====== INSTEON Button Basics ======

Buttons on INSTEON compatible [[inst_controller|controllers]] enable you to perform complex home automation tasks. But most people want to start with simple scenarios: this button turns on/off this light, or maybe this //set// of lights. The latter are referred to as [[scenes]]: that how-to is a good guide to creating scenes that don't use INSTEON specific technology and that can control devices of multiple protocol types.

This How-To is going to focus on INSTEON specific techniques for using controller buttons. But first, let's review the specific types of INSTEON controllers:

  * [[http://www.indigodomo.com/hardware/controlinc|ControLinc]] - This wired controller, from SmartHome, has 5 button pairs (one for ON, one for OFF), as well as ALL ON/ALL OFF and BRIGHT/DIM pairs. In Indigo, Button 1 for this device refers to the first pair on the left, the top button being the ON button, and the bottom button being OFF. The ON/OFF buttons, when natively linked to INSTEON devices, dim/brighten all loads linked to them in real time by holding down the buttons. Unlike other INSTEON controllers, the ControLinc doesn't recognize double taps.
  * [[http://www.indigodomo.com/hardware/remotelinc|RemoteLinc]] - This wireless controller from Smarthome has 6 ON/OFF buttons as well as ALL ON/ALL OFF and BRIGHT/DIM pairs. The ON/OFF buttons, when natively linked to INSTEON devices, dim/brighten all loads linked to them in real time by holding down the buttons. The remote also supports double-taps, which represent instant ON/OFF rather than waiting for the light(s) to ramp ON/OFF. 
  * [[http://www.indigodomo.com/hardware/keypadlinc_dimmer|KeypadLinc]] - This is a combination of [[inst_controller|controller]] and [[inst_controller|responder]], since it also controls a [[load]]. It comes in a 6 or 8 button configuration: when it's in a 6 button config, the top button is the ON for the load and the bottom is the OFF. The other four are in a grid in between. In an 8 button config, the first (top left) button controls the load, the rest are available for other uses. Also, both come in a dimmer and relay version: you should [[switch_vs_relay|read about the difference]]. For our purposes, we'll discuss the usage of the buttons in their default toggle mode - one press turns them on (and the key lights up) and a second press turns them off (and the key goes off). Controlling the button state directly from Indigo is more challenging, so that discussion requires a [[inst_keypadlinc_buttons|separate how-to]].
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These are the most common INSTEON devices used as controllers, although since INSTEON devices generally broadcast state changes, any can be used as a controller. For purposes of this discussion, however, we'll stick to one of the above. 

Now, let's discuss linking devices to an INSTEON controller button via Indigo.

{{page>inst_remote_device_links}}

So, now you should have an overview of how device linking works. The next thing we'll discuss is an Indigo INSTEON scene.

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