I have been using Vera for about a year. A year ago, I read the marketing information and it looked great! Promised easy setup and control over lots of devices. It wasn’t too expensive so I made the purchase.
Immediately, I discovered that many of the features that were advertised, and I wanted to make work (and advertised as working) didn’t actually work without install beta firmware. I don’t like installing beta firmware when it comes to thinks like my house, because people like my wife and kids are involved. I already was invested in Micasaverde, so i made the plunge with the beta roms. This has been an endless cycle. First it was U2 betas, then U3, and now U4. A year later we are still in beta.
In February 2010 (this year) I bought a vacation home. I bought a Vera for there as well. Thinking how great it would be to use the schlage locks and train thermostat. I did get this setup fine and it working.
A couple of months ago I get this email from Micasaverde saying how with UI4 everyone will need the new hardware. They said that everyone who purchase a Vera in 2010 should already have the new hardware. They offered an upgrade program for old users. Well, not only was the Vera that I bought a year ago the old hardware, so was the new one I bought this last February. I called Micasaverde support and complained about having to fork over more money for the Vera I bought just in February. The lady was nice and said she would look into it and call me back. NEVER GOT A CALL BACK.
So bottom line. Here I sit a year later with two Vera’s that are on the old hardware, using beta ROM, and I won’t be able to even upgrade to the new UI4 rom when it comes out because I have the old hardware. I personally feel screwed. This has been an unfortunate and expensive experiment.
Anyone else feel the same? Anyone looking into alternatives?
You know, I feel the same way about my car. I bought a new model, and a few months later they released a new model, instantly making my car an old one. How could they?
And by the way, UI4 will work on the older Vera hardware.
[quote=“aa6vh, post:2, topic:166903”]You know, I feel the same way about my car. I bought a new model, and a few months later they released a new model, instantly making my car an old one. How could they?
And by the way, UI4 will work on the older Vera hardware.[/quote]
I am sorry if that is the way my thread read to you. Let me clarify. This is not a case of where I bought last years model and the new one came out a month after. I bought in Feb 2010, when starting January 2010 they were supposed to be shipping the NEW model. Low and behold, UI4 is more compatible on the New Hardware. They are only trying best effort to make the Vera1 hardware compatible with UI4.
I feel your pain. Like you I’ve been on the same road and spoken out about it.
My biggest complaint is the lack of communication. Atleast let us know you know the issues and are working on them!!
I don’t remember seeing anything from MCV about needing new hardware to run UI4. I’m running a Vera 1 on .1047 at the moment which is actually an official release, granted it has errors so it might as well be considered a beta but it is official.
As much as I have voiced my objections & concerns about the product and the attitude of MCV I like to think I am one of their biggest supporters. There is nothing else out there like this that can do so much for such a small price and it is the wave of the future and we users here are helping to shape that future and make it better. I want the product and the company to succeed and I keep in mind that they are an upstart company trying to get a foothold in an industry that has not been so kind to earlier companies trying the same thing.
Don’t give up on them just yet, but dont stop voicing your concerns!!
I think the closest alternative to Vera is Homeseer and it may be more of a challenge to you and your family for setup than Vera.
Hang in there a little bit longer…Something is coming SOON. MCV, give us an announcement PLEASE!!
Are you having issues you need help with?
I had the same experience with my car! A few months later they released a new model! How could they?
Of course here’s where the metaphor starts to break down - you see, my old car still works as originally advertised, despite the fact that they’ve released a new model.
Guess what I’m doing this weekend? I’m excluding and including all of my 70+ Z-Wave devices because I believe it is the only way to get around a bug that prevents me from adding new Z-Wave devices. I say “I believe” because MiCasaVerde support has still not responded to me yet that this workaround will address the issue, despite me having opened a ticket, waited a week for a response that actually addresses my issue after having sent 6 followup emails without a reply that makes me feel like they actually read my support ticket description (yes MCV, I know how to add a z-wave node to my network, and no, giving me generic instructions on how to do so doesn’t address my problem at all). Instead, I’m going forward based upon several threads from users I’ve read who have the same issue (specifically that the Z-wave network fails to go into learn mode after a dongle-based or full-power include) and who’ve had the same complete lack of satisfactory response from MCV.
I guess what I’m trying to say is yes, after this weekend, I’ll be looking into alternatives. Also, if my car behaved this way I’d be covered by my state’s lemon laws.
I feel your frustration. I’ve been struggling with my Vera2 setup and upgrade for some time now.
But is understandable as this is a new technology and the z-wave industry is still in its infancy (Cars have been produced for more than 100 years by huge companies).
Vera is a low cost solution that needs some technical skills to setup and operate and it’s still buggy but I believe it has some great potential.
The guys at MCV( which I believe is a small company) have done a good job at creating an open system (linux based, customizable by Luup scripts, upgradeable by firmware) that can be enhanced and supported by beta testers and enthusiast users (obviously through this forum).
Lack of stability is the price you pay for being at the bleeding edge of technology.
Best Home Automation shopping experience. Shop at Ezlo!