excessive limitations on ETS lite
I'm building a house in Australia and wanting to use home automation. KNX has a number of advantages as a wired bus system compared to other wired and wireless systems. However, it has been very challenging and costly to understand what it offers and how I can integrate it. I want to use KNX, for some functions, but I need to integrate it with some other IP based equipment and other types of equipment. To do this, keep the costs down and maintain a good understanding of how all the technology works I want to ensure I can configure all the KNX components in my house. I would have thought KNX lite should be enough for this. However, the restriction of 20 devices means I would need to purchase the professional version to be able to make adjustments and well manage just my house (as I will have about 30 devices). I know there is ETS inside, but I think this is inadequate and lacks flexibility - not to mention clear documentation.
I don't understand the financial benefits to the KNX organisation re the selling and therefore the restricted distribution of ETS, however, I would have thought that:
1) KNX lite should be able to handle more than 20 devices - as my house isn't big and it will exceed the number of devices. I'd suggest 50 a more reasonable cap.
2) Home automation is developing very quickly now and I think KNX runs a real risk of being bypassed by the home enthusiasts (who are currently early adopters) by adding to the costs and charging for ETS and making it difficult and costly to use. I would strongly advocate that the ETS software is given away - at least for non commercial home use.
3) Finally I'd say that there is a dearth of clear, accessible technical information about KNX and ETS and the KNX organisation should really focus on opening things up to encourage people who are experimenting and moving home automation forward. If you compare KNX to Home Assistant - the KNX approach appears quite antiquated.
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We have the same problem, i'm happy to buy ETS Lite, when it does do more then just 20 devices. We have a normal appartement, and we have now already 31 devices. Specially when you started small, with actors witth just a view outputs in one device. And the CC led controllers i use have just one output a device, so this goes very quick.
ETS Prof is just to expensive for this as a hobby, and just for one home. I have seen the ETS Inside in use at a friends place, but that doesn't look usefull to me. And he was also not happy about it.
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I'd just like to say I agree with the OP.
I too am looking at home automation for a my new build. ETS5 lite is just too restrictive for a one off project, and ETS5 pro too expensive. KNX has many advantages, not least of which is the very wide range of suppliers and products that are available. However, at the moment, unfortunately, the licensing issue alone is likely to steer me away from KNX altogether.
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I agree with the OP also - I do t understand why it wasn’t restricted to a single line and 64 devices which seems to be a good residential limit. Even more annoying is the fact that there is often some promotion for large percentages off ETS5 pro which makes a mockery of its usual price. Just price it fairly and be done with it!
Also, there is a lot of opacity about upgrade costs for Lite to Pro - I simply can’t find these in the KNX shop. Add to this the uncertainty around ETS6 and the costs/upgrade costs to this has meant that I am not purchasing anything for now.
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I’m in the same situation. Home user on a Lite license. More than 20 devices in a small apartment.
Had to remove one device just to add a wireless receiver. Quite annoying.
The project design is also limited so I’ve been forced to break up the “apartment” into smaller pieces.
I would hate to see the competition run past Knx just because of limited projects when smart homes are really starting to take off.
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