Smarthome 2412N SmartLinc INSTEON Central Controller

by SmartHome

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Control your INSTEON home area network via any computer or web-enabled handheld device with SmartLinc - INSTEON Central Controller. SmartLinc integrates INSTEON technology with any web-enabled mobile device through Wi-Fi and cellular communication, allowing you to control or create timers for INSTEON devices or scenes from inside your home, in the backyard, at work, in the car or on vacation halfway around the world! Whether you are an electrician, or a home automation integrator, you will enjoy the ease with which programming and discovering of INSTEON devices is accomplished. A simple plug-in installation sets up in minutes and will allow a web-enabled phone or PDA to control your INSTEON network from almost anywhere. SmartLinc has been designed for optimal use with an iPhone or iPod touch as a mobile touch screen; however, there are customizable user-downloadable server applications that provide a flexible interface for any web-enabled device. INSTEON is a low-cost home control technology that uses both the existing electrical wires in the home and radio-frequency to communicate. From lighting, appliance and thermostat control to integrated security systems, INSTEON allows you to manage your home the way you want - from a handheld remote, wall keypad, computer or web-enabled device like a smart phone. Easy to install and set up, INSTEON offers the flexibility and dependability to make life more convenient, safe and energy efficient. Note: Requirements - Wi-Fi enabled phone or PDA, Wi-Fi router and PC connected to router. The Linksys Router Model WRT610N Version 1 has been found to be incompatible with SmartLinc. The more recent version WRT610N Version 2 is compatible.

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B003IHTZCG
• Item model number: 2412N
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,939 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is fantastic., June 26, 2010

By 

Just Gary (Hilo, HI) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Smarthome 2412N SmartLinc INSTEON Central Controller (Tools & Home Improvement)

**Sorry for the length of this but since the instructions on connecting to IPhone are hard to find, I added what I had to do so you know what you are getting**

I purchased the Smarthome 2412N with two Icon appliance modules (Icon is the economic version of the Insteon module). I was having problems with remote computer equipment that would freeze and require me to drive 50 miles to reboot. Now with SmartLinc, I can reboot the computers from anywhere. I also looked at the Schlage device but it was more expensive and required the door locking mechanism. I just wanted to control wall outlets.

The initial connection was extremely easy. I plugged the SmartLinc to the wall outlet that my DSL modem was plugged into and then actually use the pass-through to connect the DSL modem (it works with cable modem also but I am just saying what I did). I connected the SmartLinc to the modem, turned on the computer and followed the instructions. Hooking up each appliance module was simple. First, plug the module in a wall outlet. Use your browser on your home computer (connected to the same DSL modem) to connect to your Smartlinc device. DON'T FORGET TO SET UP A USER NAME AND PASSWORD! Ask the device to search for new modules. Press the button on the side of the module. And then you are connected. You can then test the module. I had no problems with either module.

Once you have the module setup, register your device. If you have a dynamic IP address, registering your device allows you to find the external IP address of your device when the address changes. [It can connect to your device only if you do not change your default port, but there is a work around below if you know the external IP address].

That is the simple part. Now the more difficult part, hooking up to your IPhone. First off, do this while at the SmartLinc device and turn on your IPhone WiFi connected to your network. Downloading the program from the ITunes store was easy. I just went to the App store application on my IPhone and typed "MobilLinc". I selected the Lite version (do this even if you plan to use Pro to make sure the program works for your situation before spending money). Once loaded on the phone, though, the problems began. You first need to put in your settings. I will save you some trouble by telling you that your Host Type is 2412N (this is not the default so you need to change it). The Username and password are the ones you set up for your device and not your IPhone or PC username and password (i would suggest using the same but then all the IT people will yell at me about security..it is just power outlets). Next, enter the local connection for your Smartlinc (the 192.***.***.** number) and if you used the Smartlinc default, you will be using port 80. If you have a wireless network with a password (like mine), you will be asked for that password when you try to sync. At this point, don't bother with external. Change the connect method to "Internal Connect" and try syncing. If it works, great, if it doesn't, then you need to visit the SmartLinc forum or call technical service. [Hey SmartLinc...you really could just put this all on a web page to make it easier for everyone].

Once that is set, then try your external connect. For me, my port 80 was already set for another device, so I had to change the external port. I also had to turn off my WiFi as this did not work when I connected to the internet when connected to the same network as the SmartLinc. The external http:// address may be difficult if you have one that changes, but I have an external fix address that follows my dynamic address. This is where you really need to be a computer whiz to make this work, but if you can find a friend or be patient with tech service, you can probably get through it. [This can and should be improved as it would be easy for SmartLinc to set up a way to control applications through a secure web page at their site].

Now since I only have two devices, I am able to get away with not upgrading to MobiLinc Pro. The ModbiLinc Lite is meant to test your connection and only allows One Scene and One Device. I was able to work around by connecting one of my devices in "My Scenes" and the other I cannot using "My Device". If you have more than two, you will need to pay the upgrade, but it is less than $20.

HOWEVER, IF YOU HAVE WEB BROWSING ON YOUR SMARTPHONE, YOU CAN AVOID ANY LIMITATION BY JUST CONNECTING DIRECTLY TO THE SMARTLINC USING YOUR EXTERNAL ADDRESS FOLLOWED BY A COLON AND THAN YOUR POT NUMBER. As an example, if my external address was 75.253.1.19 and I used port 8182 (instead of 80) as my SmartLinc port forwarding port. I can connect to the device from any browser anywhere by typing 75.253.1.19:8182 (don't forget the "http://" before the IP address) and I get all the functions as if I was at home. Still MobiLinc is a neat little application.

I am extremely happy with the way things work once I got through the set-up. I can now control my remote site from anywhere and that is an amazing thing to say. Bravo to Smarthome!

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! Now I can talk with my house via iPhone!, December 2, 2008

By 

Alexandre Krilov "ukrainian_kozak" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Awesome product, but I think the title is a bit overstated, I wouldn't call it a central controller. It does have a lots of cool features, but falls short of "Central controller", but it is an awesome (sorry for repeating, but it it really IS awesome) iPhone/iPod-touch API with some additional functionality like simple timers.
You will not be able to execute any automation scripts, but it is great for simple schedules, and oh, camera support is such a nice touch.
So, if you won't pick on title, this device is totally deserves 5 stars.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very Basic, December 18, 2010

By 

Average Geek - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Smarthome 2412N SmartLinc INSTEON Central Controller (Tools & Home Improvement)

I got this module, used it for a few days, and then returned it for an ISY-99i.

The web interface on this module is very poor. Smarthome looks to have designed it as a mobile phone/PDA interface, which means that the layout is all wrong for a laptop or desktop monitor. The interface is also pretty slow and buggy despite being simple - on a few occasions, images did not show up, and pages consistently took longer than I was comfortable with to load.

Some technical notes: SSL is not supported. Out of the box, the device "calls home" to SmartHome as a service to help you locate it (you visit their web site and it says "click this link to access the private IP of the device directly!"). What a service.

If you're at all tech-savvy, go for something more powerful - the ISY devices will create groups/scenes of your Insteon devices and let you write programs doing things you otherwise wouldn't be able to. This device will just let you turn the lights on and off, and run simple time-of-day commands. With the ISY, you get everything up to and including a scriptable REST interface. It's worth the extra expense.