UD ISY994i ZW+ PRO: Z-Wave Plus Certified Home Automation Controller - Compatible with Alexa/Google Home

I did a lot of research about how to best automate devices in my home and this controller beat everything hands down. I took a lot from reviews here on Amazon (thank you posters) so maybe it is time for me to do my part and post. First, ignore much of the negative rantings about this device, because it is not accurate. No one beats these guys on documentation - no one. Okay, you have to go online to read about various topics, instead of having a handy booklet that comes in the box and then you can never find again. But their online Wiki support page is awesome...Period. I use it ALL the time. Second, a few reviewers mention it, but if you email them, they respond, immediately, if not sooner. And that is no exaggeration. Very kind, simple or complex answers that fit your need. Further, this runs on Windows 10 PERFECTLY. I run it on Microsoft Edge all the time. It does run in a Java environment, which is just fine. But it runs great in Windows. Ready for this? I run it in my Windows phone, too! It runs great. You just use their Portal for access and it is easy to set-up, and my screen on the phone looks just like the picture shown here. I can control any device in my house, anywhere I have phone OR Wifi service. I also have Alexa to turn things on and off by voice. We love it. That is the only thing I PAY for. It is $49 for 2 YEARS of portal access that supports Amazon Echo. BIG DEAL - That is about 2 dollars a month, and being able to use Alexa is priceless. We didn't have it for a few months in the beginning, but wow, what a difference.So, that being said, this device IS NOT for someone that wants to just plug in, hit some kind of LEARN button and be up and running. Go get one of the silly 'hub' devices for that. There is something for everyone on the market now.I wanted something that I could install, connect to Z-wave and Insteon light switches, outlets, motion sensors and such, that was highly reliable. But I also wanted something that would grow with my needs and abilities. How many times do you install something and then wish it was capable of doing more a few months down the road? But too late, you are committed. You won't feel that way with this device, if you are like me. Now, I am no programmer. I am an electronics technician, by trade and I found it pretty easy, with a little patience, and reading the online instructions to hook up almost 60 devices in my house from water leak sensors, to wall outlets to light switches, to motion sensors, and gate and garage door opener controllers to name only a few. I am integrating it into my already wired security sensors now. Wireless sensors would be done by now, but I want to use the wired sensors in my house from my old ADT box.This is not plug and play like some of the other hubs, but it is still pretty simple, following the step by step instructions. You should go online and watch a couple of the youtube videos about the programs you create and read some of the wiki pages for the Universal Devices controller to see what I mean. When I install a device, I simply tell the ISY controller to 'find it' in the house (radio waves) by using the administrator (control) panel on windows. So, you install the administrator control panel software (easy) and it will talk to your controller and you can do a million things from there. You hit a button, it finds your device, you give the device a name, save it, and then fill in some blanks in the program to tell it what to do and when. For example - I have some table lamps plugged into an Insteon dimmer outlet. I filled in the blank fields in the program to tell it IF it is sunset, (it knows by the time of day) THEN turn on the "Table Lamps" @ 45% and THEN turn them off 4 hours later. Done. I can do a lot with simple programs like that. And the instructions online and videos give you plenty of samples to work from and modify to your particular situation.I recall a review I read here before I bought this where someone said "Why didn't I buy this one in the first place?" or something to that effect. I was so glad when I read that review. He had a 'hub' of some kind and was stuck not being able to do what he wanted. So, I bought the PRO ISY controller with the max devices capable, 1000. And with Z-Wave installed and IR. I never use IR, the box is in another room with the computers and router and such, so, I would not get that option again. But Z-wave definitely, of course. Read about Z-Wave, and you will understand.Go online, do some research, don't buy impulsively, it took me weeks or more. But ultimately, this device will have the capability and the support you need. It is pricey, I was a little put off for that price for a microcontroller, and I MAKE microcontrollers. But you are paying for the programming and support. These guys did a great job on this device and they stand behind it....all day and night long. This is a very, very stable device. it boots right up, everytime. It has never locked up on me in the two years I have been using it. I would not hesitate to buy it again. Get the PRO version with the better security and the most devices, you will be glad you did. It is bullet proof. Then.....write your review. Don't wait 2 years like I did.

I have been an Insteon user for a long time, but needed to add some Z-Wave devices. The ISY994 is very popular as a hub for both, and it provides far more detailed programming than the standard Insteon hub does.What I did not realize initially was that for Insteon compatibility you need the 2413S serial power line module, and this is "unobtanium" at the present time. The 2413U USB version, which you can buy and which Amazon "suggests" goes along with it, is NOT compatible. However, a user who goes by the handle "MrWorf" has put together instructions for how you can use a Raspberry Pi as a "bridge" between the ISY and a 2413U (or a 2448A7 RF-only interface which I used) - I did this and it works. You can read about it on the Universal Devices user forum topic "Insteon 2448A7 + RaspberryPi + ISY994?"The user interface for the ISY is ugly and difficult to understand, with some settings buried under toolbar options that don't hint as to their content. Worse, the only way to get at this is to run a Java applet on your local computer. There is a phone app, but it is very limited at present.That said, the user community is very helpful and I had my ISY up and running quickly, adding my Z-Wave and Insteon devices and it works reliably. I haven't even scratched the surface of what it can do, but one thing I took advantage of, for example, was its knowledge of sunrise and sunset times for my location.

First - The name of this item "Universal Devices ISY994i INSTEON | X10" implies that it can be used with X10 devices, it can, but only after you obtain another device made by another company. The device is called Insteon 2413S PowerLinc Modem (PLM) and has a lot of bad reviews on the Internet saying its life span is 1 - 2 years. The ISY994i INSTEON | X10 seems to only be able to interface with INSTEON devices and needs the PLM to translate for it.When I received this unit it came with a quick install sheet which consisted of a list of internet sites with instructions.I hooked it up to the network and the enclosed power supply and after coming up it showed a red error light on the front of the unit, then the memory lite lit, so I assumed that the SD card may not be in place. I opened the cover for the SD card on the front of the unit and could see that there was a card and it was wedged up against one side of the opening in the front panel. I managed to remove the card with a pair of tweezers and it appeared to be all right. Then I tried to reinstall it - the socket for the card was not centered in the opening so there was interference on the left side and a lot of open space on the top. My first try sent the card into the case - I finally was able to get the card on the openings on the side of the case an maneuver it to slide out of the opening. If you ever take the card out be very careful when you put it back. OK that problem solved. All hooked up to the network - got IP address from my router and logged in.Now I get the message that it is in a non working mode because it needs the PLM mentioned above.I wanted to see if it would work without the PLM so I got rid of the message. The user interface was kind of nice, but then I chose Administrator - This required Java to be installed on my PC so I installed it (yes setting the unit up requires that you run a Java program on your PC).The Administrator interface running on my 1080p display had such small writing that it was very difficult to use And no way to make it larger, but I found out I couldn't do anything without the PLM. I am now in the process of sending it back for a refund.

This is a powerful little home automation controller. Not for the faint of heart, as the user interface is somewhat non-intuitive, but once I played around with it for an hour or so I was able to write simple programs to do what I wanted.I have long wanted to be able to have my water supply shut off automatically if my water heater should spring a leak, and this little controller enabled me to shut off the pump (I'm on a well) and close an automatic valve. It will also shut off power to the water heater.It is able to get weather information (with an additional module), so one could automate garden watering based not only on time, but on the amount of rainfall.

Unfortunately this device used to be good but now just can't compete with things like SmartThings. Their sales team lies as well as they have been saying version 5.0 of their firmware is coming for YEARS now, like at least 4 years and still nothing. You can't integrate with anything like Hue etc and the mobile app is horrible. This device was good when home automation was new but now it feels like something from the 1990s.