Insteon Pros and Cons

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The advantages of Insteon are plentiful: it’s fast, reliable and inexpensive, with an Insteon home automation system, you have the ability to control up to 417 devices in the home, up from 256 devices with X10. This protocol, however, does come with its own unique drawbacks.

Pros of insteon

- Reliability

The primary advantage of Insteon is the dual-mesh technology it employs. The system uses both power lines and Radio Frequency (RF) communication methods, which means it transmits messages faster and with more reliability than X10 systems. Also, on the rare occasion that a command is missed, it is reattempted until it is received.

- Affordable

Although Insteon is more expensive to purchase than X10, it is relatively inexpensive to actually install this system. Often, the time and labor involved in installing home automation systems – and training the homeowner to use it – is what chews through the consumer’s budget, but in this respect, Insteon is simple to install and simple to use.

- X10 backwards compatible

Insteon is backwards compatible with X10, meaning that most Insteon devices can respond to X10 commands. If you’re considering moving from X10 to Insteon, there’ll be no need for complicated or expensive upgrades.

- Simple set-up

The Insteon system set-up is achieved using a web-based interface, via Internet Explorer, on a standard home computer. All set-up information can be safely stored and backed up, and the process of adding or removing devices – or changing trigger events – is as easy as tapping a few computer keys.

- Peer networks

Insteon enable simple devices to be networked together by utlilizing a ‘peer’ system, which means that each device can transmit, receive, and repeat any message of the Insteon protocol. Because every device acts as a repeater, every added node strengthens the home automation network, so Insteon can therefore achieve more sophisticated home automation tasks than X10.

Cons of Insteon

- High volume issues

While Insteon excels in basic signal relays, it faces the same bandwidth limitations that X10, UPB and Z-Wave all face, since it’s based on the same powerline/ radio frequency technology. So, when transmitting data that requires high bandwidth – such as video from security cameras, or streaming TV into multiple rooms – Insteon performs minimally. If this could be a concern for you, structured wiring  home automation systems provide dedicated lines for this kind of transmission.

- PRICE PRICE PRICE

Insteon will set you back roughly4-6 times more than the amount you’ll spend on X10, and the price has gone up over time (and will likely continue to rise). A typical module costs more than $50.

Why should you get it?

Insteon will set you back at least triple what you’d pay for X10, but for that extra investment, you will enjoy a faster, more reliable home automation system with greater capabilities.