I looked closely at this unit and many other network thermostats before making a decision. Without question this is one of the best TCP/IP thermostats in terms of VALUE (i.e. convenience & energy savings for the cost). It may also be the best overall choice for many "home" users, HOWEVER there are some less-than-obvious differences between this and our final choice, the Proliphix IMT550c.
Worth Considering:
1. DIRECT communication with the Bayweb thermostat is not possible. All communication and control is relayed through the company's remote servers out on the public Internet. This means that some functions will not work if you lose your internet connection (or if the company's servers go offline for some reason). Naturally this also means that if Bay Controls, Inc. (the Bayweb company) goes out of business, key features will stop working.
2. The Proliphix IMT550c (by contrast) is a "standalone" appliance. It can function without any outside connection whatsoever. The user-interface is driven by a self-contained web server that's embedded within the thermostat itself. It has NO external dependencies, it does NOT require installation of any application software, it works in ANY browser (including mobile browsers). It requires NO java run-time environment, No Adobe Flash, No ActiveX, and No browser "plugins". In my informed professional opinion (from 15+ years of systems engineering) it's the perfect design. I call it perfect because its uses only 'standards-based' technologies which will remain 'current' and 'relevant' for many decades. This kind of 'staying power' is essential if you don't want your 'core infrastructure' to age too quickly. Think of how much more quickly "car phones" aged than the vehicles they were built into. This design is also ideal for integration with other 'smart systems' such as automation, status monitoring, external overrides etc. Proliphix DOES have free 'external' analysis tools that show things like historic energy used plotted against local temperature & humidity data etc. They are fantastic, but they are opt-in.
3. Bayweb's dependence on an outside connection creates some security considerations. For home networks it is a non-issue, but for sensitive business networks it is worth considering. The Bayweb device opens "pinholes" in the perimeter firewall to allow remote access by Bayweb servers. This is not an uncommon practice, but it creates another theoretical vector for certain exploit vulnerabilities (present and future). In my professional opinion, all else being equal, the 'standalone' design of the IMT-550 is preferable.
4. The Proliphix IMT series allowed us to 'standardize' on a single thermostat model in ALL locations EVEN IF each location had different needs (Unlike Bayweb). This means we retain the ability to UPGRADE the HVAC in a location (i.e. Fuel burner to Heat pump or Single to Dual stage A/C) without buying a new device! We can even reconfigure the power input type as needed. We can switch to HVAC power someday (which I strongly prefer because it minimizes the number of things that can go wrong) but use Power over Ethernet until we change the furnace (in a year or so). By contrast, the Bayweb device has a built-in power supply, which means BOTH the furnace power supply AND the Bayweb power supply must not malfunction in order for the entire system to work. That can be critical in regions where freezing is a risk because an HVAC malfunction can result in property damage. I have seen far too many power supplies (in various systems) go bad in recent years due to the last decade of "capacitor plague", in which electrolytic capacitors fail prematurely.
5. The IMT-550 series has a patented feature called "Intelligent Recovery" in which the thermostat 'LEARNS' when to turn on so the HVAC can FINISH getting to the desired temperature at the desired time instead of STARTING at the preset time. This means you don't need to think about how far in advance to turn on the heat so that it's comfortable by the preset time. In other words, on those very cold mornings the system would turn on a bit earlier to compensate.
6. Each has very different wiring requirements which could potentially make installation EASIER or HARDER (read: more or less expensive to install) depending on your specific situation. For example, the Bayweb device needs a wired Ethernet connection a separate "controller unit" which is a separate physical device from the thermostat wall unit. The controller unit needs to have a wall outlet for power, and must be located somewhere along along the run of thermostat wire, presumably in the furnace room with all of the thermostat wires configured to pass THROUGH the Bayweb controller. By contrast, the Proliphix IMT-550c, needs an Ethernet cable to be run directly to thermostat itself (unless you're using the Wi-Fi version). One scenario may be logistically simpler in your case.
7: The Proliphix IMT series is MORE EXPENSIVE than the Bayweb device, and it is possible that an individual homeowner may find it hard to purchase because the company's target market is professional installers and businesses.
IN GENERAL:
In general the benefits of ALL network thermostats come down to this:
1. Greater personal comfort at a lower cost due to the EASE managing an accurate occupancy schedule (via a friendly web-interface), or via "occupancy sensors".
2. Remote control, such as from a smartphone browser or App. For example, one could could turn on the heat/air just before returning to that location.
3. Notification of the need for maintenance. For example you can receive an email to notify you that a furnace filter must be changed
4. Notification of potential risk of property damage! For example, furnace malfunction & potential freezing.
5. Notification of "external" events such as "water sensors", motion sensors, or other alarm triggers wired to optional relay inputs.
MOST of these modern 'connected' network thermostats do MOST of the things that most people want. They're ALL fantastic compared to the regular 'smart' thermostats you're used to. Take note of the differences between them. Some differences are quite important but they are not immediately obvious. Hopefully this will help you to make an informed decision.
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This thermostat works perfectly with an iPhone. I was looking for a solution to control/monitor temperature AND provide security features using the motion and smoke sensors. All WITHOUT a monthly fee and no need for a land line! An internet connection at the premises is required. Fairly easy to install yourself -read the directions and you should have no problem. Turn your heat or AC up/down from your iPhone and also be texted and emailed if any of the sensors go off. The full website (mobile site is trim for phones) features a host of other features like power usage log/info, local weather, cost calculations, master control of multiple thermostats, etc. It will also notify you if the temp goes above or below a range you specify (great for cabins, peace of mind). You can also lock the keypad so it can't be controlled directly or limit how high or low the temp can be set (think rental properties). The actual thermostat is simple and understated and comes in a number of colors. Can't recommend highly enough. Great product Bay Controls.
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I have 9 of these in two locations. 5 are in my home in SE FL, and 4 are in my apartment in NYC. I installed them roughly two years ago and have had only one problem --I had a wall display unit fail, which BayWeb promptly replaced.
Some comments about installation:
First, here is what you need to understand to be able to install one of these......Installation was very easy for me, but I know it will not be for some people. By education I am an electrical engineer. If you already know the following, you will have no problem installing this thermostat:
You have a basic understanding of what a relay and a switch do
You know what the R, B, W, Y, and G wires (and a few more if you have a heat pump system) are
You know that the thermostat controls the fan in an electric system
You know that the fan is internally controlled in a gas heating system
You know that systems that use air handlers are almost always controlled using 24 volt control systems
You know that electric baseboard and electric radiant heat usually use line voltage thermostats
And, you know that some of the very newest systems have more complicated proprietary systems
If you do not know the above, you can still install this thermostat, but you will have to figure it out and may end up becoming frustrated. My wife, for example, could NEVER install this thermostat no matter how hard she tried. In that event, it may still be worth while to go with this thermostat and have a knowledgeable friend who could help you or hire a professional. But beware some professionals may be confused about this thermostat because it is different from what they usually work on.
Next, you will need 4 wires from the BayWeb wall display unit to the control box. If you are installing this on an existing heating/cooling system, you *should* already have at least 4 wires run from the existing thermostat to the HVAC unit.
If you have a heat only system, with one of those old round Honeywell mechanical thermostats, you may only have three wires -a common wire, a heat wire, and a fan wire. If you have heating and cooling, you should have at least 4 wires -a common wire, a heat wire, a cooling wire, and a fan wire.
Check to see what you have before you attempt this, unless running a new cable to where you install the wall display unit will be possible and something you want to do.
Next, you will need to mount the control box near the HVAC unit, and I strongly recommend that you power the control box from the HVAC unit, not the separate transformer. This for cooling and heating with electric heat this requires a minimum of 5 wires. Another reviewer complained that the BayWeb needed to be powered from a separate wall wart type power supply...THIS IS NOT TRUE. You may need to open your HVAC unit and connect the 24 volt power common wire (usually a blue wire). In my case, my existing thermostats only had 4 wires (no blue wire, which is the 24 volt common) going from the air handlers to the thermostats because they were battery operated and did not need 24 volt power. I purchased some 5 conductor thermostat wire at Home Depot and ran that wire just from the air handler to the BayWeb control box, and used the existing 4 wires from the old wall mounted thermostat to connect the BayWeb wall display unit back to the control box. For electric heat you need the following wires from the control box to the air handler if you want to power the BayWeb control box from the air handler instead of from the wall wart power supply:
24 volt R (Red)
24 volt common B (Blue)
Cooling Y (Yellow)
Heating W (White)
Fan G (Green)
Heat pumps may need one or two more wires, and systems with 2 stage heat or 2 stage cooling also need extra wires. You must understand how your existing system works before attempting to install the BayWeb system.
Lastly, you need to be able to get an Ethernet cable to the location where you install the control unit, which should be right next to the HVAC air handler, which is usually in the attic, basement, or in closets. In my case, since I am in SE FL, the 5 air handlers are in closets. My house was built in 2007 and has extensive Cat 5e wiring, so I was able to move around some existing home runs for four of the units, but I had one closet on the second floor, right above where my router is located, to which I ran a new Cat 5e cable.
In my NYC apartment, which is a 4 room apartment with a separate heat pump in each room, running Cat 5e cables was only an option for one of the thermostats. The other 3 thermostats are getting their Ethernet connection using a Netgear Powerline AV 200:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0036R9YA6/ref=oh_details_o08_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I was worried that these would not be reliable, would loose their connection to my router, etc., but in almost two years I have not had even one problem. Since this property is only used occasionally, I wanted to be able to monitor the HVAC systems and be able to turn them on prior to my arrival, and loosing connectivity would be a bummer.
One last thing: I do use the motion detectors to operate the thermostats. They are easy to install because they are wireless. More about them below.
Now that I have covered installation, here are my experiences over the last two years:
The thermostats communicate with BayWeb's server(s), to which you log in using a web browser to to program and control the thermostat. I have found it easy to use, and it has all the functionality to set up schedules. Over the last two years I have tweaked the schedules, and now have everything working for our life style. Once I got them correct, they are not something you have to constantly fool with. I use the motion detectors in FL and they work very well. For example, I have one schedule that sets one of the thermostats to 80 degrees when away, and 77 when the motion detector kicks in. Another schedule, for the master bed room, lowers the temperature at 9 PM from 80 to 75 since I do not want the bed room to be at 80 degrees when I walk into it at bed time. I want it already cool. But during the day, the motion detector will reduce the temperature from 80 to 77 if someone walks into the bedroom.
I have never experienced the BayWeb site to be down in the time I have owned these thermostats. If it has gone down, I did not notice it.
I like that these thermostats are connected using Ethernet, not WiFi. I believe that makes them much more reliable notwithstanding the extra work of connecting them to the network with Cat 5e cable. There have been absolutely no issues with network connectivity.
The iPhone app works very well, and had been updated for better functionality over the time I have owned these thermostats. I have used it when leaving for the airport to fly up to NYC to adjust the thermostats in the apartment so it will be comfortable when we arrive.
The wall display units are touch screens, of course not as elegant as the Nest, but still have a modern high-tech look to them. Also to be noted is that the wall display units have minimal functionality -you can select heat mode, cool mode, fan on/auto, hold, and raise and lower the temperature. The display does not have any confusing stuff for the less technical folks, in my case my wife, which for me makes life much better. All the programming of this thermostat must be done when logged into the BayWeb server.
I like, very much, that the led read out on the wall display unit is always on. I like to be able to see it by glancing at it across a room without having to go to the thermostat and touching it.The led temperature readout and status leds are a soft green, bright enough to see during the day, but not so bright as to be disturbing at night or in a bed room.
The thermostats control the temperature to within a degree. I have not had problems where a room will get too cold or two hot. Of course, humidity has an effect on how a room feels, so sometimes, if the humidity changes, I do need to adjust a thermostat to a different setting than to which I have the schedule set.
Concerns and non-concerns:
My main concern is what will happen in the future -will the BayWeb web site continue to exist? Without it, the thermostats are useless. So, in 3, 5, 10, 20 years what will happen? If I was purchasing dozens or hundreds of these thermostats, I would want to do a little research on this question. For now, I am taking my chances, and while I do not feel it is a big chance, it is nonetheless a concern.
I am not concerned about these thermostats causing a vulnerability to my network. It is not necessary to open any ports in my router for them to work. In my home in FL I have a Peplink Balance 20 router which has a very functional firewall (compared to simpler routers) and I have the incoming firewall completely closed, and the thermostats function correctly. There is much less going on over the Internet with this thermostat than with a PC, iPhone, iMac, etc., and it requires no incoming access at all.
I am not concerned that BayWeb's server(s) are unreliable, and I have never seen their system down. I have had no issues with network connectivity.
I have had a few questions over the years, and BayWeb's support has been reliable, accurate, and quick with a response. No concerns with customer service. Also, their web site is a good resource for help.
All in all, highly recommended if you understand what is involved in installing.
Honest reviews on Bay Controls BW-WT2-W BAYweb Internet Thermostat Advanced, White
I have invested in two of these units. One at my main home, the other at our lake cottage. It lets us keep the temp at the cottage at 45F over the winter. Before we leave, we crank it up from any web browser, including mobile, to arrive to a comfortable 70F. It's also great to alert you that power has gone out --if its frigid outside and the system doesn't tell you its back online within a few hours, you know you need to ask a neighbor for help or drive down to save your pipes from freezing.
At home I like its functionality in the summer. Crank up the AC while still at church / store, come home to a comfortable house.
My estimate is that it will pay for itself in about a year. That doesn't take into consideration the value of being comfortable which is worth a lot to me.
Finally I need to point out. There support is PHENOMENAL. They reply to emails within 20 minutes. They are thorough and very technical. You can also pick up the phone and get a real live human being based in Toledo, OH.
Unlike the 3M internet thermostats at the big orange box store, this entire unit is made in the USA, in Ohio. And it feels like quality in your hands.
A+ !!
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The BayWeb is a great system and really fun to play with. Easy to install, They have get support, getting back to you the same day,
Definitely well made, a great value. Mobile application is OK for just reviewing or changing set point, but there are no details or log available.
If you have radiant heat, you might want to research another control system. Consistent temperature is not possible. It turns on one whole degree less than the set point, then turns off when the set point is reached, but with radiant heat, the room temperature will continue to raise two to some times three degrees over set point. There's a big difference in 67 or 71 in the winter. This negates the energy efficiency of a radiant system. A more 'intelligent' system that can keep the house at a constant temperature is needed
