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?
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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.- Pete
Auto matorHomeseer 3 Pro - 3.0.0.548 (Linux) - Ubuntu 18.04/W7e 64 bit Intel Haswell CPU 16Gb
HS4 Pro - Ubuntu 22.04 / Lenova Tiny M900 / 32Gb Ram
HSTouch on Intel tabletop tablets (Jogglers) - Asus AIO - Windows 11X10, UPB, Zigbee, ZWave and Wifi MQTT automation-Tasmota-Espurna. OmniPro 2, Russound zoned audio, Alexa, Cheaper RFID, W800 and Home Assistant
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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
- 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
- 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
- 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
HomeSeer Version: HS4 Pro Edition 4.2.19.0 (Windows - Running as a Service)
Home Assistant 2024.3
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro - Desktop
Z-Wave Devices via two Z-Net G3s
Zigbee Devices via RaspBee on RPi 3b+
WiFi Devices via Internal Router.
Enabled Plug-Ins
AK GoogleCalendar 4.0.4.16,AK HomeAssistant 4.0.1.23,AK SmartDevice 4.0.5.1,AK Weather 4.0.5.181,AmbientWeather 3.0.1.9,Big6 3.44.0.0,BLBackup 2.0.64.0,BLGData 3.0.55.0,BLLock 3.0.39.0,BLUPS 2.0.26.0,Device History 4.5.1.1,EasyTrigger 3.0.0.76,Harmony Hub 4.0.14.0,HSBuddy 4.51.303.0,JowiHue 4.1.4.0,LG ThinQ 4.0.26.0,ONVIF Events 1.0.0.5,SDJ-Health 3.1.1.9,TPLinkSmartHome4 2022.12.30.0,UltraCID3 3.0.6681.34300,Z-Wave 4.1.3.0
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Originally posted by drhtmal View PostThere 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.
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Originally posted by ewkearns View PostIn my experience (and this is where post #2 is imminently correct) I'm really leaning towards WiFi and Zigbee,
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Originally posted by tenholde View PostI would recommend UPB light switches
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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.HS3PRO 3.0.0.500 as a Fire Daemon service, Windows 2016 Server Std Intel Core i5 PC HTPC Slim SFF 4GB, 120GB SSD drive, WLG800, RFXCom, TI103,NetCam, UltraNetcam3, BLBackup, CurrentCost 3P Rain8Net, MCsSprinker, HSTouch, Ademco Security plugin/AD2USB, JowiHue, various Oregon Scientific temp/humidity sensors, Z-Net, Zsmoke, Aeron Labs micro switches, Amazon Echo Dots, WS+, WD+ ... on and on.
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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.
Karl S
HS4Pro on Windows 10
1070 Devices
56 Z-Wave Nodes
104 Events
HSTouch Clients: 3 Android, 1 iOS
Google Home: 3 Mini units, 1 Pair Audios, 2 Displays
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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.- Pete
Auto matorHomeseer 3 Pro - 3.0.0.548 (Linux) - Ubuntu 18.04/W7e 64 bit Intel Haswell CPU 16Gb
HS4 Pro - Ubuntu 22.04 / Lenova Tiny M900 / 32Gb Ram
HSTouch on Intel tabletop tablets (Jogglers) - Asus AIO - Windows 11X10, UPB, Zigbee, ZWave and Wifi MQTT automation-Tasmota-Espurna. OmniPro 2, Russound zoned audio, Alexa, Cheaper RFID, W800 and Home Assistant
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Originally posted by ksum View PostOne 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.
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Originally posted by upstatemike View Post
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
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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.Karl S
HS4Pro on Windows 10
1070 Devices
56 Z-Wave Nodes
104 Events
HSTouch Clients: 3 Android, 1 iOS
Google Home: 3 Mini units, 1 Pair Audios, 2 Displays
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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.
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