Marek J. wrote: you should rather write: "in my humble opinion", because the former sounds odd coming from the hand of someone who couldn't connect an engine a year ago....
I can see that colleague Marek J. gets annoyed when someone has something to say on a subject in which he himself feels he has a "horse". The remarks on some old topics reek of deviant jealousy, all the more so because they are unfounded. Someone who deals in cars and knows all about their advantages, disadvantages and value - does not need to know how to replace the rectifier bridge in an alternator.
I don't quote or mock your "writings", even though they don't all hit reality - you don't need to do that either. I think this forum is for sharing my knowledge with other users and I do that. If it hurts you for some reason - keep quiet about it please and don't make a fuss about yourself....
And now about roller shutter motors and the technologies that control them in a nutshell:
There are many brands available on the Polish market. Quite a few of them are "Chinese", which do not all have to be of poor quality. Probably the strongest manufacturer on the market - SOMFY - also has some of its factories in China. But I'm not going to elaborate on the 'softies' because I see that you are mainly concerned with 'intelligent' or obstacle-detection actuators.
For the time being, I would only consider the following brands of actuators with two-way communication:
1. Manufacturer SOMFY (France), io-homecontrol technology (RTS does not have two-way communication)
2. SELVE manufacturer (Germany), COMMEO technology
As to their advantages and disadvantages:
SOMFY - very reliable company, high quality control and thus negligible failure rate, extensive service to perfection. A very big advantage of the io-homecontrol system is its stability. Moreover, after registering on the Somfy website, the user gets a 5-year service cheque, which is also a big advantage. Unfortunately, the system itself is not very extensive in receivers/controllers for devices other than window shades (roller shutters, gates, facade blinds). The system's control units: TaHoma and Connexoon can control some products with Z-Wave technology but, as far as I can tell, this is not a very fruitful or successful collaboration. Somfy is working on expanding its own system. The big disadvantage of roller shutter actuators with io-homecontrol technology (as well as all radio actuators from any manufacturer!!!!) is that the actuator can only be controlled (there are exceptions which will be discussed below) via radio, read: remote control, smartphone, transmitter. The slickest wall-mounted (stationary) transmitter in this technology costs about 150PLN, and every roller shutter should have its own.
SELVE - "German accuracy, German workmanship". Very good product. Negligible failure rate. Service unfortunately poor considering Somfy. The biggest advantage of Commeo actuators is their HYBRIDITY. Each actuator can be controlled by radio and a regular roller shutter switch which eliminates the need to buy expensive stationary transmitters. In addition, you can control the roller shutters even when the radio system goes down. Another advantage of these motors is that obstacle detection works on the principle of a moving motor head and not on the principle of overload as in other brands (including Somfy). This means that the roller shutter sheath does not have to unfold into the box and block the motor for it to switch off. SEL Plus motors (as they are referred to) can also control screens (detection will work too) and can work with soft armour hangers. The motor itself is about 150 -200£ cheaper than Somfy. The Commeo technology itself is quite young but given SELVE's past products - the Germans have a good reputation.
And one more thing: everything above is just "my humble opinion"
If I have helped - I am glad. If there's anything else I can help with - I'll be glad too.
Best regards to everyone, including my colleague Mark J.
