By Bill Hitchcock

Staying connected is the mantra of most Americans’ lives. From the time we wake up, get our shower and brew a cup of coffee, many of us have fired up the laptop, turned on our cell phone and begun connecting with the work world. And we can stay that way even when we leave the house by taking advantage of the ever-growing zones of Internet hotspots.

 But back at home, the same wide ranging connectivity is more exception than expectation. Chances are your light switches, door locks, thermostats, smoke detectors, security sensors and remote controls cannot talk to one another. Oh, it’s too expensive, you might think, to outfit a house with a home control system. Until now.

All it takes is INSTEON, a home control networking technology that combines wireless RF, the home’s existing electrical wiring, or both to give your appliances, lighting and security system the kind of connectivity you enjoy. Any device embedded with the INSTEON technology can be connected to another and managed from a remote control, keypad, light switch, computer, media center or mobile device.

Designed for the Installer

With INSTEON, devices are peers, so any device—regardless of manufacturer—can transmit, receive or repeat messages without requiring a master controller or complex routing software. Adding more devices makes an INSTEON network more robust and virtually guarantees there won’t be any dead spots in your system. Users can automatically and/or remotely monitor and control everything from lighting to temperature to wireless security cameras. Doors can be locked remotely and, should there be a flood in the basement or an intruder, e-mail alerts can be sent. INSTEON can also be incorporated into washing machines, dryers, dishwashers, HVAC systems, garage door openers, audio and visual devices and more.

It is easy to add a new device after the network is set up, too—it can be done with a few quick commands—so many homeowners begin with a handful of simple devices (usually lights) and gradually add new systems and appliances to the network as their budgets allow or as new products hit the market. For the installer, INSTEON’s inherent technology requires no routing tables or pulling new wire adding to the simplicity of setting up a wireless home control system.

Professional integrators and technicians can log on remotely to troubleshoot problems, define new scenes requested by the homeowner or reset the entire system. This saves time and the cost of a service call. If a device needs to be replaced, the technician can identify the problem and configure the new unit in advance.

The INSTEON Alliance Home Control Network

The INSTEON Alliance consists of more than 200 manufacturers certain to fuel the wireless home control technology market with products that take full advantage of INSTEON’s innovative technology. Broan Nu-Tone, for example, is using INSTEON in its SmartSense fans to create a low-cost ventilation system and recently awarded the 2007 Innovative Housing Technology Award by the National Association of Home Builders Association.

Among the new INSTEON-enabled products scheduled for release in early 2007 are fire alarms, ventilation fans, window blinds, pool and spa controls, and garage door openers. The alliance includes among others:

 

• Broan Nu-Tone , key market share leader of the ventilation fan market;
• Balboa Instruments , the largest manufacturer of electronic pool and spa control products;
• Venstar , leading manufacturer of residential thermostats sold under the Carrier brand;
• Weiland Sliding Doors , manufacturer of European-style sliding window doors distributed through Anderson and Pella Windows;
• BRK Electronics , manufacturer of residential safety products including fire alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and security sensors sold under First Alert and other brands; and
• D-Link , worldwide leader in networking solutions for the home.

 

INSTEON technology promises to bring the kind of home control connectivity that most of us take for granted in our computers and cell phones.With its low cost of installation, its simple integration and ease of use, INSTEON is a reliable home control network technology to make home devices work together.

About the Author: Bill Hitchcock is director, INSTEON Alliance.