Clarification on Z-Net Interface

[RyeGWpg]

Maybe I'm missing something but do I need some other device to connect my Z-Wave products to my HomeSeer HS4?
I thought that the Z-Wave products would connect natively to the HS4 but I can't create a HomeSeer Z-Net Ethernet interface in HS4 (using the Z-Wave plugin. Interface init failed: Timeout looking for Z-Wave interface) and I can't seem to find anything concrete as to whether I should be able to connect directly to HS4. I found some documentation but I don't find it very clear.

[zwolfpack]

You need a Z-Wave controller to create a Z-Wave interface.

https://shop.homeseer.com/collection...rk-controllers

[Rupp]

You need an interface to connect HS4 to any protocol. Z-Wave interface for Z-Wave communications, UPB interface for UPB, Insteon ...
Some of the HomeTroller Pi units come with a built in Z-Wave daughter card if you have this hardware.

[zwolfpack]

It would he helpful if at least some of the 'Learn More' links on the HS4 Quick Start Guide yielded something other than an empty page ...

[RyeGWpg]

You need a Z-Wave controller to create a Z-Wave interface.

https://shop.homeseer.com/collection...rk-controllers

Shoot. I wish I would've know that when I ordered all of my HomeSeer stuff last week. Does it matter which one I order? I'm currently running HS4 on my Raspberry Pi but may move to a Linux box at some point if that matters.

[zwolfpack]

Since your in Canada, you'll want one of the US models: https://www.silabs.com/wireless/z-wave/global-regions

The Z-Net is a Raspberry Pi outfitted with a GPIO card containing a Z-Wave controller. It works well; I've run mine for nearly five years now with good results (I did replace the SD card with my own build).

SmartStick+ is a good choice as well. I'll advise against the Nortek HUSBZB-1 at this time; apparently later versions no longer support Z-Wave network restore from backup. From the product page:

Z-Wave networks cannot be restored to the Nortek HUSBZB-1. Only the HomeSeer Z-Net and SmartStick+ support network restoration.

Note, HomeSeer's Hometroller Pi is exactly the same hardware as the Z-Net, just different content on the SD card. Unfortunately the GPIO card (EZZee) isn't available separately.

[Bigstevep]

You should just use your old pi and flash the sd card with a Znet image and you are good to build your Zwave network on that

[kenm]

You should just use your old pi and flash the sd card with a Znet image and you are good to build your Zwave network on that

Huh? What Z-Wave controller would he have at that point?

[RyeGWpg]

You should just use your old pi and flash the sd card with a Znet image and you are good to build your Zwave network on that

I imagine I need the HS4 running someone also though. If I could get HS4 running properly on my Linux box I'd try that but since it keeps stopping working when updating any settings, I switched it over to my Pi3.

[Bigstevep]

Huh? What Z-Wave controller would he have at that point?

You said you had HS4 running on a pi, what Zwave interface are you using?

[RyeGWpg]

You said you had HS4 running on a pi, what Zwave interface are you using?

Apparently I'm not using any Zwave interface at this point. All I have right now is a Raspberry PI with the HS4 image on it. I did a bit more research last night and I guess what I could (ve) done is use my RasPi for my ZWave network (https://raspberrypihq.com/how-to-cre...-raspberry-pi/) and then installed HS4 on another computer. I really like the HS4 on my Pi though instead of a computer so I think I'll order a SmartStick+ and use that for my ZWave network on my HS4 Pi image.

[kenm]

RyeGWpg - You're on the right track now. You need something that can talk Z-Wave (RF signals) so either a USB Z-Wave controller such as the SmartStick+ or a Z-Net, which is nothing more than a Pi with an Z-Wave daughter card, running a custom Pi image. The advantage of using a Z-Net is the fact that you can centrally locate it for better reception without relocating your HS4 system.

[RyeGWpg]

RyeGWpg - You're on the right track now. You need something that can talk Z-Wave (RF signals) so either a USB Z-Wave controller such as the SmartStick+ or a Z-Net, which is nothing more than a Pi with an Z-Wave daughter card, running a custom Pi image. The advantage of using a Z-Net is the fact that you can centrally locate it for better reception without relocating your HS4 system.

kenm Fortunately I don't have a lot of area to cover so I'm thinking I should be OK with the SmartStick+ on my RPI. As long as it reaches the garage I'm golden.

[kenm]

A good rule-of-thumb for Z-Wave is Max 30ft (~10M) line-of-sight between devices and Max of 4 hops between furthest device and the controller.

[RyeGWpg]

kenm I just reread your command and realized that you said it ran on RF. I was thinking the devices communicated via ethernet so I may need to do more tweaking than I thought but I guess we'll see when my stuff arrives. Thanks for the tips.