Leviton 20A00-70 Omni LTe Controller

JAN 14 2014So, I've had the Leviton HAI Omni LTE for a few weeks now. Sadly, the unit loses minutes and seconds every day and I'm thinking probably off by an hour or so each month, so at the end of the year, your Omni LTE will be 12 hours or more wrong. I researched this issue and found the LTE also has no NTP time management whatsoever, and even though connected to the network, it can't fix itself. A ten dollar alarm clock can keep time and surprising the Omni LTE doesn't. So, you'll want to have a dedicated PC running the expensive PC Access software from Leviton HAI and then select to sync your PC's time to the Omni LTE. This is the same issue that also plagues the Omnipro II and Omni IIe.I have to ask, how can you offer security if the logs will always be wrong, door unlock times will happen at the wrong time, lights will turn on and off at the wrong time, etc....? It's very hard for me to believe that a piece of hardware like this has no time sync capability built-in.So time is not all that's wrong with this controller. Wireless is very slow. I can open a door at the back of our house and run all the way through the house to the front and hear the controller tell me the back door opened and a second or two later that it closed. I'm almost 50 years old, so I don't run so fast, certainly not as fast as I would expect a burglar to do and I'm very surprised this thing is so slow in detecting events. My older alarm system is still installed with wired and wireless sensors too and I can tell you they react almost immediately, certainly no time for me to "run" through the house. Of course for the Leviton Omni system I had to buy the two-way voice module to have the system tell me the door was opened or closed, because most everything is an option to purchase but not to be too concerned, there isn't much available.With all the expensive options to purchase, I would be willing to buy a texting module, but again, sadly, I was shocked that this system has no texting capability, so unlike my very old alarm system which did have a texting module, this new system does NOT support two-way text interaction through its GSM module. My old alarm system I can send text messages and receive messages back, it will also text me if a door opens, if alarm is sounding, if someone disarms the alarm and who disarmed it. None of this is currently available in the Leviton HAI Omni and if I were to pick a new name for it, I'd call it the Leviton Omni NOT. Not on time, not too quick to react, and not full of modern features.Of course, this is just my opinion and there are reasons to buy something like the Leviton HAI Omni if you're just looking for a toy that may be cool someday. The possibility is there for Leviton to develop a product that is over the top on functionality that does as much as I would like it to do, but for now, I'm not counting on this to do anything accurately and certainly not on time.FEB 18 2014So finally got a chance to try the Snap-Link software from HAI with this. Sadly, can't use it with the wireless remotes, it can only send an email message when you type in your code on a console panel. It would be nice to receive a message when for example, an emergency button is pressed on a remote including who's remote it was - NOT a feature of the Snap-Link software. Documentation (Help File) shows features not available or references other materials not part of the Snap-Link software and after running the software a couple of times, some of the notifications won't update and default to some unknown message. Having turned off popups, it still pops with "unknown" messages. The software shows lights are on that are NOT on but does turn the lights on and off when you press the button. The slowness of the HAI system has become extremely annoying now and something everyone here jokes about it most every time we hear messages announced LONG after a sensor was triggered.The function to show a camera when an event occurs does not work even though setup in PC Access. The camera will show when touching the camera icon on the touch screen, but macros won't launch the camera to full display like the manual says it will. Of course that is an old manual and perhaps the new software disabled the feature even though it's still there. Programming is easy though, so if you don't mind some features not working and slowness of the system, it's still a cool novelty. Don't waste your money with the Snap-Link software. I suggest demanding HAI Leviton product a GSM module for the Omni's that will allow test messages and support email too. A faster processor would be nice and by the way, this unit only has 9 programs configured and only 3 active sensors, 1 macro button, one console and one touchscreen, so I can't imagine how much slower it will get when its actually setup for everything.APR 24 2014So I connected some wired devices, hoping the super slowness issue was related to the wireless receiver. No such luck - even with wired devices, often I see a very large delay, as much as 30 seconds or more with the wired devices. The PCA 3 (Dealer PC Acces 3)software keeps download the same version of OmniTouch 7 firmware, not realizing it's already had me download several times now. Too bad you can't use the full display size on the OmniTouch 7 for the IP Cameras. At this point I'm back to the old Visonic system, which works better, is faster, and seems to be more reliable plus sends me text messages about important events, like arm and disarm, and who is arming and disarming. HAI doesn't do that so I've resigned myself to using it to just a toy until a better firmware update comes out for the main unit and makes it faster and more feature rich. Don't worry Leviton - I'm a patient person. I know someday you'll remember you purchased HAI and need to get someone thinking about modernizing the new products and start working on updates.MAY 09 2014New firmware is now out for the Omni-series and from what I understand, Leviton will be making available part # 20A30-1, an Omni Notifier Email electronics board add-on, which is supposed to address the shortcomings of alert notification, yet not quite what old alarm systems could do via GSM cellular, but at least email capability is a welcome addition. Now hoping to see a real SMS GSM capability in the next year or two, should texting still be around that is. As well, I understand that the new firmware is supposed to fix the super slow audio responses, but haven't tested yet. Will advise soon.

Add the ZIM ( ZigBee Interface Module) and have ZigBee Locks, Thermostats, lights and Lamp module. Control all with your iPhone from anywhere with a dynamic DNS. A pretty good panel with if then logic for Automation. If it is Dark, and Kitchen Light is off, and kitchen motion is tripped, then turn kitchen lights on at 40% for 5 min. The control with the Snap-Link App is very useful. Also have timed events, use buttons like Goodbye or goodnight to set off a string of commands. Have a professional installer install this product. This is not a do it yourself project unless you have the software and training.