Z-Wave

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tom baker

tom baker

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I am getting started on Z-Wave and looking for a controller. I see there are some USB sticks and then a regular controller. Perhaps the controller is best as it would have Wi-FI- so could use Alexa and an cell phone app.
I bagged up my X-10 and sent it to Good Will
 
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hhsting

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Glen bunie, md, us
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tom baker said:
I am getting started on Z-Wave and looking for a controller. I see there are some USB sticks and then a regular controller. Perhaps the controller is best as it would have Wi-FI- so could use Alexa and an cell phone app.
I bagged up my X-10 and sent it to Good Will
Click to expand...

Z wave? Whats that?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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GoldDigger

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Placerville, CA, USA
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Retired PV System Designer
It is an RF communications and control protocol (including physical layer) used by some Smart Bulbs, Smart Thermostats, etc., and their associated controllers. Using an optional internet bridge it allows control over arbitrarily long distances..
It seems to be winning the battle against competing protocols for interoperability.

www.smarthome.com

Zigbee vs ZWave: Which Is The Best Choice For Your Smart Home?

The never ending debate, Zigbee vs ZWave, what is right for your home? When you’re building out a fully connected smart home with more ambition than a couple of random, standalone devices, there’s one thing you need to consider above all… How well do the devices you have in mind communicate with...
www.smarthome.com www.smarthome.com
 
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DrSparks

DrSparks

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Madison, WI, USA
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Master Electrician and General Contractor
tom baker said:
I am getting started on Z-Wave and looking for a controller. I see there are some USB sticks and then a regular controller. Perhaps the controller is best as it would have Wi-FI- so could use Alexa and an cell phone app.
I bagged up my X-10 and sent it to Good Will
Click to expand...
Check out Home Assistant.

Sent from my BE2028 using Tapatalk
 
egnlsn

egnlsn

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Herriman, UT
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A/V/Security Technician
I've been using a Samsung hub for a few years. No complaints. It does both Zwave and Zigbee. One of the cool things about both of these protocols is that each hardwired device (includes plug-in devices) also acts as a repeater, so while the distance limit is 100 feet , devices can be a few hundred feet from the hub itself by virtue of the repeaters.
 
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GoldDigger

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Retired PV System Designer
egnlsn said:
I've been using a Samsung hub for a few years. No complaints. It does both Zwave and Zigbee. One of the cool things about both of these protocols is that each hardwired device (includes plug-in devices) also acts as a repeater, so while the distance limit is 100 feet , devices can be a few hundred feet from the hub itself by virtue of the repeaters.
Click to expand...
The practical unit to unit range indoors, particularly for Zigbee on WiFi frequencies, can be less than 40 feet, depending on line of sight obstructions. But the mesh network can still extend the range past 100 feet. Zwave limits the mesh to 4 hops.
 
egnlsn

egnlsn

Senior Member
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Herriman, UT
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A/V/Security Technician
GoldDigger said:
The practical unit to unit range indoors, particularly for Zigbee on WiFi frequencies, can be less than 40 feet, depending on line of sight obstructions. But the mesh network can still extend the range past 100 feet. Zwave limits the mesh to 4 hops.
Click to expand...
I didn't know that about it being limited to 4 hops. It's pretty interesting to see the route it takes sometimes.
 
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