INSTEON HouseLinc User Manual
HouseLinc
INSTEON
®
Desktop Software Compatible with Interface:
Models : 2413S
2413U
2242-222
2412N
2412S
2412U
2448A7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
About HouseLinc ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
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Key HouseLinc Features ............................................................................................................................................. 3
System Requirements ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Installing HouseLinc ..................................................................................................................................................... 3
1st Time HouseLinc Setup ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Set Up Location for Sunrise/Sunset ............................................................................................................................ 4
Set Up Options for HouseLinc Startup ........................................................................................................................ 4
Set Up Email Options .................................................................................................................................................. 6
Adding INSTEON Devices ............................................................................................................................................ 7
INSTEON Device Properties ......................................................................................................................................... 8
General Device Information ......................................................................................................................................... 9
Direct Control (Controlling a Device from HouseLinc) ................................................................................................. 9
Local Settings .............................................................................................................................................................. 9
Adding X10 Devices .................................................................................................................................................... 10
Creating Scenes .......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Creating Events ........................................................................................................................................................... 12
Create an Event ......................................................................................................................................................... 13
Modify an Event ......................................................................................................................................................... 14
Run / Test an Event ................................................................................................................................................... 14
IP Camera Support ...................................................................................................................................................... 14
Adding an IP Camera ................................................................................................................................................ 14
Using the IP Camera as an Action in an Event ......................................................................................................... 17
Activity Log .................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Other HouseLinc Features and Functions................................................................................................................ 19
Saving Configuration ................................................................................................................................................. 19
Backing Up Configuration .......................................................................................................................................... 19
Updating HouseLinc .................................................................................................................................................. 19
Removing a Device.................................................................................................................................................... 20
Swap Device .............................................................................................................................................................. 21
Synchronize Device ................................................................................................................................................... 23
Synchronize the Whole House .................................................................................................................................. 23
Phase Bridging with Dual-Band PLM ........................................................................................................................ 24
Running Signal Diagnostics ....................................................................................................................................... 24
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................................................................................... 25
Specifications, Certification, and Warranty .............................................................................................................. 27
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About HouseLinc
HouseLinc allows you to manage your entire INSTEON network using your PC. Create scenes, timed events,
INSTEON triggered events and manually control devices from your computer.
Key HouseLinc Features
Controls and programs your INSTEON devices from your computer
Creates scenes in minutes– no need to individually program or link each device
Triggers timers and events as long as your computer remains on with HouseLinc running
Keeps logs of all links and tracks when each device/scene is activated or deactivated
Performs advanced features for your INSTEON devices that may not be available through manual programming
(varies with device)
Automatically checks for updates to the HouseLinc interface
Two-year warranty for hardware
System Requirements
INSTEON Computer Interface (also known as PowerLinc Modem or PLM)
Windows 2000, XP, Vista (32-bit or 64-bit), Windows 7 (32 or 64-bit), Windows 8 (32 or 64-bit)
15 MB of free disk space
Minimum 128MB RAM
Additional INSTEON devices to control
Installing HouseLinc
1) Be sure PowerLinc Modem or USB Adapter is not plugged into your computer
2) Go to www.insteon.com/houselinc.html to download HouseLinc
A File Download dialog box will appear
3) Click Download and save file to your desktop, then open/run the file
A HouseLinc Setup wizard will appear
4) Follow the instructions on the wizard to install HouseLinc
HouseLinc will install
5) Make sure the “Launch HouseLinc” box is checked and click “Finish”
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HouseLinc will load and the Options window will appear and read “No Computer Interface
Found”
6) Connect INSTEON computer interface (also known as PLM):
PowerLinc Modem, Serial – Plug PowerLinc Modem into an unfiltered AC outlet. Then, plug the clear
end of the included DB-9 serial cable into PowerLinc Modem’s interface port and the black end of the
cable into an available serial port on your computer.
PowerLinc Modem, USB - Plug PowerLinc Modem into an unfiltered AC outlet. Then, plug the square
end of the included USB cable into PowerLinc Modem’s USB jack and the rectangular end into an
available port on your computer.
USB Adapter – Plug USB Adapter into an available USB port on your computer
Ethernet PowerLinc (Hub or SmartLinc) – Connect interface to your router using the Ethernet cable
included with the interface and plug into an unfiltered AC outlet.
7) In the Options window, click “Start”
HouseLinc will search for INSTEON computer interface
8) Select PowerLinc Modem or USB Adapter by clicking on it and then clicking “Activate”
The INSTEON computer interface will be added to the Devices list
9) If a HouseLinc Updates window pops up, click “Update”. Then, click “OK ” when the update is complete.
10) Select the System tab in the Options window and then select “Start HouseLinc when I log into PC”, if desired
11) Click “OK”
1st Time HouseLinc Setup
Set Up Location for Sunrise/Sunset
1) Click the icon
2) Click on the Location tab
3) Select the city and state from the dropdown menus. If the locations aren’t
displayed, either select the nearest
location or manually enter the latitude
and longitude.
NOTE: HouseLinc uses your
computer’s clock for date/time and the
location for sunrise/sunset
Set Up Options for HouseLinc Startup
1) Click on the System tab
2) Click on “Start HouseLinc when I log
into PC”. This is recommended
because HouseLinc needs to be
running for timer and INSTEON events
to function.
3) We recommend you Uncheck “Perform
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Background Sync Process on Startup”
NOTE: If this option is grayed out,
make sure that “Ask for Sync Process
on Startup” is also unchecked
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Set Up Email Options
1) Click the
icon and then select the
Email Settings tab
2) Type in your name and default email
address into their respective fields
3) Enter the SMTP server and port
(contact your email or internet service
provider for this information)
a. If your ISP requires it, check
the box “My SMTP server
requires authentication to
send email”
b. Enter the User Name and
Password into the respective
fields
c. If your ISP requires it, check
the box “Use SSL”
4) Click “Send Test Email”
5) Once the dialog box pops up, click “OK”
6) In the Options box, click “OK” to save the email address settings – and exit Options window
Within a few minutes, you will receive an email with the subject: “Testing from HouseLinc”
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Adding INSTEON Devices
1) Select the Devices tab and click the
Add New Device window is displayed
HouseLinc puts PLM into linking mode
for 4 minutes
2) The Add New Device window allows you to
add devices three ways:
a. Add a single device by typing in the
INSTEON ID (located on the label in
XX.XX.XX format), and then click
Add
A confirmation window will appear
“DEVICE NAME XX.XX.XX has been
added successfully”
Click "OK" to synchronize
b. Add a single device by press &
holding the Set button on the device
you wish to add until it beeps (or its
LED blinks)
icon
A confirmation window will appear
“DEVICE NAME XX.XX.XX has been
added successfully”
Click "OK" to synchronize
c. Check the box "Adding multiple
devices" to add multiple devices
(one after another) by press &
holding the Set button on the
devices you wish to add until each
device beeps (or its LED blinks)
HouseLinc will announce success and
the device will display in the list.
When finished adding devices click the
device name to rename.
Click "OK" to immediately begin
synchronizing the devices.
Note: If the device is battery-powered,
HouseLinc will automatically start
synchronizing.
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3) To set the devices name, location and
other settings, click on your device in
the Devices list and select the
Properties tab
4) Click on each new device in the
device list and enter its room and any
other information you wish to record
at this time. Note: it is highly
recommended that you at organize
your devices by room.
INSTEON Device Properties
The Properties tab provides a quick view into local settings, name, location and notes as well as offering
a direct control interface.
An example screenshot for a SwitchLinc Dimmer:
General
Device
Information
Direct Control
Local Settings
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General Device Information
The general device section will allow you to set a name for your device, the location of your device as well
as a specific location within the room (physical location), the wattage of the load it is controlling, date it
was added and notes about the device.
The disable button allows you to stop a device from being managed by HouseLinc without having to
delete it. This is helpful for devices that are only used during the holidays (Christmas lights, Halloween
props, etc.). To start managing the device, simply uncheck this box .
You may also want to use this feature to prevent HouseLinc from managing other PLMs in your network
(e.g., if you run both HouseLinc and ISY-99 you may not want HouseLinc to make changes to ISY-99's
PLM).
Additional information includes Device ID, X10 Address (if used), Product Type and Product Information
(INSTEON Device Category, Subcategory and Product Key)
Direct Control (Controlling a Device from HouseLinc)
You can send direct control commands to your INSTEON device. The control buttons for most responder
devices consist of the following:
All responders:
Turn On
Turn Off
Dimmers only:
Fast On (bypass local ramp rate)
Fast Off (bypass local ramp rate)
Brighten (incremental)
Dim (incremental)
Percentage (On level)
For responder devices that have a beeper, HouseLinc enables you to start beeping the device for a
specified amount of time (in seconds). This is helpful when trying to locate a device.
Local Settings
HouseLinc makes it quick and easy to program the local settings for your device. For resp onder devices
you can set things like On Level and Ramp Rate. For controller devices you can change scene button
modes (e.g., Toggle, On only or Off only) or even button configurations (e.g., 4-scene to an 8-scene Mini
Remote / RemoteLinc 2). Both responder and controller settings can be set to Programming Lock whi ch
prevents manual changes from being made at the device.
Once you've finished making changes to your devices local settings, press the "Refresh" button. Note: for
battery powered devices, simply activate them to begin writing the changes.
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