Ok, i just saw a commercial for motorized window blinds and wanted to know if anyone has seen or heard of a unit that can be integrated into x10/insteon technology. I would love to have blinds that opened and closed based on the time of day.

This thread has a link that talks a little about this but I wouldn't hold my breath for the product. I have been thinking about playing with one of these but I'm not sure if they are IR or RF control, but they are inexpensive compared to most natural light control products I have seen. Another site with some info is Automated Shade. I have only looked into this a little, but I'm sure someone on this forum has done this and will chime in soon.

I've seen the Somfy INSTEON demo/prototype in action at a couple of home shows. The version I saw used the power line to get the commands (via a modified PowerLinc), but I think the commercial version will use RF. I'm not sure when it will be available for purchase. Hopefully, soon...

Regards,
Matt

I've seen the Somfy INSTEON demo/prototype in action at a couple of home shows.

That's good news! I didn't see anything like that at EHX but I wasn't really looking for it. It just seems so many of these things get announced and then never happen.

Well, it's been over a year.. and there may yet be hope.

I just noticed in a recent video demo
http://www.smarthome.com/videos/2440_insteon_remotelinc_showcase.wmv?src=RSSINSTEON

They show a window blind being controled by the new INSTEON RF remote.

I have asked Smarhome several times about the insteon somfy product, and all I have been told it that it is REAL and it will be RF controlled.

Perhaps now that RF INSTEON is real, this product will be shippng soon.

I for one welcome our new RF INSTEON overlords.

- DeepTech

I hope you are right.

Perhaps the SignalLinc issues were the road block and these will come soon.

Certainly a nice way to retrofit controllable blinds.

I was informed that the Insteon enabled blinds and shades will not be available this year either.
You may be able to use the EZIO products from Simplehomenet
to control these to add IR control you could use iTrans to trigger these.

This is a useful website where you will find information on window blinds, how you can get motorized control and who can help you set them up and more.

http://www.0800handyman.co.uk/links.shtml

Hunter Douglas makes a remote control option for their blinds / shades. I don't know if it is operated from an RF or IR remote though.

I am sure there are a lot of manufacturers out there that have IR controlled options and tying in to them via an IR repeater would make controlling them from Indigo simple.

I was looking at this motor controller:

http://www.smarthome.com/3142.html

Usage is simple - apply power, it moves. Stop and reapply power, it moves the other way. Not sure on the noise or speed, but for the price it looks great. INSTEON has a nice little appliance controller here:

http://www.smarthome.com/2456s3.html

Planning on picking one up after my road trip this summer, so look for a mini-review late September

Kaidomac- Question for you... how has this blind controller been working? I'm thinking about doing the same.

Does it have to be insteon? Lutron sells shades and drapery tracks that can be controlled by adding and RF receiver eye to the motor. Could you then use an IR repeater to get them going? I was looking at http://www.advancedshading.com/product- ... ivoia-qed/

I was looking for an insteon blind controller I could hookup to my already installed window blinds. Not having much success I found a product on ebay called the IntelliTilt. It's a solar powered module that snaps onto my window blind wand. It lets me set the open/close light level. I think I like it better than a set time, so during the course of the year when the sunset/sunrise change so does the opening/closing of my blinds.

Maybe they'll come out with an insteon controlled version.

I'm not sure there are any more on ebay still but www.IntelliTilt.com is where I found some more information.

Techno