HELP: Need alternative to HC2

[topolino 0]

I've lost all faith that Fibaro will ever be able to deliver, so I'm selling my HC2.

Can anyone here help me find a good alternative that can drive Fibaro sensors and other devices? I'd prefer something that will work standalone or on my Mac Mini.

- I have tried VeraLite, but it seems a little slow and not compatible with Fibaro sensors.

- I see that Indigo Domotics with an Aeon Labs adapter is recommended here, but the UI looks like *. Is it really so good that it compensates for the crappy looks?

- I wanted Revolv, but they have been purchased by NEST. It will probably be great when it hits the market, but I need something right now.

- Any other suggestions?

[dawiinci 5]

In my opinion, there is no perfect solution on the market right now. I used Vera Lite but it was so slow and rebooted serval times a day because memory was full.

I was looking into Zipato, but it looks like they have issues as well.

Fibaro would be the best choice IF they finally release stable software. And I'm not talking about "3.590 stable".

And they have to release a better app. I use only a few buttons but I have to click so many times to get there - every day. The buttons have to be customizable.

[topolino 0]

I agree.

But what's really turned me off Fibaro is that they don't seem to be taking it seriously that we're conserned about the safety of their products.

The other competitors may also have issues, but I don't think any of them would take lightly on a sales ban of a wall plug in Sweden, non-functioning smoke sensors or other melting devices.

They also don't seem to be able to focus on uptime and stability, and instead spend too much time adding new functionality on an unstable system. Building everything from scratch into a do-it-all version scares the * out of me.

It takes time to get a re-written system stable and reliable, and I just don't see them being able to pull this off. Maybe they'll get there with version 5 in 2019 if they're not bankrupt by then.

[remcoploeg 10]

I need also some guidance. I am getting totally crazy with HC2 and every friend is laughing if my lights don't turn in or the heating is running at night, or the dead nodes every day. The solution from Fibaro (I am running 3.591) is to run a script to resolve this.... great support.

I have tried Vera 3 in the past 2 months, but with UI7 that is also terrible. Not working well, slow.

I like the indigo stuff, but I don't see any nice apps for Ipad, Iphone, Android or Windows Phone like they are for the Vera 3. And I need a expensive Mac at home.

I am looking right now at Zipato. I looks as a stable system with modules (with 433mhz support yeah!) and other modules. Sadly they don't have any LUA scripting and really nice addon-ons for Sonos etc as far I can see.

Three years ago I came from HomeSeer 2(had that for 7 years), that was stable and works great. All I had was X10(that was not always good). With HStouch I could create great screens for ipad or windows by myself. So maybe I go back to this system. I could debug on every part in the system and great interfaces with other systems. It's quite expensive and you need a PC (or the controller). I have had the PC, so no experience with the controller.

[akatar 208]

i would say, try homeseer 3.you can try it one month

you can Always buy secondhand hs2, then upgrade to hs3 for a few dollars

(pro version is the best buy)

[OnnoH 1]

I switched to Indigo 6 for Apple Mac only.

More expensive than the HC2, unless you have a Mac lying around. The app is not as catchy as the one from Fibaro, but they're working on that.

Homeseer 3 if you're on Windows. But also payware. And you need a Z-wave USB stick.

Domoticz (and other Open Source alternatives) if you fancy Linux.

I use the AeonLabs Zwave stick and it hasn't let me down so far.

[dawiinci 5]

Is Indigo compatible with all the Fibaro devices?

Also can you run code on Indigo, let's say calculate some values like the position of the sun and store it in a variable?

[topolino 0]

Thanks, OnnoH.

I do have a Mac Mini that's working 24/7 with other tasks, and I'm sure it'll be glad to run Indigo to monitor the house as well. I use it as a webserver, so it will probably also respond a lot faster than Fibaro HC2's current half minute to open the heavy Fibaro app.

I'm also curious to learn if Indigo will be able to run my existing hardware. I'm holding on to my Fibaro door window sensors, motion sensors and wall plugs, Foscam cameras + the Everspring thermo/hygro sensors. Do you know if these are compatible?

I'm thinking of dropping Fibaro's switches and dimmers because I don't trust them to not melt or burn. These guys are too clueless to be trusted with truly important or dangerous matters.

[fergalmccarthy 5]

Is Indigo compatible with all the Fibaro devices?

Also can you run code on Indigo, let's say calculate some values like the position of the sun and store it in a variable?

Indigo is compatible with all Fibaro devices yes. And when new products from any vendor are released, you might have to wait 2 - 3 weeks and bang, fully supported, same goes for anything out there that is not already supported. And something Indigo has that Fibaro do not, a hardware support matrix for 3 natively supported interfaces.

You can run anything on Indigo. Applescript and python are natively supported but Indigo can run any shell script so you can install any language that OS X supports and call it from a script and store the output as variables from the UI.

What do you want to store the sun's position for out of curiosity.

[ Added: 2014-11-30, 23:28 ]

Thanks, OnnoH.

I do have a Mac Mini that's working 24/7 with other tasks, and I'm sure it'll be glad to run Indigo to monitor the house as well. I use it as a webserver, so it will probably also respond a lot faster than Fibaro HC2's current half minute to open the heavy Fibaro app.

I'm also curious to learn if Indigo will be able to run my existing hardware. I'm holding on to my Fibaro door window sensors, motion sensors and wall plugs, Foscam cameras + the Everspring thermo/hygro sensors. Do you know if these are compatible?

I'm thinking of dropping Fibaro's switches and dimmers because I don't trust them to not melt or burn. These guys are too clueless to be trusted with truly important or dangerous matters.

I'll send you the URL to the support matrix on Indigo forum, but most everspring HW is supported as far as I know.

My biggest challenge with Indigo has been the control pages, and the iPhone app. Until recently when i "acquired" a lovely set of icons. Once you have nice icons, you can create some lovely pages very simply. I also thought it was all about the iPhone app, but its not really, a real HA system should react to you and trigger events automatically from door sensors or motion sensors, or temp sensors. The phone app should be supplemental, and thats the way my setup is now.

[robmac 173]

I also thought it was all about the iPhone app, but its not really, a real HA system should react to you and trigger events automatically from door sensors or motion sensors, or temp sensors. The phone app should be supplemental, and thats the way my setup is now.

Fergal,

Totally agree.

If you are just starting out make sure you make maximum use of associations from sensors to switches and the built in functions of your devices. You are after automation not remote control.

[topolino 0]

And VERA has released this thing. If their system 7 has become more robust, I think we may have another candidate to replace HC2:

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[dawiinci 5]

...

What do you want to store the sun's position for out of curiosity.

I use this information to find out if the shades have to close according to the position of the sun. Works perfectly.

[jdb264c 0]

I've lost all faith that Fibaro will ever be able to deliver, so I'm selling my HC2.

Can anyone here help me find a good alternative that can drive Fibaro sensors and other devices? I'd prefer something that will work standalone or on my Mac Mini.

I agree with you, even registered on this forum just for asking about this. I have a HC2 and about 30 units but have lost absolutely all trust in Fibars ability to provide good customer support after the incidences in Sweden.

[OnnoH 1]

I do have a Mac Mini that's working 24/7 with other tasks, and I'm sure it'll be glad to run Indigo to monitor the house as well. I use it as a webserver, so it will probably also respond a lot faster than Fibaro HC2's current half minute to open the heavy Fibaro app.

Same here. The current Indigo app is very fast, but it lacks eye candy.

I'm thinking of dropping Fibaro's switches and dimmers because I don't trust them to not melt or burn. These guys are too clueless to be trusted with truly important or dangerous matters.

I only have Fibaro and AeonLabs devices. Running 'production' over 7 months now (and a year testing a RaZberry with some devices) and besides a DOA roller shutter, no problems with the hardware.

[ Added: 2014-12-01, 22:23 ]

My biggest challenge with Indigo has been the control pages, and the iPhone app. Until recently when i "acquired" a lovely set of icons. Once you have nice icons, you can create some lovely pages very simply. I also thought it was all about the iPhone app, but its not really, a real HA system should react to you and trigger events automatically from door sensors or motion sensors, or temp sensors. The phone app should be supplemental, and thats the way my setup is now.

Sound advice. Makes one curious about the control pages. Care to share some screenshots?

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[fergalmccarthy 5]

I'll put them up on indigo forum, they will probably be deleted here

[OnnoH 1]

I'll put them up on indigo forum, they will probably be deleted here

Thanks for your PM. Pictures look great! The Fibaro icon is there to remind you where you're coming from?

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I also spotted a Panasonic TV icon. Do you control it with Indigo, or do you just turn it on and off?

[fergalmccarthy 5]

No just on and off unfortunately, its an older model so just use IR blaster , variables and applescript, which works quite well. Icons cost me 600 euro, so need to make use of them

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[Guest David R]

600 euros for icons

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[Liquidchild 2]

Is there a link to these images?

[fergalmccarthy 5]

Yeah here you go

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