After many months on this forum, I am bored with hearing the constant gripes about UI7.
Every day, someone goes on about how UI5 was so much better and how much they hate UI7.
It’s simple, if you prefer UI5 then stay with it and please stop the griping. Many of us use UI7 without problem and are happy with it. By now, everybody knows that there are problems with UI7 so if you don’t want to accept that then don’t use it.
As many point out, the alternative systems all have their own problems and let’s face it, MCV’s Vera is still cheap. Some say lets pay more and get better service, well that’s not an available option so forget about it. I don’t want to pay more so I accept what Vera can and can’t do.
What I would like to say is let’s try to make this a place for positivity rather than somewhere to moan. The old saying rings true
‘If you can’t say something positive then don’t say anything at all’.
If I didn’t try it, how would I know if I would like it? I expected it would be an improvement. I don’t consider UI7 and upgrade.
This is a place to share the good and the bad. If you don’t like hearing the bad, you probably shouldn’t be here. I prefer to be informed both the good and the bad and make up my own mind.
By all means report on the bad. As you say that’s why it’s here. But if you try and don’t like then there’s no need to slag off MCV the way some do.
Certainly try UI7, if you don’t like it then revert back again. Just don’t rubbish it to others who are happy with it.
I kinda upgraded and I kinda didn’t. I left my main Vera 3 on UI5 as it works like a charm and if it ain’t broke I’m not about to fix it.
I upgraded my backup Vera 3 from UI5 to Ui7 and used it as a QA box. Until it got stable enough and I pulled it into production. It mostly has battery operated sensors and smoke detectors on it. With a few main powered devices to help stabilize the mesh.
My main reasons for the upgrade:
test and evaluate Ui7 as Ui5 is at EoL and development has ceased on it.
House modes functionality (in combination with geofencing)
Support for new devices lacking in UI5 (eg ZCOMBO) I wanted to install
Both units use http calls in scenes and (on the UI7 one) virtual panels to interact with each other. Such as switch devices or run scenes on their opposite number. Using geofencing in combination with the DD-WRT presence script I have achieved an almost 99% reliability. The ui7 house modes change runs a scene on the UI5 unit dealing with eg smart switches and locks. The DD-WRT script on my router sets a multiswitch button on the UI5 unit which runs a scene that switches the house mode on the Ui7 unit.
I don’t really care about the UI as the vast majority of my interaction is via apps. I only use the UI if I am configuring.
I only upgraded because I needed to for PLEG. After the UI5/7 split for PLEG versions I had multiple issues fixed by MCV and I didn’t have a good UI5 backup to go to. So, thinking along the lines that UI7 is pretty much the way of the future and it was (mostly) stable I went and upgraded.
Personally, I haven’t had many issues with UI7. Some on the migration but not much after.
I still think that UI5 is a better UI, but there is nothing bad enough in UI7 that will make me downgrade and start from scratch.
What I personally don’t care for in the way MCV is handling things is at this stage UI7 is very much still a Beta product. With every “update” there are as many new bugs as squashed ones. QC is very questionable. Still though, (with pressure from their partners) they decided to ship new units with UI7. Those that know understand and take the risk, but new people ordering from Amazon or wherever have no idea what they are buying. As a consumer you expect a stable product, not to be an unintentional beta tester.
We are sometimes jaded by being on the forum. I wonder how many Vera users bought their units only to become frustrated and throw it in a closet before getting very far. I would think there would be some way Vera can track inactive serial numbers to see how the long term usage of the Edge is doing.
That is a figure I would like to see. You would have to allow for people who had an older Vera and have upgraded but it might give an idea of how many have jumped ship.
I personally am eagerly awaiting the new Vera plus although I think I will be running it in parallel for a while. I know I will probably be a beta tester again but for me that’s okay. I did not automate my home through necessity (though it is very nice to have) but for the fun of doing it.
How can you be eager for the Vera Plus? You don’t even know what the specs or features are yet. Or do you just like new, shiny things regardless of what they do?
Isn’t that the reason most of us went for home automation anyway?
I think most us us are just kids at heart and for me Vera plus will be an opportunity to try out new things.
I am hoping that the bluetooth radio could also help me out.
You’re probably hearing from a more vocal minority. I’ve been keeping up with UI7, but I’ve never had any interest in upgrading from UI5 because of the complaints about compatibility and stability. Instead I sit silently content with UI5. I haven’t seen anything that UI7 has to offer that’s worth the upgrade.
You’re probably hearing from a more vocal minority. I’ve been keeping up with UI7, but I’ve never had any interest in upgrading from UI5 because of the complaints about compatibility and stability. Instead I sit silently content with UI5. I haven’t seen anything that UI7 has to offer that’s worth the upgrade.[/quote]
That’s the way I believe it should be. Follow the forum for info. Feedback good and bad info to help others. Avoid the slagging off because that helps no one and surely can’t make MCV more willing to help.
Isn’t that the reason most of us went for home automation anyway?
I think most us us are just kids at heart and for me Vera plus will be an opportunity to try out new things.
I am hoping that the bluetooth radio could also help me out.
Looking forward to seeing the specs.[/quote]
I would be lying if I didn’t admit I’m the same way. Lol
I left my main Vera 3 on UI5 as it works like a charm and if it ain’t broke I’m not about to fix it.