[TL'DR] Getting C-7, but HE needs to have lower barrier to entry and not make it come off as a hacker device. And also must find a way to help migrate existing systems including non-HE to migrate more easily.
Thanks all for chiming in. After looking into additional info in the forums. Came to conclusion that moving onto the next best thing is best. However, still not clear on whether I can use backups created on C5 to be used on C7? I haven't found a clear answer to that question. Although there are mentions of Zwave parameters/configurations not getting imported? Not a big concern for me since I have so little inventory of zwave, However, painless not since need to get them close to the hub and they are in awkward places.
All of my posts sounds like a whiner but the litgit reason is I'm going to replicate my once completed setup and make it turnkey to people who are technically challenged. So the eventual completed setup must be hands off system. So one of my other concerns is fw upg on the hub where it fails flashing and doesn't boot. Which means I may have to keep systems frozen to a specific build.
Thanks all for chiming in. I'm getting the gist of it and it reads well.
@bcopeland Hey Bryan, as a staff and company personnel, may I suggest additional revenue src for the company?
- Subscription service of say.. $0.99/mon to secure backups.
- Insurance service of say.. $10/yr if your unit ever gets bricked, free replacement
- Subscription service of Auto update of drivers/apps after full regression tested.
- Sell turnkey system with basic setup of door/window/garage sensors +outlets + hub full retail so not to cannibalize resellers.
- OEM your own branded IoT's to help with #4 model and compatibility. thus not showing any bias.
- ? thinking of more
HE hub is incredible and has a potent future. It is without a doubt a hacker's toy because of somewhat of a steep climb to have a complete and stable system. Especially if you're trying to migrate from existing.
This bloke's ask exemplifies the need:
All of his needs are there in the forums but the tediousness of searching finding, researching, googling takes a toll. I've had the C-5 for months and still only at handful of temp sensors. Just bought me a zigbee button but can't "easily" figure out howto anything. I have a glut of wifi Tuya based outlets which I'll have to open up and hack then should be able to find something to do with that button.
in any case, already rambled too far, I guess what I'm saying is supporting everything under the sun is like android trying to be stable vs Apple's iOS eco system where it's tightly controlled. Maybe HE needs to do both; have a complete turnkey with a complete system and the current offering where it's hackers paradise. Me thinks lowering the barrier to entry will make HE hubs soar.
OR create a wholly owned subsidiary that "resells" HE hubs along with a full complement of sensors/switches to make it a complete system. The hub will already come with all of the devices already in the system. All one has to do is place them and connect up the hub and it's up and running.
I know there is a pot of gold at the end of this rainbow but so far it's been an arduous journey.