Iris Smart Home

[pmdaniels73]

Has anyone heard of or used the Iris Home Automation system from Lowes? I was wondering if it would work with VC? It has a reasonable price tag. If not what home automation would be a start for someone on a really tight budget? I just want to control 2 or 3 lights and my AV receiver and TV.

[jitterjames]

It looks like zwave but with a buy cheap and pay for the rest of your life scheme, and I doubt there is an api for it.  Because its zwave I guess you could get a starter kit, and then later on you could toss the controller and get a Vera lite, but it will probably still end up costing you more.

What country are you in?

Home automation is (still) not really suitable for people on a tight budget.

What kind of TV and receiver do you have?  Are they network controllable, or will you need IR?

You might want to start with something like a USB-UIRT for infrared control.  These are relatively affordable.

[vulcanjedi]

That webpage is kinda awful once you get a slightly harder question its just not much details, just buy me I'm from Lowes.
Its a actual product of Lowes, like Craftsman / Sears.
Strangly the forums there albeit cruddy interface provides some answers.
They don't support Zwave.
http://www.lowes.com/cd_Iris+Solutions+Center_1377803835565_#8
Agreed home automation and cheap entry points are mutually exclusive.

[jitterjames]

They don't support Zwave.

What do you mean by this?

[garryjw]

The press release we got sent suggests it does support z-wave

ZigBee and Z-Wave are two different short range wireless communication standards. The Iris Hub has circuitry that allows it to "talk" in both standards simultaneously. The Iris Hub creates Zigbee and Z-wave networks in your home - similar to your home area WiFi network. As such, these networks will have a certain range unique to your property.

The Iris Range Extender will help make the range of these Zigbee and Z-Wave networks larger.

[vulcanjedi]

Hmm I went through the Lowes support site and community forum before bed when I saw this OP. There seemed to be more 'detail' in the community forums.  Perhaps I misread something. I'll have to try to revisit  or check my history. Certainly dont believe ran across that press release. Apologies if I was mistaken.
Running late to work at the moment.