ZWave or WiFi or ?

[CountryPlace]

Hope this is the right place for this! I have a new HomeTroller Zee. I didn't move my old system with me (Wink) so I only have a few light bulbs and some zwave switches. I have an opportunity to basically start from scratch. I want to automate every light switch and fan switch in the house. I know Zwave works pretty well and I have had zero problems with ZigBee light bulbs. I don't necessarily want CHEAP. I have a bit of a budget. I don't need the Cadillac, but rather a good Chevy! I will have WiFi that will support 200+ devices if WiFi is the choice. What's everyone doing now?

[drhtmal]

There have been many lively discussions regarding this topic. They usually end up as a Ford vs. Chevy argument. Rather than rehash that here you might try a search of the forum.

[Pete]

Here never wanted wireless anything (automation / media). My current in wall switches are all UPB (powerline on steroids) that have worked well now for many years. I have a place ZWave and zigbee controllers and have played. Still using X10. Wired many sensors to the alarm panel (contact / PIR / external).

Most recently have decided to do house #2 (which I do not live in) with all wireless devices and using MQTT integration. It is working well for me. That and the wireless switches (modded to be removed off the internet) are very reasonably priced when purchased in bulk. Recently integrated Ring alarm, Alexa devices, Wireless doorbell (I was never one to use wireless cameras for anything) and it is working fine for me. I did add some catXX cabling to every room of the house which was easy to do from the basement. This was more of an exercise then anything else.

The base network infrastructure is identical using Ruckus WAPs, Managed POE switches, PFSense Firewall for both houses.

[ewkearns]

In my experience (and this is where post #2 is imminently correct) I'm really leaning towards WiFi and Zigbee, although I began with Z-Wave and currently have more of that in my network than WiFi. Zigbee will happen when I have time to build a Raspbee controller and install it.

Z-Wave

Pros:

• Can form a strong mesh
• Z-Wave Plus and the soon-to-be on the market hardware is good
• Ease of Z-Wave Plus inclusion

Cons:

• If it doesn't work it can be a bear to troubleshoot
• Expensive
• Z-Wave certification is not straightforward - there is no Gestalt in Z-wave; a device is no stronger than the intersection of its command classes and those of the controller. Put another way, a device has certified features and a controller has certified features, but the only ones that will work are the ones that are common to both devices. And not all similar devices are the same (e.g., not all thermostats have the same features).
• Z-Wave (not plus) inclusion can be very aggravating

Zigbee Caveat: I don't have personal experience with these, yet, but considering adoption, this is my take:
Pros

• Reasonably Priced
• Create a strong mesh
• Excel at battery-powered devices

Cons:

• Is not yet well supported by HST
• At this time, best practices suggest becoming familiar with Raspberry Pi and Conbee

WiFi

Pros:

• Very reasonably priced
• Probably use existing WiFi equipment, but if not this is a con

Cons:

• If you don't have existing hp in WiFi, you must install it
• AFAIK, there are no battery-powered units
• You may want or need to become familiar with VLANs

I personally think that the best practice is to tailor the three technologies to your needs, rather than get into that Ford, Chevy, Toyota argument. They all have strengths and weaknesses. YMMV.

[CountryPlace]

There have been many lively discussions regarding this topic. They usually end up as a Ford vs. Chevy argument. Rather than rehash that here you might try a search of the forum.

Agreed. I had only been a member of this forum for about an hour when I got the bright idea to ask the question. I had no idea how incredibly thorough this forum was at the time. I know the answer is subjective, but I was hoping there were some definitive answers. Such is life. Thanks!

[CountryPlace]

In my experience (and this is where post #2 is imminently correct) I'm really leaning towards WiFi and Zigbee,

Great help! THANKS! So the answer is, the best (or good product) for the job at the time? ZigBee for battery powered motion detectors and door sensors and light bulbs, Zwave for mission critical like door locks and light switches, WIFI for...whatever it is best for?? Makes sense. That was the one beauty of the Wink. I bought what was cheapest at the time and then I never gave another thought about how it was connected. I am assuming the Zee is similar, but I need to add ZigBee to it. Thanks!

[tenholde]

I would recommend UPB light switches is you are willing to spend the $s. Beats wireless every time, and the devices link among themselves to provide much more flexibility than other solutions. HA down, switches still talk to each other.

[CountryPlace]

I would recommend UPB light switches

Wow. They are pricy. My dad had us wired up for X10 growing up in the 70's and 80's. I remember lots of filters on big stuff. I remember frying a filter we put on the new microwave..... I remember nothing working when we cooked something in the microwave. I remember things working faster when we cooked something in the oven. Are all/most of the powerline issues resolved? I thought that is why X10 died and folks moved to wireless.

[langenet]

I use mostly Z-wave, some Zigbee and believe it or not, still a few X-10. For myself, I think a combination of Z-wave a Zigbee is best. This way if any one architecture craps out, at least you still have some automation. Both are very reliable in my case - though, I don't have nor do I want every light switch automated.

[ksum]

One thing to be careful of is to make sure your WiFi router can handle enough connections. Some of the service provider units are limited on the number of devices which can be connected. Most of the larger providers are pushing new routers and these probably up or drop the limit with all of the connected appliances. Still, something to check if you are going WiFi.

Also, many will put all their IoT/Home Automation items on a separate network (VLAN). Again, to consider if you go strictly WiFi.

[Pete]

Here still utilize X10 for my Christmas decorations. Outdoors use the old Black and Decker Freewire X10 modules. This combined with an old wireless palmpad I can go outside and turn all of the lights on with one button. Switched landscaping transformers to DIN mounted 12VDC LED power supplies inside of the house controlled by UPB.

[upstatemike]

One thing to be careful of is to make sure your WiFi router can handle enough connections. Some of the service provider units are limited on the number of devices which can be connected. Most of the larger providers are pushing new routers and these probably up or drop the limit with all of the connected appliances. Still, something to check if you are going WiFi.

Also, many will put all their IoT/Home Automation items on a separate network (VLAN). Again, to consider if you go strictly WiFi.

What is logic of putting HA stuff on a separate VLAN if you want everything to work together locally? If you make a VLAN for HA stuff then don't all of your user interfaces like phones, tablets, and computers also need to be on that VLan? And the things being controlled like TVs or Set Top Boxes, Network music systems, etc. would also need to be on that VLAN wouldn't they? So what would remain on the original LAN?

[Wade]

What is logic of putting HA stuff on a separate VLAN if you want everything to work together locally? If you make a VLAN for HA stuff then don't all of your user interfaces like phones, tablets, and computers also need to be on that VLan? And the things being controlled like TVs or Set Top Boxes, Network music systems, etc. would also need to be on that VLAN wouldn't they? So what would remain on the original LAN?

My PCs, phones, tablets, HS server, etc are on my primary ("secure") VLAN with rules allowing the IoT stuff minimum necessary access.

[ksum]

The reason people do this is to keep less secure items off the same VLAN as their systems. You can set your router to allow items on the more secure VLAN to access items on the IoT VLAN.

[Dweber85rc]

I would say stick with zwave for light switches and critical things that can still operate if the internet or your router goes down. Most consumer level network gear is not built to handle that many devices. But mix and match technologies to get what you want. There is no one size fits all where you can say only zwave or only wifi. The most robust systems that I have seen seem to make use of multiple wireless technologies in their own respective niche area.