The Wink home automation thread

[RodolfoDLV]

They have the on the Wink website. Amazon will probably get an order soon. It seemed odd that they updated the hub and added new products yesterday to the website, but no app update. Now to try if the lag and other issues are the same.

 

[MjnMixael]

Wink site leads to Home Depot.. they gave me the run-around when I went into the store looking for them.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

So, is the Lutron Connected Remote like the Pico Remote except you can use it to control non-Lutron devices, such as Link bulbs?

 

[RodolfoDLV]

So, is the Lutron Connected Remote like the Pico Remote except you can use it to control non-Lutron devices, such as Link bulbs?

Apparently you can control non-Lutron bulbs and assign shortcuts to the control. It works like an Aeon minimote, so you don't have to take out your phone to turn off the lights, etc.

 

[MjnMixael]

It works with zigbee. You can use it to control shortcuts or light groups... but my personal favorite is direct control of zigbee lights. With this method, it works exactly like a PICO and will even work if the wink hub is offline.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

That sounds great. I wonder if it is compatible with the Pico wall bracket? I have two independent standing lamps in my office which use GE Link bulbs and could use this to control them. Might buy one to play with, though I can currently control them with my Echo so maybe I don't need to spend the money.

BTW, Home Depot does seem to have them in stock in my area. Found the following link on the FB Wink Group:

http://m.homedepot.com/p/Lutron-Connected-Bulb-Remote-LZL-4B-WH-L01/206196450

 

[MjnMixael]

Yeah... HD changed their page today. I'll have to go pick one up then.

And yeah, the one I was sent looks like it's exactly the same size as a PICO, though I haven't tried it yet.

 

[CSI007]

This latest update took out at least 2 of my Link light bulbs and I cannot get them to pair any longer either now. That is the first time it's happened. I reset the bulbs and power cycled the hub. Nothing. Right before a trip no less and I wanted to use them while I was away. Some times the bulb will act like it's paired by flashing three times but then the software never responds or completes the pairing. Just sits there forever on step 6 of 7.

Ugh.

Edit: Tried again, the hub flashed green breifly and then continued to blink blue. On the next attempt the bulb does not respond unless I reset it again.

 

[CSI007]

Scratch the above. Man, some times I hate the Wink software. So I tried the other bulb I was having issues with and it sank right up after I did a reset on it. Went back to the other bulb and it just would not pair up. I left the wink software and came back in and the stupid bulb was in the list of devices. DUMB! It wasn't there before I exited the program.

All is working as it should again....for now I guess.

 

[RodolfoDLV]

Scratch the above. Man, some times I hate the Wink software. So I tried the other bulb I was having issues with and it sank right up after I did a reset on it. Went back to the other bulb and it just would not pair up. I left the wink software and came back in and the stupid bulb was in the list of devices. DUMB! It wasn't there before I exited the program.

All is working as it should again....for now I guess.

I get your pain. Today was the first day I've had issues pairing a new GE dimmer. It just decides to act out, this Wink.

 

[jlslate]

I solved an ongoing issue with my Wink Relay recently - I forget if it was before or after the hub update, but it was before the relay update. The bottom switch on my Telay would never activate a light controlled by a Caseta Lutron dimmer, using either a shortcut or directly selecting it on the iPhone. The solution was to set it up on the Relay instead of in the app. Go figure.

 

[Mike A.]

Latest fun with Wink... BEWARE IF YOU EVER CHANGE YOUR ROUTER. Or, I'd assume, change your Wi-Fi setup in a way that makes it think that you've changed networks.

You lose (1) all of the name labels for devices, (2) all shortcuts, and (3) at least in my case most all robots (one seems to have survived). Devices remain paired but you'll have to figure out what everything is again. All of the GE Link bulbs now say "GE Link Bulb" or "Light Bulb" instead of whatever they were named. Likewise, Z-wave switches now all say "Switch," locks all say "Lock," sensors all say "Sensor," spotters say "Spotter," thermostats say "Thermostat," etc.

They really need some way to back up/restore the config of these damn things. It's going to be a major pain in the ass to recreate all of what I had. Plus IFTTT and everything else that relies on it. They cite "security" as the reason why there is none, but there are lots of more secure things (that require much less work to recreate) that need to be backed up. Pisses me off more that I called ahead after seeing the warning of some loss when you go into the Wi-Fi setup and they neglected to tell me that part, mentioning only that some of the GE bulbs may need to be reset. i wouldn't have started in with it today had I known.

Also just FYI apparently the hub only works with the 2.4 Ghz band.

Edit to add: All schedules are lost too. FML

 

[Aikouka]

I'm a bit "new" to the whole automation thing. I've only got a garage door opener and my Nest Protect at this point. As for the garage door opener, it's the Chamberlain model from Home Depot as that one supports MyQ without a companion device (has native Wi-Fi connectivity). I've also got a 20V-compatible switch that I need to eventually swap with my pool pump's switch.

I'm thinking about eventually getting a few light switches, a door lock or two (they're quite pricey!), and maybe a thermostat. One thing that I've been trying to find is a nice replacement for my bedroom light. It has one of those fans with a remote control capability, which sounds nice, but it has a huge downside -- it doesn't retain settings if you turn the light switch off. In other words, you always have to hit the remote buttons to turn anything on. I should probably just swap it out with two separate switches -- one for the light and one for the fan.

Also just FYI apparently the hub only works with the 2.4 Ghz band.

Yep. Honestly, my only complaint about Wink so far is that I wish it had Ethernet. One of my rules about networked components is that in most cases, a stationary device should be connected via Ethernet. I actually had issues early on as I thought I had a dud Wink Hub. It turns out that the Wink Hub cannot be placed close to a router, or else it will connect to the router, but fail to pull an IP address (light goes to slow yellow then purple). My comment to Wink when they told me this? "You probably ought to put that in your FAQ."

 

[RodolfoDLV]

Yep. Honestly, my only complaint about Wink so far is that I wish it had Ethernet. One of my rules about networked components is that in most cases, a stationary device should be connected via Ethernet. I actually had issues early on as I thought I had a dud Wink Hub. It turns out that the Wink Hub cannot be placed close to a router, or else it will connect to the router, but fail to pull an IP address (light goes to slow yellow then purple). My comment to Wink when they told me this? "You probably ought to put that in your FAQ."

True. I do like the Wifi capability that allows you to place it anywhere, but I'd also like to have an ethernet port. All my desktops at home are ethernet wired because of one thing: connection reliability and speed. There's no beating that.
If Wink had an Ethernet port, (1) it would be faster (maybe much faster) to respond and (2) it wouldn't suffer from those annoying router proximity issues.

 

[dennisj00]

and I am very hesitant to buy a garage door opener as well.

I've had my garage door (Chamberlain with the external MyQ gateway on the Wink since day 1 and haven't had a single issue with it.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I've had my garage door (Chamberlain with the external MyQ gateway on the Wink since day 1 and haven't had a single issue with it.

That's fine, but I am still hesitant to do it and I won't use the door locks either after hearing of random unlocks.

 

[MjnMixael]

I've had Schlage locks on my doors for a looooong time. It's never randomly unlocked.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I've had Schlage locks on my doors for a looooong time. It's never randomly unlocked.

A couple people in (IIRC) the FB group reported one day that their doors just randomly unlocked. Also worried about someone like Wink getting hacked and the information being used to unlock doors remotely.

 

[MjnMixael]

If someone hacks Wink, sorts through all that data, finds my door locks, travels to my little home in KC, and walks in. More power to them.

 

[RodolfoDLV]

I'd be worried about it unlocking itself and the lucky burglar going in at the exact moment and not triggering any other of the sensors and alarms. Hacking is usually reserved for stealing personal information and bank accounts. That way I can ask for a loan under your name, open a credit card as well, wire money to another bank account, etc. Usually things you can do from home. Your average burglar breaks in through windows and doors for the TV and other electronic equipment and jewelry. They're not usually hackers.
Plus, if there's a Wink hack, I'd probably change the password of the associated accounts and exclude the lock for some time, just as a precaution.

 

[Meanderthal]

If someone hacks Wink, sorts through all that data, finds my door locks, travels to my little home in KC, and walks in. More power to them.

And most garage doors can be broken into in about 30 seconds with technology older than the light bulb.

Those concerned with security should at least remove the pull-cord that disconnects the garage door from the opener.

 

[MjnMixael]

I'd be worried about it unlocking itself and the lucky burglar going in at the exact moment and not triggering any other of the sensors and alarms. Hacking is usually reserved for stealing personal information and bank accounts. That way I can ask for a loan under your name, open a credit card as well, wire money to another bank account, etc. Usually things you can do from home. Your average burglar breaks in through windows and doors for the TV and other electronic equipment and jewelry. They're not usually hackers.
Plus, if there's a Wink hack, I'd probably change the password of the associated accounts and exclude the lock for some time, just as a precaution.

This is pretty much my feelings as well. If someone's going to break into my house.. they'd have an easier time breaking a window than hacking my door lock. And even then.. unless they start dismantling all the Home Automation equipment, they aren't going to find very much value here.

Basically, the security setup doesn't matter much. If someone wants in, they'll find a way. I don't think my Home Automation setup is making it any easier or harder.

 

[RodolfoDLV]

This is pretty much my feelings as well. If someone's going to break into my house.. they'd have an easier time breaking a window than hacking my door lock. And even then.. unless they start dismantling all the Home Automation equipment, they aren't going to find very much value here.

Basically, the security setup doesn't matter much. If someone wants in, they'll find a way. I don't think my Home Automation setup is making it any easier or harder.

Agreed.

 

[mfridman]

Argh. My new zwave enabled First Alert CO + Fire detector won't be recognized as a generic zwave sensor. The hub turns green but the app never changes states.

 

[Tech_Greek]

Awesome, thanks. Do you happen to know off the top of your head if it also works with SmartThings? If you don't know, no problem - I'll do a little research. My SmartThings v2 kit arrives today.

No idea, I was looking at that myself (including the GE Link bulbs) and considering ditching the Wink system but I'm waiting for them to ship before I do that and check the reviews...I personally don't trust anything software wise from Samsung.