AppleZulu
Regarding the Leviton 3-way dimmer setup discussed in the podcast…
You're going to have to follow all the instructions to set up and program the switches for them to work. The secondary switch sends data through the wiring to the master switch in order to control your dimmer. It’s not unreasonable to be expected to follow the instructions fully as you set them up to get them to work. Seriously. Once you’ve done that, the switches will work manually, even if your WiFi goes down.
Leviton 3-way is different than some of the others you’re comparing because you can use Leviton in scenarios with up to four secondary switch locations. Most other smart switches with three-way capability will only work with one master and one secondary switch. The additional capability with Leviton means the devices are more complex, and you should try following the instructions to set it up before you criticize.
I recently ditched a bunch of Wemo switches that were constantly failing and disconnecting, and replaced them with Leviton Decora switches, which have been rock-solid reliable. Please don’t do your listeners a disservice by giving Leviton a bad review because they don’t work when you don’t follow the setup instructions.
