they are all kludges.

I'm in the same boat. The best controller I've used is the Indigo Domotics software (only works on Mac & your computer has to be on 24/7), but they even freely admit Zwave support is spotty. I was planning on picking up a Veralite, despite the issues it has, until the Wink Hub came along. So far, it seems like your best bet is buying Wink Certified hardware for maximum compatibility. And afaik there's still no way to add third-party ZigBee equipment, so the best you can do is give general Zwave stuff a try through their hidden menu trick. Fortunately, they have enough Wink Certified gear coming out that my requirements are met:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showpost.php?p=36518165&postcount=60

But some of the stuff isn't available yet, and they're obviously having some rollout issues, so I'm going to give it some time before I make a final judgement on whether to go with it or not. If it doesn't pan out, I'll probably go with a commercial Control4 system instead. We'll see! I'm hoping it works out with Wink, though.

 

[Kaido]

Wink on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/TheWinkApp

Wink on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/thewinkapp

 

[lsd]

The majority of the reviews I've read on Amazon, Home Depot, and other places discuss the lack of Zwave support. I think this is a major glitch in their marketing...all of their descriptions advertise the "Zwave radio", but unless you read further that you need the Wink seal for 100% compatibility, then you won't really know that general Zwave device compatibility is limited. They need to either remove that or add a note that says that while it has a Zwave radio, it's intended for Wink-Certified Zwave devices. People are buying it for Zwave support & it doesn't work; that's a huge advertising problem because their combined reviews are pretty bad now.

It's funny you say that, when I initially d/l the app the were only two options shown for adding a lock. One for schlage touch screen and the other for the kwikset. Now they have added a third option for "Z-wave lock" . My schlage handle set still doesn't work properly though but it seems they are adding a way to easily add zwave devices without having to search for it. However, full zwave support seems to be a different story.

 

[Kaido]

It's funny you say that, when I initially d/l the app the were only two options shown for adding a lock. One for schlage touch screen and the other for the kwikset. Now they have added a third option for "Z-wave lock" . My schlage handle set still doesn't work properly though but it seems they are adding a way to easily add zwave devices without having to search for it. However, full zwave support seems to be a different story.

Yeah, and that's why I'm waiting for a few more devices to get officially supported. I want to see what the reviews are for people who have Wink Hubs with only Wink Certified devices. I don't mind buying into their ecosystem *IF* everything works as advertised - because I don't have any previous equipment, nor do I have a huge list of custom items; it's all pretty standards locks, switches, outlets, etc. I think like in the case of Schlage, it's a couple specific models that are Wink approved & the rest are YMMV.

 

[Kaido]

It's funny you say that, when I initially d/l the app the were only two options shown for adding a lock. One for schlage touch screen and the other for the kwikset. Now they have added a third option for "Z-wave lock" . My schlage handle set still doesn't work properly though but it seems they are adding a way to easily add zwave devices without having to search for it. However, full zwave support seems to be a different story.

Although even that is looking iffy. From an Amazon review:

I purchased the Wink along with the Schlage door lock. After linking the two together, it works for 2 minutes, then tells me 'there was a problem setting your lock.' I called Wink support, waited on hold for ten minutes until I was forced to leave a message. 12 hrs later I'm still waking for call back.
I don't know how this product made it out of beta, but it is an immediate failure. Do NOT buy.

 

[Kaido]

Wink Hub teardown:

http://community.smartthings.com/t/wink-hub-teardown/3288

They have a boot log further down the thread as well. Based on the rollout issues, I almost wonder if it'd be better to start an open-source home automation system similar to the Wink idea. I don't understand why none of the hub controllers work right; it seems to be a combination of spotty hardware (Zwave etc.) & cruddy software. To me, it seems simple: install an embedded OS, install radio hardware, and send/receive commands with some added smarts like scheduling using something basic like a SQLite database and maybe AutoKey. MisterHouse already runs on Perl. Doesn't seem like rocket science, but no one has been able to do it right yet.

Hardened Linux from Scratch
Asus Chromebox ($179 x86 mini PC)
802.11n WiFi (standard)
Bluetooth (standard)
Zwave ($40 Linux-compatible USB adapter) & Open Zwave software
ZigBee ($25 USB adapter)

You'd miss out on the Lutron Caseta gear & the Kidde 433mhz radio, but you could get by with their higher-end RA2 stuff & Nest Protect smoke alarms via the API. The problem is, I don't want to invest my time in developing & maintaining this stuff. I just want it to work. Honestly, this is why I like my iPhone - it's a no-fuss, "just works" system. I do like Android, but when it comes to stuff I just want to use, I don't want to tinker with it.

It makes me wonder if Apple will jump into the home automation market with smarthome software on either the AppleTV or Airport Extreme, because you need some sort of central controller that is on 24/7. Or even a smarthome hub version of the Airport Express, similar to the Wink Hub - just something centralized to coordinate control through. And technically, the Wink Hub is in the "early adopter" phase, so we should give it some time to get the kinks worked out before making a final judgement call on it:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/DiffusionOfInnovation.png

 

[LarrySteeze]

Wink Hub teardown:

http://community.smartthings.com/t/wink-hub-teardown/3288

They have a boot log further down the thread as well. Based on the rollout issues, I almost wonder if it'd be better to start an open-source home automation system similar to the Wink idea. I don't understand why none of the hub controllers work right; it seems to be a combination of spotty hardware (Zwave etc.) & cruddy software. To me, it seems simple: install an embedded OS, install radio hardware, and send/receive commands with some added smarts like scheduling using something basic like a SQLite database and maybe AutoKey. MisterHouse already runs on Perl. Doesn't seem like rocket science, but no one has been able to do it right yet.



You'd miss out on the Lutron Caseta gear & the Kidde 433mhz radio, but you could get by with their higher-end RA2 stuff & Nest Protect smoke alarms via the API. The problem is, I don't want to invest my time in developing & maintaining this stuff. I just want it to work. Honestly, this is why I like my iPhone - it's a no-fuss, "just works" system. I do like Android, but when it comes to stuff I just want to use, I don't want to tinker with it.

It makes me wonder if Apple will jump into the home automation market with smarthome software on either the AppleTV or Airport Extreme, because you need some sort of central controller that is on 24/7. Or even a smarthome hub version of the Airport Express, similar to the Wink Hub - just something centralized to coordinate control through. And technically, the Wink Hub is in the "early adopter" phase, so we should give it some time to get the kinks worked out before making a final judgement call on it:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/45/DiffusionOfInnovation.png

For what it's worth, there are a few open source solutions in the works. One that I'm incredibly interested in (mostly due to its use of the Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone) is "The Thing System" (http://thethingsystem.com/). It's still an absolute work in progress, but seems promising.

The If/Then system is still programmable only by sql at the moment, but my understanding is that it will be released with a GUI soon enough. It's awesome because everything they are doing is posted to github, so anyone can join in at any time.

I was able to get it set up pretty quickly and have it interface with my nest thermostat as well as my insteon and bluetooth products. If you buy the z-wave and zigbee usb radios that they support, you can control those devices as well. Of course, that is subject to the drivers being written.

Here's to hoping that project (and others) are able to get off the ground.

 

[Kaido]

For what it's worth, there are a few open source solutions in the works. One that I'm incredibly interested in (mostly due to its use of the Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone) is "The Thing System" (http://thethingsystem.com/). It's still an absolute work in progress, but seems promising.

The If/Then system is still programmable only by sql at the moment, but my understanding is that it will be released with a GUI soon enough. It's awesome because everything they are doing is posted to github, so anyone can join in at any time.

I was able to get it set up pretty quickly and have it interface with my nest thermostat as well as my insteon and bluetooth products. If you buy the z-wave and zigbee usb radios that they support, you can control those devices as well. Of course, that is subject to the drivers being written.

Here's to hoping that project (and others) are able to get off the ground.

Thanks, added it to the main Smarthome directory!

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

I think what about be absolutely great is an HTML5-based drag-&-drop IFTTT programming system. Then you could save those scripts as API buttons, so if you created an app, you could simply customize buttons based on preset behaviors. Similar to what Wink has setup with Robots, only even more tweakable! That way even your typical consumer could handle some decently advanced programming & then tie it to a device; for example, save an IFTTT sequence as "Main House Lights" and tie it to a Zwave button that turns on the kitchen, living room, and hallway lights - basically super-easy scene programming. As far as the control interface goes, JumiTap has a similar concept with this custom iOS remote control programming software:

http://www.jumitech.com/index.php?page=tap

It's a similar idea to using Photoshop for a site layout, then chopping it into buttons. Something like that would be really cool...a web-based GUI for doing the setup programming, then a simple image-based editor for doing control. Tie it into a SQL backend for standard compatibility, logging for troubleshooting & history tracking, etc., and you'd be all set!

I think the big thing that would kick off "The Thing System" would be Nest's "Thread" smarthome protocol & mesh chips. They're IPv6 ZigBee-based low-power chips. The difficult thing with home automation is hardware integration...it's not exactly child's play to wire up an outlet for remote control using relays that you have to solder in yourself, so having a better standard that already comes pre-built & tested from a factory would be really really nice. Here's more on Thread:

http://gigaom.com/2014/07/15/nest-a...-a-wireless-mesh-standard-for-the-smart-home/

 

[Kaido]

The If/Then system is still programmable only by sql at the moment, but my understanding is that it will be released with a GUI soon enough. It's awesome because everything they are doing is posted to github, so anyone can join in at any time.

Also, I think that expansion is a big selling feature. Wink is, honestly, a dumbed-down system. But that's exactly what you want for your typical consumer. But since it's running embedded Linux, they could add those more advanced programming features later, like "Vacation Mode" and stuff like that. So it all depends who gets there first. If Wink stabilizes & adds some new control abilities, then they'll probably win. If Thread gets the hardware integration out there, then they'll win. In either case, the consumer wins, so yay! Now we just have to wait

 

[LarrySteeze]

I believe that's very much the plan (the IFTTT style GUI), but I think they need a HTML5 developer for help with it. They have the back end completed, it's just the GUI that needs help.

 

[Kaido]

Wink added an extensive FAQ:

http://www.winkapp.com/faq

Some highlights:

How much battery does the App take? Is there a way to limit it?

The Wink app has a feature called “geo-fencing” that allows Aros and other products to turn on automatically when you get close to home and shut off when you leave. Since this feature uses the GPS on your phone to tell your products when to turn on, it uses more battery. If your phone battery is low or you wish to conserve battery usage, turn off geo-fencing for smart schedules.

Do you integrate with IFTTT?

Yes we have integrated with IFTTT for the first 6 Quirky + GE products. Stay tuned for more updates.

What are Robots?

Robots are a simple way to automate your home to run on its own. With a few taps in the Wink app, you can program your products to work together automatically based on triggers, such as location or activity. For example, a robot can be programed to automatically to turn on specific lights and open your shades when you unlock the door.

What are shortcuts?

Shortcuts let you control multiple products with one tap in the Wink app. For example, you can turn off a group of lights or all lights with one tap. You can create different shortcuts like movie night, welcome home, or goodnight to control multiple products at the same time.

Are shortcuts and robots run on the hub?

No, all of the shortcuts and robots are run on the Wink certified product and in the Wink cloud.

Will this work with any router?

The Wink HUB is compatible with 2.4 Ghz routers running WPA-PSK or open security. 5 GHz networks are not currently supported.

What protocols (communications) does the Wink HUB support?

Bluetooth LE, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Z-Wave, Lutron ClearConnect, and Kidde. We selected Wi-Fi, ZigBee, Z-Wave and BTLE because they are powerful and already used across many products and categories today. We added Lutron ClearConnect and Kidde because they are great partners that make great products.

Note that device compatibility varies within each protocol — we are continually expanding the set of compatible products but only Wink Certified products are guaranteed to work.

Is there a list of Z-Wave Plus compatible devices?

A full list is coming soon. We support the following type of generic Z-Wave plus devices:

On/off light switch or plug-in module (BinarySwitch)
Dimmer switch or plug-in module (MultilevelSwitch)
Thermostat (GenericTypeThermostat)
Door lock (GenericTypeEntryControl)
Products that carry the Wink seals are certified to ensure a smooth experience and comprehensive customer support. We work with these brands to design simple interactions, complete joint testing, and integrate customer support services.

Other products that utilize Z-Wave and ZigBee for communication may connect with the Wink HUB and feature basic support. We are continually working to expand compatibility with leading brands and products. A full list of supported products is coming soon.

What should I do before attempting to connect my Wink HUB?

Connecting your Wink HUB is easy. Following a few simple guidelines can help ensure your connection experience goes smoothly:

Ensure your network is configured to use a security scheme supported by the Wink HUB (WPA-PSK or open).
Ensure your Wink HUB is located within range of your Wi-Fi router. A quick way to check this is by connecting your mobile phone to your Wi-Fi network and ensuring the signal strength is strong when positioned near the Wink HUB.
Ensure your Wink HUB is not positioned too close to your router or any other Wi-Fi device (we recommend a minimum of 3' between devices). This can cause interference and prevent the Wink HUB from maintaining a reliable connection.

Takeaways:

1. They emphasize that they currently only support iOS, Android, and Android Wear (specifically smartphones, not tablets).

2. They emphasize that only Wink Certified products are guaranteed to work (note that their marketing is not very clear on this; they advertise Zwave all over the place but you have to read the description to understand that it's a subset of Zwave, specifically "Wink Certified" Zwave products, that are guaranteed to work).

3. Robots & Shortcuts apparently live in the cloud, not the hub. That would simplify management since nothing is stored locally on the hub - everything is stored on your account in the cloud. But I wonder if it's locally cached or something, because it seems like if you had some lag or a slow connection, your lights might be more delayed. I'd like a clearer answer on that point in particular.

4. You need to have a 2.4ghz wireless router setup with either WPA-PSK or open security to talk to the hub. I wish they had included an Ethernet port.

 

[Kaido]

There's a Wink Hub Home Depot launch discussion thread on the Quirky forums:

https://www.quirky.com/forums/topic/41309?page=1

Supposedly they are honoring the 99-cent deal if you buy 2 additional items. I'll swing by a store today to confirm - I'm hoping they have some hardware that I want because none of the Amazon bundle deals are appealing right now (for some reason, Amazon isn't bundling ALL Wink-Certified items on their combo page yet). One guy on Twitter said that the employees have to scan a barcode off a tear sheet in order to activate the discount if you're buying two of the same accessories. Also, Wink has an official Twitter account:

https://twitter.com/TheWinkApp

A bit of a fuzzy shot of the Wink Hub:

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BsMk412CEAA2qjZ.jpg:large

Another shot of the Wink motherboard: (433mhz Lutron & combo Wifi/BT!)

http://shup.com/~picasso/wireless_fun.jpg

I also got some additional information back from Wink's customer support:

1. Wink Hub supports WPA, WPA2, and WPA-PSK
2. It is recommended to keep the Hub around 10 feet from the router
3. Robots & Shortcuts are stored in the cloud, but are cached locally within the app
4. Commands are usually sent & completed within 5 seconds (I was curious about command delay due to the cloud storage)

It seems that if you buy the Wink Hub and buy Wink Certified hardware, then connect the Hub to your (compatible) wireless network, run the firmware update, and pair the Certified hardware, things go pretty smoothly. People seem to get stuck (1) connecting to their network, (2) running the firmware update (since the app apparently has a glitch that tells the user it's still updating, even when it's already updated, which apparently is solved by reinstalling the app, which then checks the firmware & sees that it's the latest & stops bugging you), and (3) using non-Certified hardware and not getting the results they want.

 

[lsd]

Today a button to upgrade the wink firmware showed up in the app and I guess it updated the firmware. I say I guess because there is no way to log into the hub and check the software.
In the previous firmware the status light just remained blue at all times, now the light will flash during pairing and turn green when successful.
I removed and paired the schlage lock again and it's working ok right now.
The trane tstat still shows incorrect ambient temp, what it's actually showing is relative humidity.
I'm still waiting on the casetta switch and my order for the spotter has been cancelled. I wonder if Amazon pulled the spotter?

 

[Kaido]

Today a button to upgrade the wink firmware showed up in the app and I guess it updated the firmware. I say I guess because there is no way to log into the hub and check the software.
In the previous firmware the status light just remained blue at all times, now the light will flash during pairing and turn green when successful.
I removed and paired the schlage lock again and it's working ok right now.
The trane tstat still shows incorrect ambient temp, what it's actually showing is relative humidity.
I'm still waiting on the casetta switch and my order for the spotter has been cancelled. I wonder if Amazon pulled the spotter?

Nice, thanks for the update! Yeah, my iOS app updated to v2.0.3 (July 18th) with the following note:

We've made it easier for you to get your legacy ZWave and Zigbee products onto the Wink App!

We've also included some bug fixes and interface improvements.

I'll do a full rundown of the app (with screenshots) once I pick mine up. I did read one note on Amazon that said that if you're having trouble connecting to the Hub on your wireless network, open port 8080 & 9092 on your router (the reviewer was using a Netgear router). Also, since GE is a Wink partner, I'm hoping they announce official support for the Jasco Zwave devices: (although they seem to be working fine for adding legacy-style right now)

http://www.jascoproducts.com/z-wave/

They have a really nice 3-way dimmer that I could use in a couple areas. I'm still on the lookout for compatible motion detectors...that'd be a nice thing to have in the hallways when you need to hit the bathroom in the middle of the night, maybe have the hallway light turn on to 25% brightness upon motion detection or something. Also, found a note on the latest Hub firmware update & the LED indicator light on the front:

http://www.zatznotfunny.com/2014-07/wink-hub-quick-look/

Wink just released a new update to the Hub today that lets the LED show some status. Here is what was sent to me

- The HUB will flash blue when it is adding or removing devices.
> When the operation completes a single long (4 second) green flash will occur to indicate success
> When the operation completes a single long (4 second) red flash will occur to indicate failure
-The HUB will briefly flash green whenever a connected device reports a state change to the HUB

After the update, I was able to put the Hub into exclusion mode to drop my GE in-wall outlet and then hook it up to the Staples Connect Hub. If you are on the Hub page in the app, you can tap the … on the top right and then go select your Hub to get to the settings page. You’ll see the Z-Wave Controls section.

 

[Kaido]

Update from Wink support via Amazon review response:

We are working on all of the issues anyone has and both the apps and the Hub have seen updates within the first two weeks so the team is working hard and fast. Things have been running smoothly since the last update and any initial problems with Zwave has been fixed!

 

[LegendKiller]

So does that mean they are improving non-certified zwave functionality?

 

[Kaido]

So does that mean they are improving non-certified zwave functionality?

They still have the same basic four controls for adding generic Zwave devices, but from reading through tech support responses on the Amazon reviews, it looks like those could be finicky. So you're still limited from full support & should really buy into their ecosystem for maximum compatibility, which I don't think is a big deal because Zwave support has always been a little sketchy in general, no matter what you use, so if they offer 100% with their certified gear & can actually deliver it, sign me up!

I plan on picking up a truckload of gear once more stuff becomes available. I just had a couple of my blinds break, so I'd like to replace those with motorized shades, but I'm having a hard time figuring out what's compatible with Home Depot's Bali line (no info on their website, but Wink said they use Zwave) and the Lutron stuff is still "coming soon".

Edit: Found some info on the blinds here:

http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvi...green-with-the-wink-home-automation-ecosystem

Custom Window Shades

Motorized window shades allow for a clean, uncluttered look, are safer for pets and children with cordless technology, and help insulate your home with the setting of a timer or the push of a button. One quality option, Bali Custom Blinds and Shades with Somfy® automation & controls, utilizes a single control, wall switch, remote or programmable timer to operate single or multiple window coverings. Keep the shades drawn during summer to keep your home naturally cool, or leave them open in cooler months to let the sunshine warm your space.

So from what I understand:

1. Bali Custom Blinds & Shades
2. Somfy automation & controls
3. Zwave interface

Wink said that Bali works via Zwave:

https://twitter.com/benkaufman/statuses/491573520938590208

Somfy has a Bali "how-to" section on their website:

https://www.somfypro.com/how-to-videos-bali

Setting a "MY" Position: Learn how to easily set the 'MY' or preferred position of your motorized window covering powered by Somfy.
12-volt DC Plug-in Transformer Installation Video: Learn how to use a plug-in transfomer to power motorized window coverings powered by Somfy.
Adjusting Upper and Lower Limit Positions: Learn how to adjust the upper and lower limit positions of your motorized window covering powered by Somfy.
Copy and Paste Part 1- Adding a New Remote: Learn how to add additional controls such as hand-held remotes, wireless wall switches, table top controls, etc.
Copy and Paste Part 2 - Creating Groups: Learn how to create groups so that you can easily adjust mutiple motorized window coverings using the same control device.
DecoFlex WireFree™ RTS Installation: Learn the few simple steps to install the DecoFlex WireFree™ Wall Switch.
Resetting & Setting New Limit Positions - Low Voltage Solar, Roller and Natural Shades: Learn how easy it is to reset and set the open and closed positions of motorized solar, roller and natural shades powered by Somfy.
Resetting & Setting New Limit Positions - Cellular, Roman & Pleated Shades: Learn how easy it is to reset and set the open and closed positions of motorized cellular shades powered by Somfy.
Resetting & Setting New Limit Positions - Motorized Horizontal Blinds: Learn how easy it is to reset and set the open and closed positions of motorized horizontal blinds powered by Somfy.
Solar Pack Installation: Learn how to install the WireFree™ Solar Pack to use the sun's renewable energy to power motorized window coverings powered by Somfy.
Sunis RTS Interior Sun Sensor Installation Video: Learn how to install the Sunis WireFree™ RTS Sun Sensor to automatically adjust motorized window coverings powered by Somfy.
Battery Tube Installation: A step-by-step guide to replacing the batteries in WireFree™ motorized window coverings powered by Somfy.

So my takeaways from this are:

Power sources: (for motorized blinds)
1. 12V plug-in transformer
2. Battery tube
3. "WireFree" solar pack

Control options:
1. Hand-held remote
2. Wireless wall switches
3. Table top controller
4. Sun sensor (Sunis RTS Interior)

User settings:
1. Preferred position ("MY" position)
2. Upper & lower limit positions

I'm still not clear on actual support; Home Depot's website does have a "Somfy" logo, but not actual information about integration. I dug up a couple of PDF files on Somfy's website regarding Zwave:

* Glydea Zwave plugin module
* Zwave to Digital Motor interface

Glydea looks like the newer of the two; it integrates into the upper bar & connects with an RJ12 connector. I found a PDF installation guide for the ZGM (Zwave Glydea Module) here:

http://www.automatedshadeinc.com/fi...z-wave_plug-in_module_instructions_061312.pdf

So the key for that looks like you just need to buy a set of blinds with the Glydea drapery motors in them. The Zwave DMI looks like older tech - it's a large unit that uses a wall wart for power. On Home Depot's Bali website, the ordering process for Bali blinds goes like this:

1. Select your window covering:

a. Motorized lift
b. Motorized tilt

2. Select your power source:

a. 12 Volt Battery Tube
b. 12 Volt DC Plug In Transformer

3. Select your controller:

a. Single Channel Remote Control or Wall Switch
b. Five Channel Remote Control or Wall Switch
c. Programmable Timer

Although not listed, Home Depot's video library does have a video on installing the solar-charging system, which seems like it would be a good investment. I did find a resource page on doing low-voltage wiring for whole-house motorized drapes, which would be the preferred method if possible: (no batteries, no solar, no wall-warts)

http://www.automatedshadeinc.com/co...22&subsectionID=357924&subsubsectionID=523855

Bali's actual motorized blinds page is similar to Home Depot's site:

http://www.baliblinds.com/motorized_treatments/index.jsp

My assumption would be that all new blinds come with Glydea motors, with the optional of getting the ZGM for Zwave control (assuming their remote controls & "wireless" wall switches are Zwave-based), because that would give built-in control rather than having to use an external Zwave interface box. Somfy does have their own basic smarthome controller called TaHomA; they make a module called the ZRTSI (Zwave to Radio Technology Somfy Interface) that converts Zwave signals to Somfy's RTS wireless technology, which integrates with TaHomA:

https://www.somfypro.com/new-produc...mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_count=1

Their wallswitch is the "DecoFlex WireFree RTS", which sounds like it uses Radio Technology Somfy rather than Zwave, so I'd imagine you'd have to request the Glydea Zwave module when you order the blinds to add on Zwave functionality since it is different than Somfy's RTS radio system.

Edit 2: Looks like Somfy has 3 wireless control options: (plus some misc. wired options)

1. Radio Technology Somfy (RTS)
2. Zwave (via ZGM or the older DMI unit)
3. ZigBee (via a ZigBee version of the ZGM & DMI)

The ZigBee stuff looks newer: (they have Control4 drivers as well)

https://www.somfypro.com/zigbee

There's also some acoustically-quieter motors available:

https://www.somfypro.com/sonesse50

Edit 3: Found pricing on the Somfy Zwave interface: ($185)

http://www.automatedshadestore.com/...lydea_ZWave_PlugIn_Control_Module-pid523.html

You need one module per Somfy motor, which is only compatible with two motors: the Glydea 35 and the 60e DCT drapery motors, both of which are track systems for drapes. So I still don't think I'm getting the full picture about Wink integration via Somfy's Zwave interface, since it's supposed to work with blinds, not just drapes.

 

[Kaido]

OK, got a response back from Wink on the Bali blinds. The Bali blinds work with a Somfy Zwave hub (as a middleman), which connects to the Wink Hub. They are on the second version of the unit, the ZRTSI 2. It's basically a Zwave to RTS (Radio Technology Somfy) relay - the blinds have RTS, so this acts as a Zwave hub for controlling them. The unit is showing an online price of $334:

http://www.automatedshadestore.com/...Somfy_Z-Wave_to_RTS_Interface_NEW-pid561.html

PDF flyer here:

https://www.somfypro.com/documents/531668/18758449/ZRTSI+Flyer+1811265_FINAL.pdf

PDF instructions here:

https://www.somfypro.com/documents/531668/18758449/ZRTSI+Instructions_1811265.pdf

Programming video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGguK2X1tNM

The unit is basically an A/C wall-wart with a small screen on the front for programming & monitoring signal communication. Here's a photo of the front of the unit:

http://www.automatedshadestore.com/shop/avactis-images/Somfy-ZRTSI-New-1811265.PNG

Here's a photo of the back of the unit:

http://www.automatedshadestore.com/shop/avactis-images/Somfy-ZRTSI-New-1811265-Back.png

The ZRTSI was originally designed to work as a Zwave interface for Somfy's own TaHomA Zwave-based basic home automation hub:

http://www.somfytahoma.com/home-aut...ries-products/home-automation-somfy-zwave-rts

I found a press release on the unit here:

http://www.somfytahoma.com/home-aut...ries-products/home-automation-somfy-zwave-rts

The device receives Z-Wave transmissions and converts them to motor control commands for Somfy's full range of interior and exterior RTS wireless controlled motors. Each ZRTSI is plugged into an active electrical receptacle and has sixteen (16) virtual Z-Wave nodes that correspond to sixteen (16) RTS channels. Each channel can control one individual or one group of RTS motorized window coverings.

So basically:

1. The Somfy ZRTSI v2 is the middleman between the Bali blinds & Wink Hub
2. It converts Zwave commands into RTS signals (Radio Technology Somfy, which is built into the blinds)
3. It plugs into an A/C outlet (wallwart-style)
4. It has 16 channels; each channel can control an individual or group of RTS motorized window coverings
5. It needs to be within 25-35 feet of an RTS motorized product
6. Multiple ZRTSI units can be used for larger installations

Their PDF lists compatibility with devices such as the Sonesse 50 RTS & Tilt WireFree RTS. So basically it looks like you can control anything with RTS, which seems to be a pretty standard method of wireless communication for blinds & drapes (their RTS page said they've had over 4 million installs). There's PDF brochure on RTS here:

http://www.somfy.com/downloads/nam_pro/rts_brochure_low.pdf

As far as power options for the motorized blinds, it looks like you have 4 options:

1. Batteries
2. Solar
3. Wall-wart (A/C adapter unit)
4. Centralized low-voltage power distribution panel (for hidden wiring)

They also have various control methods, such as handheld remotes, wall switches, and even an automatic sun sensor:

http://www.automatedshadestore.com/...mfy_Sunis_Indoor__RTS__Sun_Sensor-pid138.html

I don't really like the idea of having a hub talking to another hub talking to the device itself, but Somfy's RTS is pretty established & you can control multiple blinds & drapes with one Zwave relay unit, so it's not too big of a deal - stick the A/C controller in an outlet behind a couch or something to hide it. Plus that's how the TCP & Philips Hue smart LED bulbs work - via a communication relay hub.

I'm not sure how well-versed my local Home Depot crew is on all of this wireless control stuff (all of the local stores pretty much bombed the Wink Hub & friends rollout), so I have a feeling it will largely be a DIY project. If that's the case, I'll post the purchase & install details so we can get a good workflow going. Alternatively, Somfy seems to be a pretty standard supplier for motors & wireless window treatment communication, so I'm sure there are some online options I can order from by just measuring the windows & doing the installation myself.

 

[Kaido]

Updates from the Amazon comments:

Wink is now saying this fall for Chamberlain integration.

I am happy to tell you that the 'Updating Firmware' issue you were experiencing has been resolved in the new firmware update for the Hub and the updated Wink App software for iOS no longer shows this incorrect notification within the app. Additionally, this new firmware for the Wink Hub no longer requires you to wait the 5-10 seconds before pairing. Pairing can now begin when the Wink App recommends doing so.

products not listed under our Wink app supported page cannot be guaranteed to work. This comes down to the amount of access we are allowed to our partner products API information that would allow us to program feature control into our app. The Hub is brandy dandy new and is a bit limited in supported products at the moment but the same is true for a lot of new tech items to hit the market. We will be continuously signing on additional partners and improving usability of our supported products. We do apologize for the inconveniences around the newness of it all but we are doing our best to constantly improve our product and platform.

 

[Kaido]

Got a bit more info on the Bali motorized stuff. Let's take a look at the cellular shade: (honeycomb design)

http://www.blinds.com/control/productSearch?categoryId=11&bid=61&cid=bali-cellular-shades.html

It's called the DiamondCell series and is available in both sunshade & blackout flavors: (pricing starting at 36" W x 60" H)

1. Light Filtering ($93)
2. Blackout ($140)

Motorization is $165 with the following options:

1. Single Battery: $48
2. Dual Battery: $97
3. 12V with 25' power cord: $71

The ZRTSI 2 unit (Zwave to Somfy RTS) is $334 online. This needs to be within 25 to 35 feet of a motorized blind in order to relay commands, so you may need more than one unit depending on the size of your house. So the cheapest you could get away with a starter bundle (single shade) is $640:

1. 36" W x 60" H light-filtering cellular shade for $93
2. Motorization option for $165
3. Single battery for $48
4. ZRTSI 2 unit for $334

It's kind of funny that the motorization costs more than the blind, plus you still have to buy a power source, which jacks the price up even higher. I don't like that you have to have a separate Zwave controller either; I'd prefer it to be built into the blind itself. I like the Glydea plug-in module system since it's small & integrates with the bar, but that system is apparently only available for drapes, not blinds.

So while it's not the ideal setup, it is still pretty decent since Somfy seems to have a pretty reliable wireless system existing already (RTS), so you can do wallswitches & handheld remotes in addition to Wink control via the ZRTSI unit. The pricetag is a bit of a shocker, but that's not really a bad price for being able to simply order automated shades online or at Home Depot and not need a special smarthome installer/integrator to come in, so that reduces your end-user cost quite a bit. Still, dang...it's at least ~$330 to add Wink support (or around $660 if you have a larger home & need a pair of Somfy Zwave adapters), plus an extra $200+ per blind to add motor support with a power supply, so it's not exactly chump change!

 

[lsd]

Update:
I've had the wink hub for almost 3 weeks now and the android app has been updated a few times since then. Though it looks the same, it's no longer slow and sluggish on my gs4. My Z-wave siren no longer disappears but i'm not able to edit it in anyway and I can't even remove it.
I've tried using the "geo-fencing" function where my garage entrance door unlocks and kitchen lights turn on when I arrive home from work. Unfortunately the lock won't work but the light does. I'm not sure if it matters that the lock is not wink certified. I do have a certified lock on the front door, I guess I can try that one.
With the geo-fencing robot enabled the app does kill the phone battery though. It seems as if the app is accessing gps info at all times instead of just when it's scheduled for a task.
Overall it seems to be working okay for now. I'm hoping they add additional functionality with all the radios built into the thing.

 

[9V7W3]

I just hooked up my Wink today and I'm on both sides of the fence.. I had all the same issues described before.. Took 20 tried to connect to my network even though all info was correct, and then firmware update hung for a while but I finally got everything working and updated after a few reboots of the Wink and closing the app (not uninstalling it).

Anyway I got my schlage touch screen lock working fine, no issues locking or unlocking yet.. I tried to add my honeywell wifi smart thermostat (the color one) but when I enter my login info it connects and tells me "no new devices found"


Anyone have this issue? I'm able to control the thermostat from the honeywell app no problem..


Also kinda ticked off that I have to buy another $384 module to make my somfy RTS controlled blinds work with this thing.. The two motorized blinds cost me $750 alone...

 

[Kaido]

Update:
I've had the wink hub for almost 3 weeks now and the android app has been updated a few times since then. Though it looks the same, it's no longer slow and sluggish on my gs4. My Z-wave siren no longer disappears but i'm not able to edit it in anyway and I can't even remove it.
I've tried using the "geo-fencing" function where my garage entrance door unlocks and kitchen lights turn on when I arrive home from work. Unfortunately the lock won't work but the light does. I'm not sure if it matters that the lock is not wink certified. I do have a certified lock on the front door, I guess I can try that one.
With the geo-fencing robot enabled the app does kill the phone battery though. It seems as if the app is accessing gps info at all times instead of just when it's scheduled for a task.
Overall it seems to be working okay for now. I'm hoping they add additional functionality with all the radios built into the thing.

Thanks for the update! I still haven't purchased any equipment as I'd like to get similar lightswitch styles etc. for my place; I'm hoping Amazon gets more gear before the $1 Hub sale ends. Let me know how it works with the certified lock if you test it. People seem to be having pretty good luck with certified stuff, but it's nowhere near the 60 products they were advertising originally as being available out of the gate. I'm in no rush to buy anything & don't mind waiting, but I am chomping at the bit from a nerd standpoint to get my home outfitted with new tech :awe: