Having purchase a DOT and getting it work with a Dlink wall adapter I thought I would venture further and go for Insteon devices since they are SmartHome compatible and avoid your having to say Alexa - Tell Dlink to turn off bedroom map but instead say Alexa - turn off bedroom lamp.

Accordingly I purchased the international version Insteon hub (2242-522) from Trademe (as a reseller of Insteon AU/NZ devices), a wall module and a micro-switch (installed in the switch cavity).

All worked fine initially and I could control an appliance from the Insteon app.

But when I tried to add Echo control, while Alexa could find the hub it noted I needed to upgrade to the 2245-222 to enable Alexa support.

I called Insteon and they said the 2242-222 is an older module that has no Alexa support since it has no user way to upgrade the firmware while the 2245-222 can. It was also the version sold internationally The 2245-222 version is only available for the US market at the moment.

I asked if the US model was multi-voltage compatible and was told it was. And it might even work outside the US with international modules. This is because the Insteon devices are dual band - they control both over powerline (at a standard frequency of 131.65KHz 110-240V 50/60Hz) and also over RF (915MHz in the US and 921 MHz AU/NZ). So the US hub can control the international modules over powerline but there is no fallback to RF.

I am now thinking I might get the US hub and try it out. Else I will have an Insteon hub and modules that will just sit in their boxes gathering dust. Controlling from a smart phone app is not of interest to me - that isn't really full automation.

Apart from the possible issues of safety certification of running a US hub in NZ (no different from buying a router from Amazon and running it here), are the momentary bursts of 915MHz RF transmission when a devices is powered on/off going to cause interference in the house or neighbourhood?

Thoughts and has anybody else tried this out?