Z wave vs wifi reddit Reply reply More replies Except Z-Wave doesn't have compatibility issues among different brands like Zigbee can and does. The unlock methods are exactly the same so all I'd be doing is paying a high premium for new technology. Wifi seems to work great so long as you only have a few devices (20 or less) but in my experience starts having a negative impact when the waves become too congested. So my Z-Wave network is rather weak at the edges. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. A main access point or a smart device controller? Would it work well with Alexa? Is it expensive? Are Zigbee/Z-Wave devices much more expensive than random Wi-Fi devices? And the actual last question: can I have all three types of devices working in the same network? Wi-Fi, Z-Wave and Zigbee, or should I only stick to one? Thanks for the help. It had the WiFi module prior. You don’t get to use the Z-Wave logo if you don’t pass compatibility tests. The Z-Wave version does NOT have Wifi. Z-wave is going to be around for a long time for a simple reason: security systems. z-wave is generally more consistent and reliable. There are reasons to choose zigbee or zwave, "not overload wifi" is *not* one, esp with 20 devices. At a basic level you can view the hub as that bridge that can convert z-wave to wifi and vice versa (of course it does a whole lot more). Z-Wave is used in various applications including smart lighting, thermostats, and security sensors. 4Ghz spectrum WiFi can run in; there tends to be less interference in the 900Mhz frequency range (although older cordless telephones often ran in the 900Mhz range, and could potentially interfere). Due to issues with other automation systems in previous homes the one thing my wife insisted on when we purchased out current home 5 years ago is that every item have traditional controls not just phone control. That's easy to do with simple smartphone apps - I suggest WifiMan. Z-Wave certified items can talk to one another, provided you have a proper hub Aright, I have the same lock and have figured out like all your issues, haha. Wifi consumes more power which is why battery devices aren't usually wifi. From what I see it doesn't seem very user friendly. That isn't to say Z-Wave and ZigBee are always more expensive---Schlage's Z-Wave lock actually costs less than its Wi-Fi lock. 4 door sensors, 4 flood sensors, and a couple of temp sensors were cheaper than 2 Z-Wave door sensors. In comparison, WiFi devices range from 20mW to 100mW unlicensed and up to 2W (2000mW) licensed. 42 band in the U. The lock speaks z-wave and you need something on the other end with an app to communicate with it. Z-Wave Plus. cost wise, where I'm at the option for zwave is limited. With Z-Wave, I can buy just about any device by any manufacturer Z-wave is the most expensive but easier to setup and run. I can't think of any others I've got that have used it. Z-wave is designed for iot devices and so it is generally slightly better than wifi but some devices don't come in z wave. Search for solutions for commercial building. Wifi, Zigbee and Z-wave all have use cases and should be used for their strengths. What am I missing? Edit: clarification With the right components, a Z-Wave load could respond directly to a button press on a Z-Wave controller (scenes) and similarly, devices can be grouped together. I’ve been happy with Z-Wave but as my network grows I am seeing lots of problems with Z-Wave slowness, and I have decided to Anyone can pick them up and to some extent glean information about a security system or location potentially or other nefarious things (not saying this applies to Z-Wave as I know Z-Wave has encryption, I'm saying it applies to the old wireless frequencies these security sensors were using). That’s really helpful, thank you. My plan is to use Aeotec Z-Stick and utilize that with Home Assistant to control, but also have existing manual feature, which I can control, just like a regular dumb switch (Toggle on/off and also control dimmer). 2. Hi there! I have been doing a lot of research lately on Z-Wave vs WiFi for smart home automation. But I have many z-wave devices. Z-Wave runs at 908MHz which means very low power operation - many sensors get multi-year battery life; the latest Z-Wave version (700) promises even longer life. Also Zigbee is on the wireless frequency and I am stuck using wifi as my main network for my office. 4GHz saturation is a real thing. I think this is a highly opinionated topic but I will try to give my perspective. Z Wave products cost much more since products need to be certified and the chip can only been brought from the zwave alliance directly. 4GHz frequency of wifi, Bluetooth, zigbee etc. I would go with Z-Wave. The same in reverse, someone leaves the house, then it auto locks. The lower the frequency, the more "punching power" it has to go through walls and other obstacles. Zigbee can handle several times more devices than z-wave in theory but in reality, consumer zigbee controllers are rarely installed with enough RAM to exceed a z-wave controller. Z-wave can be an advantage if you live in an apartment complex with lots of 2. Perhaps with time Z-Wave device will become cheaper as a result which would be great. The obvious choice, of course, seems to be Z-Wave for personal homes-- but before I spend a significant amount of time & money purchasing hubs and replacing locks, I would love hear feedback on my use case from any home automation gurus. GE has a large Z-Wave Plus line, 19+ items GE Zigbee line is only a couple single outlet plug-ins and an in-wall switch/dimmer Z-Wave Plus items have better range, we regularly test them to get over 300 ft. But it depends on the specific models, some manufacturers worry a lot more about power efficiency than others. Dec 2, 2021 · I have both Zigbee and Z-Wave. Take a look at the first generation August Lock Pro. SCHLAGE BE469ZP CAM 619 Connect Smart Deadbolt with alarm with Camelot Trim in Satin Nickel, Z-Wave Plus enabled Got a good deal on some refurbished ones for almost half price on Prime Day. (Industrial Zigbee controllers do hit that limit but cost far more) Plus, Matter is only important if there are enough bridges. If both are yes, and within a couple minutes of eachother, then it auto unlocks the door. Z-Wave is more established and licensed more tightly, so you will likely get more reliable cross-brand compatibility, plus lots of things you might already have (hubs, alarm panels and the like) will already have a z-wave controller built in, where zigbee is more iffy on that front. The theory is that because z-wave runs on a frequency that doesn't overlap with WiFi or Bluetooth, it's less interference so more stability Also the certification requirements are much higher than with ZigBee so less interoperability issues (aqara for instance is technically not fully ZigBee compliant as it doesn't ever switch router devices My biggest issue with zigbee is that there are very few standards so not all devices will work with your hub if the manufacturer decides to implement zigbee slightly differently. I have z-wave for my door locks, all programmable through HA, then I have a series of automations to check if someone just got home, then if someone is at the front door. Z-Wave and Zigbee can be used without a cloud-connected controller, but even with a cloud connection, it's a single point of failure. I use an RPi4 running Z-Wave JS container with an Aeotec Z-Stick7 placed at the center of the house, and a NUC in the garage running Home Assistant. Plus I already have a Z-Wave stick. WiFi is cheaper, but is fully dependent on it continuing to be maintained by Feb 19, 2020 · To answer your specific questions, Wi-Fi devices typically use 4 to 10 times as much energy as zigbee, and about 5 to 8 times as much as Zwave. But then theres a "Z Wave" version. Sep 17, 2024 · Z-wave is more reliable and secure, but devices are generally more expensive and less available. Z-wave devices are required to pass certification tests before being sold. I went with Z-Wave for most things. I have two questions, 1. Personally I like that I can bring up my phone (or watch more often) to my lock to unlock it. g. Anyone have recommendations? Is Wi-Fi better for this type of device? I have 2 carrier heat pump A/C units. Comes down to the usage of the 900mhz band varying from region to region, we are prevented from using 908. The box itself is buried in the corner of the basement. (and probably most of us HA nerds do too). [it looks like their zigbee line is pretty limited, so it's really wifi vs z-wave] Also, if there are any other brands I should consider for these switches, please let me know. Z-Wave is slower but doesn't have WiFi interference. 4GHz WiFi and that despite plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting it's fine, I just didn't want to trust something Why specify "echo+/zigbee" and not Z-wave? Echo+ will do some local voice processing when the internet/wifi is out and can still control zigbee devices connected to it. Z-Wave and Zigbee are still significantly better. My Zen52 Z-Wave Double relaya are rated for 500W incandescent, 150W LED bulbs, 5A resistive, 1/4 HP fan motors per channel. The thermostat has the option to run on 3xAA batteries if you do not have a C-wire even when connected to zwave. I bought a few Wi-fi ones, but then found that Shelly has released a new Z-Wave model in Europe called the Shelly Qubino Wave 1PM. Not sure though what type of light switches could be more beneficial down the road for more complex/involved automation: Z-wave, Wi-Fi or Zigbee. I've read a lot about the two, and both seem really good. You don't have to sell someone an extra hub if they only want 1 device. We make a network-connected Z-Wave interface that uses the Z-Wave serial API via a TCP connection. At least for now, z-wave is the obvious choice for everything except lightbulbs, and Jasco recently registered a new z-wave bulb, so hopefully that's changing. It's that certification that makes the standard more expensive. Z-wave has better battery life. The one area that has been a hard one to find a suitable option for is replacing these: It seems that Z-Wave is more proprietary to certain manufacturers, but still a fairly open standard that has wide adoption. In europe it's around 800Mhz so way below the 2. ZigBee is more fast and loose with the requirements, so vendors have snuck their own proprietary extensions (and regressions) into their ZigBee products. on the packaging to be safe. I had been trying the past few days to figure it out and was discussing my experience today actually in a GitHub issue with the maintainers of Z-Wave JS and have concluded that the Z-Wave is pretty sloppily implemented, basically, and doesn't follow Z-Wave standards while also missing features. I think Rob was speaking more to the protocol in that the z wave command classes are standardized so as long they operate on the same frequency, any z wave motion sensor can tell any z wave switch to turn on/off, but Z wave devices do operate on slightly different frequencies based on the region they are intended for. I'll gladly choose z-wave or zigbee for other devices that aren't as many. Most locks will only use 1 of these 3 ways. WIFI, Zigbee and Zwave are just 3 different ways of controlling a lock. of range, but we mark 150 ft. Z-wave has better range. Z-Wave operates at a lower frequency, which means it can’t transmit as much data as W-Fi, but it offers both significantly increased range and better penetration than WiFi, allowing it to reach through walls to multiple doors much more easily. Both Z-Wave and Zigbee have the ability to create their own mesh network between devices. It's sort of parallels The old days of Dolby noise reduction. Nov 4, 2024 · While both are wireless communication protocols, Z-Wave and WiFi can serve very different functions. Zigbee, is a pretty open standard. Essentially, this would give you unlimited range and you could scale your device count as high as you want. It's good to have a healthy amount of both protocols. I did make the mistake of treating the thermostat like other Honeywell thermostats, that require a gap between the target heating and cooling temperatures, and this caused me no end of frustration. Lutron Caseta is an obvious choice but I don't like the separate on/off buttons and how prominent the dimming buttons are. It's the same model I've been using. If you go to zwavealliance. it also doubles as a temp/humidity sensor. There's no need to run wires, except ethernet, run that everywhere you can. Z-wave has the added benefit that it runs in the 900Mhz public frequency spectrum, whereas ZigBee runs in the same 2. With MyQ, you're limited to one user and if you want to give grandma access to your door for a day, you need to give her access to YOUR account. I find it rather unreliable via Z-wave. Zigbee tends to gunk up the 2. Check out the service: "Z-Wave JS: Set a usercode on a lock" and it's corollary to unset. 4Ghz Wifi and other sources, close but not as good range vs Z-wave. My question is about whether I should go WiFi or Z-wave. 4GHz interference with Wifi signals like Zigbee does. Though interference with other home electronics, such as cordless phones, is possible, the protocol avoids interference with the 2. And LV wire if you think you might want blinds in the future, or to power a doorbell or something. I've been looking over this for the past hour. z-wave is on the uncrowded 900mhz spectrum and is rated for security the others are not. Cheap ass crap Wi-Fi devices are cheap ass crap Wi-Fi devices, and nobody holds them to any standards - so you get cheap ass crap Wi-Fi devices. Bluetooth (including BLE) - (direct, hub required) Good: There are ton of things that can talk over bluetooth. WiFi needs a lot more power for the same distance because the bits last so much less time WiFi must transfer MUCH more It can take a few seconds to establish a WiFi connection if you don't stay connected, so most devices do. This means if you buy competitive products there is a 90% chance they will not be able to relay a signal and it becomes more of a star network vs a mesh network. My other goal is to wire as many things as possible (eg door sensors), so really hoping to limit wireless a bit, keep the WiFi for more typical IP traffic not IoT stuff. 4ghz spectrum like wifi&zigbee so you won’t have all the frequency interference, which also means less mesh dropouts, less packet collisions, less noise, less delays. Like for the longest time the auto mode didn’t work well with the HA HomeKit exposure. I am using a HA Blue head with the husbzb-1 dongle. It's a few years old now. They have had issues with over cycling, under cycling, solenoid burnt up. Is there any (cheap) way to send a Z-Wave to Zigbee signal through this wifi connection to HA? If not I'm thinking I'll settle with a non-local control wifi sensor, or if I want to spend the money I can set up another HA instance to control that with the remote HA integration. Reply reply Lower frequency means better signal propagation, longer range, no interference with neighboring Wifi bands, and a more reliable connection; certification means any Zwave device will "just work". You will likely end up with a mix of technologies in the end. But often, that's because the Wi-Fi Based on my research I should go the z-wave or zigbee route to not overload on wifi is that correct? and the answer is still "nah". For only $30, that seems like a no brainer right? But is the Apple edition limited? I see Amazon sells a complete Wifi + Bluetooth edition for $250. The only downside to WiFi in your case would be that WiFi communication is going to go through batteries a bit quicker than Z-Wave would. Z-Wave operates between 800-900 MHz and can have a theoretical range up to 500 feet! I have the Assure 2 and have both the Z-Wave module. 4 devices here as it sits in the 895-915mHz 4G LTE band owned by Telstra/Optus for • Z-Wave Certification and Applications: Z-Wave devices are manufactured according to Z-Wave standard technical specifications and protocols. I have a Google WiFi mesh system with a total of 3 pucks. Most popular here is Raspberry 3B+ or Raspberry 4 coupled with Aeotec's Z-Stick Gen5+ (don't get the non plus model) or a Z-Stick 7. Members Online Tell of Z-wave security and mesh responsiveness, I wanna go fast! Wifi is easier to develop, produce and market. 4 GHz radio frequencies. Options, Z-Wave to me has a wider variety of product assortment available. However, I would like to avoid using WiFi for a contact sensor I want. Hi, I currently have two honeywell thermostats that are wifi connected to resideo and at the same time i have the newest adt security system through the control app but apparently adt has partnered with google and they now only use z-wave for all communication with devices like door openers, thermostats and others except for googlemy question is, is there anything that converts wifi to z I'll double check the local polling. Almost no z-wave devices use the encryption basically just door locks and the occasional security panel. No z-wave or Ethernet options for communication, which I would prefer, since WiFi can be rather unreliable at times, especially if wifi passwords change or something. I added one z-wave light switch and now I am covered for the whole house (4000+ sqft excluding garage and basement). Battery life was horribad on WiFi, much better on Z-Wave, and I expect even better on Matter/Thread. Now that I’ve made the jump to Z-Wave I doubt that I’ll ever buy another WiFi device unless there’s no other option. -Trane ZSENS930 Z-Wave Temperature & Humidity Sensor -Aeotec 6-in-1 Multisensor -Fibaro Z-Wave Multi Sensor -HomeSeer HSM200 Z-Wave Multi-Sensor -Wireless Z-Wave Plus Indoor Temperature and Humidity Sensor (TH100NX)-- Apparently doesn't actually work with our system per Amazon reviews (confirmed with Trane CS) After reading up, I decided that going with Z-wave or Zigbee sounded more reliable, but after looking at prices, the wifi switches are significantly less expensive. Anyone used or have any experience with any zigbee, z-wave, or even WiFi ones? The only ones I can find are 433 MHz-based, but I'm not sure how the integration from those proprietary systems would work into something like HomeAssistant or SmartThings Google Wifi is the mesh-capable wireless router designed by Google to provide Wi-Fi coverage and handle multiple active devices at the same time. so I ask you since Reddit's search is down lol. Zigbee has more bandwidth than Z-Wave; Z-Wave will get a bit more range between devices (though in reality this is rarely likely to matter) Dec 13, 2022 · The Connect WiFi Bridge relies on Bluetooth, and the lock itself has built-in Z-Wave, so you can use both the WiFi bridge and your Hubitat, which allows control via the hub or the August or Yale Access App, including local control via Bluetooth as well as over the internet. Matter will be yet another to add to the list. Power usage on the end devices is broadly similar (some Zigbee devices last longer on batteries than some Z-Wave devices, and vice-versa). The membership/association information is stored in the firmware and it will respond if the appropriate message hits the mesh network, even if the controller is offline. I am thinking about swapping the bulbs out for Z-wave model as I have more Z-wave items on my network. My recommendation is to get a zwave hub (smarthings, hubitat, etc) and get a name brand smoke detector, I have 11 of these at home. I used the cheapy zooz z-wave stick. Everyone already has wifi. zigbee, is quite a bit cheaper, and is much more available. Both can be controlled completely outside of wifi. You are correct. But then I quickly realized that I'm not gaining anything new vs the Z-Wave version. Z-Wave Plus labeled items are more updated and contain a newer Z-Wave chip which provides 50% more range than regular Z-Wave items. Long history of home security, match a lot of existing home door hardware, have had smart locks for a number of years, and have a lot of variations of smart lock style (keypad, smart phone integration, and some non key versions) and support Wi-Fi, Zigbee and Z-Wave protocols. The "away" temperatures are set on the thermostat (and I think through z-wave commands?), but control of "away" mode is through z-wave commands and I think the T6 touchscreen (which, by the way, is excellent). As you can see I have (2) controllers in different networks connected to (2) separate instances of Z-WaveJS integration. However don't overthink it and you can always start with just one device. I'm trying to increase my home security by having glass break sensors around the house. The Zooz / Z-wave setup is much more stable than the WiFi switches and smart plugs I have scattered around the house. Google Wifi products include the Nest Wifi and Nest Wifi Pro. Finally, I've been very impressed at how well the Honeywell maintains temperature in my house-- +/- 0. my experience with wemo in the past was that the cloud would load my automation to the switch so even if it lost wifi, it would follow its programmed schedule. Same with Z-Wave. If you are not using zwave in the building to control lights you are missing the mesh that is likely necessary for z-wave to work. meaning you can use z-wave sensors in a ul listed alarm that can matter to your insurance company and why you have smoke detectors etc. And Z-Wave doesn't have any potential 2. Isn't my Phillips Hue running Zigbee? Wanting to add Aqara devices but those are Zigbee. but, costs quite a bit more. I do wonder however how much the lack of Z-Wave devices, in Australia at least, is due to the fact that Z-Wave devices operate in different frequencies in different countries. If I understand correctly, the Ring alarms use Z-wave for communication, and all plugged in Z-wave devices help act as repeaters, such as the Ring Alarm Range Extender which came with the kit. Z wave mesh is strong in that area, but from what I've read, these older locks just like to talk directly to the controller and struggle with repeaters. It doesn’t matter if one is “harder” to work than others, as I’m willing to learn the trait. I use z-wave locks I my home which is better than wifi. So far, my research has told me that the Z-Wave version is local control only. So what functionality, if any, do I lose if I switch from WiFi module to Zwave so I can integrate with Ring? Should I keep it on WiFi since I have an Android phone and she has an iPhone? How is the Yale Assure Lock 2 integration with Ring Alarm? If you don’t plan to integrate more Z-Wave devices into your home then you gain no benefit from the mesh; and since we’re only talking about one device, the difference in network congestion is negligible. Ring uses z-wave. Not all of that is strictly Z-wave, but you get the idea. trusted brand. At first I was excited. That's because building wifi into a wireless device without sacrificing battery power is very difficult to do. In this thread you are getting homeowners advice. Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now. Z-Wave is my preferred choice as the lower frequency gets you better range, and there's no need for high bandwidth anyway. You didn't mention Z-wave, but you may run into the need in the future. So mostly looking at the HA mesh as a fallback for places where I need a sensor and can’t go wired. I'm just not sure what's good, what's not, what's reliable, whether ZWave vs Zigbee makes a difference in this application, etc. KNX is the correct choice for a new build, RF mesh networks are best suited for retrofits. From the top of my head, WiFi would be more "natural" since the apps connect directly to the thermostats and in theory work similarly to how the vendors set them up in the device UI. Matter canot replace it because Matter isn't UL-rated for security system use and the CSA has stated they aren't planning on it ever meeting the I am looking to see install a Yale Assure Lock 2. It's also a mesh network, which allows devices to relay the signal between them - useful if you have some devices located far from your wifi router. Is this from your experience or just known? All things being equal, will the range from a z-wave node be better or worse than a standard 2. When I was new to Z-wave and got my first devices I just installed the Z-wave integration and was able to add devices. I think the biggest difference between ZigBee and Z-Wave is that Z-Wave is a strictly enforced standard. Yeah if you’re okay with auto-unlock through geofencing you’d probably be fine without HomeKey. Great recap. It is slow and reliable by desi I have converted 90% of my WiFi switches, etc. Z-wave has better reliability (there's post after post of people complaining about ZigBee devices dropping off the network, devices not repeating properly, etc). I did a stick in a virtual host built out of an old junk computer. Jun 1, 2020 · Z-Wave, Zigbee and WiFi are the leading wireless smart home technologies but they are not compatible with each other. I have Zigbee, Z-Wave, 433mhz and Wi-Fi devices because there are pros and cons to each. Zigbee also seems to be technically superior in some ways. We use Siri exclusively for voice control. The answer always seems to be to buy yet more pricey z-wave devices so you have a better mesh I sort of wish I'd stayed on wifi. com. A z wave thermostat would be better integrated with HA, but the Ecobee is like 95% there and also has a super nice design compared to the zwave stuff. Due to not having any other Z-wave devices in my home (other devices all use WiFi), I had a few questions about how to extend my Z-wave coverage Apple sells a version with their adapter for $200 total. The classic advice is that anything battery powered should avoid Wi-Fi, but some progress is being made into super low power chips. ah thanks yes getting mixed up with Z-wave: 'The Z-Wave protocol operates on the low-frequency 908. Also, I love the lock. With Ikea stuff being Zigbee too I basically completely switched over. Wi-Fi devices shouldn't directly interfere, but it is susceptible to interference from microwaves, cordless phones, and other electronic devices. I have total WiFi coverage and a solid Z-wave mesh. Between Zigbee and Z-Wave the biggest difference is price. I buy my Zooz products on sale. Although there are a few locks with Z-Wave, it seems that there is much more with WiFi and almost all bells with cameras are WiFi. u/automate_the_things gave a great response already, but I want to clarify Z-Wave vs. First and foremost, as an RF guy, I like the idea of using 900MHz since nothing in my house interferes with it. Reply reply More replies More replies Adventurous-Mud-5508 Dec 2, 2021 · I’ve got a mesh of devices that span from the early days of X10 (one last device I think), Insteon (lots of devices that I’m phasing out) and Z-Wave (which I’ve been using to replace Insteon). And idle devices on WiFi won't impact the bandwidth of anything else on them. 4GHz wifi signal? I ask because I have a Wemo switch which is right at the end of its range (drops on and off the network all the time) but have seen the aeonlabs micro switch (2E) which would fulfill my requirements much better (the ability to switch two circuits from one device) but I don't want to Bad: some compatibility issues between vendors (less with newer v3 devices), possible interference with 2. com systems can use z-wave. Hello I am planning to replace some my dumb wall light switches to Z-wave switches. Members Online • Zigbee & Z-wave have a mesh network so I can have them further away from the hub and still work perfectly fine. But if you only have to pick between wifi and zigbee, zigbee is I also picked Z-Wave for some reason. Also worried about getting better reliability, responsiveness and up time. Also there is great interoperability between devices from different manufacturers. I thought I had decided on Ecobee but now I'm having second thoughts. In otherwords you have to generally choose the type you want. Problem is, the First Alert z-wave detectors do not interconnect, or at least I’m not aware of any way to make one alarm trigger all the others. Z-Wave only, Matter only etc). And those vents cut off about 50% of the airflow vs a standard vent, even when open, because of space of the batteries and the mechanism to open and close them. Z wave is more expensive but "the best" all around. To connect it to your Wifi, you need to use a bridge that has to be plugged into a nearby outlet. Z-wave doesn't experience interference from wifi, Bluetooth, or microwaves like Zigbee does (Z-wave does struggle with sheet metal, though). I didn't do enough research into it and basically flipped a coin. . This makes it incredibly easy to expand the size of your network because the farthest away devices will just have their signals repeated back to the hub through devices that are closer. I'm curious if the new Schlage Z Wave locks are better in terms of Z Wave and exposed sensors since they are Z Wave Plus, especially where they would talk through a repeater. Z wave is also a more regulated standard so everything z wave is certified to work with everything else. This is probably the #1 reason for using technology like Z-Wave and Zigbee instead Oct 6, 2019 · When you directly compare Wi-Fi plugs with Z-wave Plugs, Wi-Fi Bulbs with ZigBee Bulbs, and Wi-Fi light switches with Z-Wave light switches, you see a noticeable difference in price. Ir has great range and network is completely independent of 2. Z-wave direct associations would be perfect for this, since they don’t entrust your family’s safety on the Z-wave hub being available, but when last I checked the docs, they didn’t support this. Even security sensors don't use it because it impacts battery life. Conversetrly, I can just buy the SL now and later buy the adapter $120. Official subreddit for Hubitat Elevation, home automation platform that is 100% local, reliable, doesn't require dedicated internet, supports zigbee, z-wave and lan / cloud devices. For example, of you have a separate ZigBee hub, you can connect that device to home assistant via MQTT, or use a USB ZigBee dongle and zigbee2mqtt to forward everything I got a mix of wifi and zigbee kids new to this but like the non wifi as they default to be locally controlled vs wifi defaulting mostly to cloud services. 42 MHz band in Europe. Sub Reddit for all things related to Z-Wave. For example, I can get a Z-wave switch for like $45 to $60, or I can get this switch for $12 that has almost a 5 star rating: If you are in North America, these are the three primary home lock manufacturers. Plus if you leave a review on their site you get a 5% off coupon. We replaced an older Yale unit that had the separate WiFi/Bluetooth bridge that ate batteries every three months or so. Or check it out in the app stores     TOPICS. 2 WiFi direct is certainly better than otherwise, power-wise, but a basic WiFi packet is still enormous compared to Zigbee/Z-wave, and lack of handshakes introduces some interesting network issues, especially if you don't have a separate network for IoT devices - it's no longer a closed loop. Now that I have a kid, I bought the Yale Assure Lock because I wanted my front door to unlock automatically without fumbling f Consumer-friendly hubs are offered by Vera, Aeotec/SmartThings, Hubitat, and others, and you can go with an open source solution by way of a dongle + Raspberry Pi + Home Assistant. I have Z-Wave Plus and a few signee thing, and Homebridge. I wouldn't be Z-Wave devices are manufactured according to Z-Wave standard technical specifications and protocols. Initially I had only it and 2 other Z-wave devices and it was very difficult to pair. Im wondering which one folks tend to believe is the best to use. Until I started reading that the Wifi version relies on a cloud solution to integrate it into Home Assistant. All you need to do is run a copy of Z-WaveJSUI for each additional network you want to have them connect the network to another Z-Wave JS Integration. I also want the individual control and color options of smart lights, rather than using smart switches. Since wifi is likely the most prominent service using the same spectrum as your z-wave network, taking a look at where your neighbors' are populating it, can help you determine if you're experiencing interference issues. I think the shellys seem like a great option. If you're going to try and install some Z-Wave items as a solution, I suggest going with Z-Wave Plus. Ecobee looks like it may have more features and is definitely a nicer looking unit. Especially in urban areas, such as my residence. Personally as long as you have enough devices to make a decent mesh, I have found both to be very reliable, and either to be preferable over wi-fi. 4ghz frequency as well, while z-wave works better through walls. I quickly realized that Z-Wave is expensive. HA runs as a guest. It is optional for Z-Wave and ZigBee devices, but if you plan to use any local wifi devices like Tasmota, then you will probably be better off setting up everything to use it. switches are easily 2x-3x more than their wifi counter parts, and with a larger house, i I'd recommend the Z-wave route myself for the simple reason that you can't assign other users to the MyQ. I may have one WiFi device left, but I've tried to purge WiFi for HA. (z-wave chip shortages). The Z-Stick 7 is 'more' future proof than the Gen5+ one as it uses the latest Z-Wave tech stack. Wifi isn't scalable basically, and has security concerns. Dec 10, 2024 · Z-Wave seems like it’s getting less popular, but is rock solid. 4ghz. Visit uses z-wave. In the U. Z-wave is just a communication method (like wifi) -- but it is different in that it builds a mes network. We had our new AC unit installed and was excited that I got a Honeywell T6 Pro as my thermostat / controller and that it can be controlled by Home Assistant. KNX is a worldwide standard, and was just recently ratified as the ISO standard for smart buildings in Australasia. to Z-Wave using mostly Zooz products connecting via a USB 800LR stick on Home Assistant. Z-wave range is longer, it’s not in the 2. Z-wave has its own encryption as well. at least, Zigbee is close/on-top of 2. I didn't realize that I needed a different module to integrate with the Ring Alarm. ) Based on my research, it seems the top two are Leviton Decora and GE's Z-Wave Plus. I have had z-wave,x10 and UPB traditional rockers in the past and really like the look and feel of the caseta. So what to do? Z-Wave with slower resonse and limited devices. If you want to put a device in an area where WiFi is poor, you need to extend your WiFi infrastructure. Millions of security systems in the US. Also, if you read their FAQ on the Z-Wave page, it says "to lock or unlock from anywhere, you need to connect your Ultraloq with a compatible Z-Wave-certified home automation system". One big plus point for zwave is it's frequency. Get the Reddit app Scan this QR code to download the app now LoRa vs Zigbee vs Z-Wave . Posted by u/chocobo15 - 3 votes and 11 comments E. ZigBee and Z-Wave are designed for low speed, but also low latency. That being said, I have all 3. Dealing with WiFi dead zones in your home tends to be more expensive. Successful certification confirms compatibility and interoperability with other Z-Wave devices. S. 4Ghz is a fckn nightmare spectrum. However, it sounds like some of those features don't always work with HA. I'm curious to hear from people who use both. Z-wave devices cost a little more than Zigbee and Wifi are by far going to be the cheapest BUT don't work on battery devices well if at all. I have since built out my Z-wave network to include nearly 30 devices, mostly mains powered wall switches. Archived post. ' I do have the 2007 model (which isn't the year, but indicates it's using the 700 series z-wave chipset-- I think). But so few Z-Wave devices. Gaming Z-Wave vs Wifi upvotes So I bought a SmartThings for my Nest and I decided I'd like to use Z-Wave for my home's switch/lighting setup throughout the house (~2,000 sq ft. First, the Z-Wave version isn't released yet and they haven't published a date for the release. WiFi is designed with speed in mind, but not latency. On the other hand, I would like to eventually automate via my ST hub on things like presence etc. com you are able to see all of the certified Z-Wave devices. Zigbee is an open standard with wider adoption. But the ability to alter all of the configuration parameters of the Honeywell via local Z-Wave is just fantastic. I liked the idea of not adding to my wifi traffic so I got into z-wave and now have a bunch of devices. 5 F most of the time, even when switching between heating and cooling. 4 GHz interference, since it uses the 900 MHz band. My home is small so Z-Wave may be best in long run. I’d pick Z-wave over those 2. And limited to 4 hops using repeaters. A few points: Wifi: Avoid cloud-only devices if at all possible. Repair person suggested a try a different Thermostat. Take some more time, read a bunch and welcome to the club. And it's not some scary new communication standard, it just connects to my network, right and I use an app? If you already have a hub, I'd go with z-wave. Share your product knowledge, look for guidance, and show off your uses. But your always going to get that something like for a long time the only fan speed controller/dimmer was insteon. I've been going though the link below. Zigbee is cheaper than z wave but doesn't mesh as smart and is prone to interference due to it being on the very congested 2. I personally prefer Z-wave since all other products I have are Z-Wave, it'll add to the mesh network, consumes less battery, and I consider to be safer since it it is less visible than Wifi. Which protocol is better in term of : 1- power consumption (battery). Biggest issue for me with Z-Wave has is finding supported devices and usually when I do they're prohibitively expensive vs a Zigbee solution as an Aussie. Features and price are the biggest selling points for me, as z-wave options are 2-5 times more expensive than the shellys. One Matter over Thread lock for $300 and two Wifi locks for $250. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. While it’s possible to build a smart home system based entirely on just one of these, a better and more flexible approach is pick the products that best suit your needs and then link them together with a multi-tech hub (like a HomeTroller). This new JS version seems far more complex with what you need to install. I currently use a SmartThings hub for for the ZigBee / Z-Wave devices, which I make visible to HomeKit through tonesto7's Homebridge SmartApp, which unfortunately will die with Groovy. Lots of flakiness and confusion getting it all working, and occasionally a node just. I use to use the stock Z Wave integration with HA then moved to OZW and now ZWave JS and it’s almost perfect but still a little buggy at times. First Alert Battery Powered Z-Wave Smoke Detector & Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Works with Ring Alarm Base Station, 2nd Generation https://a. doesn't work. It could be important if you or your neighbors have lots of WiFi devices/access points. Honeywell Z-Wave sounds more reliable and I like that it's local only. I had to move my Home Assistant RPi and Z-wave dongle to within a few feet of the lock. 4GHz Wifi isn't super stable around here, but both Zigbee and Z-Wave are. When I buy new devices I try try to prioritize in this order: Zigbee > Z-wave > Wifi. Alarm. If Home Assistant supports it, you'd be able to sprinkle these around your property and each one would manage its own Z-Wave network. and the 868. I use and Android and my wife uses an iPhone and we have a Ring. co/d/amjBQlR Can't really comment on Zigbee vs Z-Wave, since I've only used Z-Wave, but if you stick with Z-Wave and you're looking to save a bit over the Jasco/GE switches, which seem perpetually in the $40-45 range, Zooz has some excellent Z-Wave wall switches, currently around $26 at thesmartesthouse. what are some good bulb suggestions that are z-wave. That said, Zigbee devices are usually much cheaper, and still work well as long as you have a strong mesh network. My Zen51 Dry Contact Z-Wave relays are rated for 960W incandescent, 150W LED bulbs, 10A resistive, 1/2 HP fan motors. While no protocol is entirely secure, Z-Wave and Zigbee, at least, can't break into your home network, and would need physical presence at a minimum to be broken in to at all. 4 GHz band where Wi-Fi and Bluetooth operate. So cheap ass crap manufacturers, can't get away with calling non-zigbee stuff, zigbee. Downside is that devices is little more expensive. It's nice to pick the best device (based on features, value, etc) rather than having to stay within a single ecosystem(e. The Z-Wave is severely, severely limited. nvyln iemqyl ihwrd few lehjcltk clzn pokkt rqfdf zquicdkb efset