Conclusion:

The NodOn Soft Remote is an appealing device in part due to the flexibility it is able to add to your home automation ecosystem. First, it can be used as a standalone controller, meaning you don't necessarily have to buy a controller like the Smartthings hub or Wink hub to get up and running to control up to 16 Z-Wave devices. If you already have a hub, or if you eventually grow with the Soft Remote to the point that you need a hub, no problem, it can also be connected as a device on your hub while still giving you the ability to control up to 16 devices through scenes/routines.

The standalone mode would be great for an RV or cabin, where you may want some smarts, but perhaps limited to just a few Z-Wave devices such as lights, locks, valves. You wouldn't have to rely on the Internet or even having a smartphone available in or to take control of your location. That said, I am most interested in the Soft Remote as a part of my existing home automation ecosystem, which is handled by Smartthings. The sky really is the limit when it comes to configuration possibilities in this manner, which is both a very good thing and possibly a not so good thing.

It is definitely very good, because I can create up to 16 commands through Routines that the Soft Remote can administer... Turn on/off groups of lights, open/close garage doors, turn the pool pumps on/off, etc. And they do not have to be limited to just Z-Wave devices in this mode of operation. For example, the Zigbee devices connected to Smartthings are controllable, since the Z-Wave signal just needs to go from the Soft Remote to the Smartthings hub, and from there it sends the commands to my devices, such as my Zigbee water main valve. Where this can be not so good is that you either have to have the mind of a video gamer to remember all the controller button combinations, or you have to make a cheat sheet to keep with the controller so you execute the right command. There is obviously no display to show you what you are selecting, and their is no feedback via the device to let you know you selected what you meant to select. You know you did it right by seeing your target device actuate as expected, but if it doesn't happen as expected, you then have to wonder what you actually just turned on or off, etc.



The Smartest House has the NodOn Soft Remote available for $49.95, which is an interesting price. Overall, it is competitively priced with other similar remote controllers that I don't think offer some of the same cool features (splashproof housing, magnetic base, choice of colors, controls for up to 16 devices), but being about $50 just seems like a bit much for what it is. It is definitely a useful device that offers plenty of flexibility, but that type of investment may discourage people from giving it a shot.

In the end, the NodOn Soft Remote earns the Bigbruin.com "Great Idea" and "Recommended" awards.



Pros:

» Control up to 16 devices with different gestures on the 4 physical buttons
» Capable of working as a standalone controller or as component of your existing Z-Wave network
» Z-Wave devices only in standalone mode, but in gateway mode with a hub you can control other protocols
» Excellent way to add smarts to an RV, cabin, or even a home where you are just getting into automation
» Very convenient in the car as a unified garage door opener and light switch
» Splashproof housing with magnetic base means you can keep it just about anywhere

Cons:

» Really need to make a cheat sheet to keep all the possible commands straight
» $49.95 is a pretty big investment for a remote controller

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