Small battery powered sensors and switches, the fundamentals of a smart home, simply cannot run on WiFi. That’s great, but comes with significant overheads, and those overheads need lots of power. WiFi is focused on providing high speed, high bandwidth communications for things like web browsing, database applications, streaming content and real time activities like games and video calls. Remote access still requires internet connectivity, so obviously will only function if your connection is working normally. This will also continue to work so long as your smart phone is one the same network as the controller. It also means you can manage all these devices with one app (for the controller), as opposed to different apps from each device maker. This reduces response time (even where multiple hops are required on the local network) and improves reliability as your smart devices will still function normally regardless of internet outages. Local ControlĪs Z-Wave provides a standard interoperability layer for all it’s devices, and operates over a local network with direct connection to the controller, Z-Wave devices are not dependent on any internet or cloud services to function. This is a far cry from WiFi devices, whose security is often an after thought, and for which there is no independent verification. Newer Z-Wave devices need to use strong encryption and a security-by-design approach in order to be certified. This is especially so with WiFi based smart devices as they tend to also rely on third party cloud servers to provide control and integration with smartphone apps and other services.īy keeping control of your devices local through a controller, Z-Wave is able to manage all security and integration between devices much more consistently, and segregates the different types of traffic used in the home. This is simply because every device added to a network increases the number of attack points due to potential flaws in device firmware. The device will have a numeric key or a QR code which needs to be entered (or scanned) to confirm the inclusion is for the intended device.īy keeping smart devices off your home network, you reduce the exposure to additional avenues of attack and keep your personal data safe. The device should appear in the controller interface ready to use.ĭevices with S2 security have an additional code validation to prevent rogue devices being added. Then, with the device in its installation position for signal mapping purposes, press its Z-Wave button to start the pairing process. The process is simple On the controller user interface (be it a web interface or app) you initiate adding a new device. Devices are added to the Z-Wave network in a process called ‘inclusion’ which not only allocates them a network ID, but adds encryption keys and maps the signal strength to nearby devices for message routing. Within that network each device is also given a unique node ID (8 bits) which allows up to 232 individuals devices. This does create a dependency on the controller, but also has security and performance benefits.Įach Z-Wave network has a unique ID (32 bits) which ensures devices on different networks cannot talk to each other. This local network is centered on a controller (commonly called a smart home hub), which typically also acts as a gateway device to allow connection to your normal home network.Īs such the only thing on your normal network is the controller, and all the other Z-wave devices are sectioned off on their own network. Z-wave is specifically designed for home automation, essentially creating a separate local network just for control messages and status data. As of 2019, the current generation of the SoC is the 700 series, full use of which is branded as Z-Wave Plus V2.ġ999 - Zensys develops automation system 2003 - 100 series SoC released 2004 - First certified device 2005 - 200 series SoC released, Z-Wave Alliance formed 2006 - Intel Capital invests in Zensys, Intel joins alliance 2008 - Acquired by Sigma Designs 2013 - Z-Wave Plus Announced, 500 series SoC released 2014 - First Z-Wave Plus certified product 2015 - Security 2 (S2) introduced 2016 - S2 mandated for certification 2017 - Z-Wave SmartStart announced 2018 - Sold to Silicon Labs 2019 - 700 series SoC released ![]() The 200 series (2nd gen) chip followed in 2005, and this is where US adoption began to gain traction.Īdditional features have been added to the protocol since, including Smart Start, which simplifies the process of adding devices to a network, and Security 2 (S2) which significantly bolstered the security design. ![]() This lead to the first certified device coming to market in 2004. This evolved into the initial commercial version of Z-Wave, with the 100 series SoC being released in 2003. Danish company Zensys first developed a consumer lighting control system in 1999.
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