Zigbee support

[WiseSeer]

I don't see a recent message updating support for Zigbee. I'm considering adding more devices to my existing home setup. It is Z-wave now but seems Zigbee is superior technology and there are now devices out in the market now (e.g., Kwikset deadbolt while supports Zigbee; and the ETRX2USB from Silica Valley). What is HomeSeer's support for Zigbee controllers, interfaces. If not now, when?

Monty

[Rupp]

There currently is no Zigbee support and I wouldn't expect any unless some third party produces a plugin. There are simply too few devices available for use and Zigbee seems to be marketed toward the industrial market for now.

[Pete]

It would be a great thing if HS supported Zigbee.

Personally I have purchased an Omnistat2 2000 (serial) for FL. Its still sitting in the box though.

I have been procrastinating the wiring of it and may just go to the Omnistat2 Zigbee model instead. I guess sticking with the Omnistat though cuz I've been using it for over 10 years now (originally though with the RC series).

Most likely though my initial Zigbee testing will be here in the Midwest for a period of time. (my HA sandbox is here)

[alchoper]

ZigBee Plugin

It would indeed be nice if HS supported ZigBee. There are now MANY devices available from several parties including www.smartenit.com that include some very attractive/unique solutions such as a 16-zone irrigation controller, an easy to install electric utility meter reader, valve actuators, and all sorts of sensors.

Smartenit.com is offering a developer kit to a qualified plugin developer to deliver HS ZigBee support using either their USB stick or their ZBPLM. The USB stick is ZigBee only and the ZBPLM adds ZigBee to an INSTEON PLM so it can concurrently support both protocols. Both devices use the PLM serial packet protocol so the plugin could be based on an existing INSTEON plugin.

To see some of the solutions Smartenit is delivering with ZigBee and INSTEON, go to video.smartenit.com

[NicolaiL]

Adding ZigBee support might even mean HS integration with the NEST thermostat. That would be an attractive option!

[thecatsandi]

I have two Arduinos that have ZigBee shields. I would love to be able to command these devices vie HomeSeer. Is there a way to build a Z-Wave to ZigBee bridge?
Could we write a driver for an Arduino?

[mark_anderson_us]

It would indeed be nice if HS supported ZigBee. There are now MANY devices available from several parties including www.smartenit.com that include some very attractive/unique solutions such as a 16-zone irrigation controller, an easy to install electric utility meter reader, valve actuators, and all sorts of sensors.

Smartenit.com is offering a developer kit to a qualified plugin developer to deliver HS ZigBee support using either their USB stick or their ZBPLM. The USB stick is ZigBee only and the ZBPLM adds ZigBee to an INSTEON PLM so it can concurrently support both protocols. Both devices use the PLM serial packet protocol so the plugin could be based on an existing INSTEON plugin.

To see some of the solutions Smartenit is delivering with ZigBee and INSTEON, go to video.smartenit.com

There may be lots of devices but they're not all compatible. Zigbee vendors uses different protocol stacks for the upper 3 layers (of 7)' so while it's a standard, you have to specifically know if device a is interoperable with device b. frankly it's a mess. I think I read something somewhere that they're trying to change it, but it's a mammoth task for installed devices.

That's why control4 support some devices and Crestron may not

[thecatsandi]

Thanks for the repost information.

[Todd32]

Adding ZigBee support might even mean HS integration with the NEST thermostat. That would be an attractive option!

It would be nice if we could use the nest auto-away sensor Otherwise I'm pretty happy though letting Nest manage itself.

[mark_anderson_us]

It would be nice if we could use the nest auto-away sensor Otherwise I'm pretty happy though letting Nest manage itself.

Would be even nicer if NEST would publish an API. I've been searchign for Wifi stat with API. Only one on market from what I can see and that's the RadioThermostat's one (aka, filtrete). I was shocked.

[Pete]

I have noticed that on the international side of "things" there seems to be a trend levitating a bit towards Zigbee.

BTW Control4's literally sudden foray into the automation world and use of Zigbee did in fact turn off many folks to the HA world due to basic simple issue of collateral RF interference. This did give both Zigbee and Control4 a "black eye" relating to first time HA users.

Here is a quickie article from Electronic Design.

ZigBeeZ-WaveSummary

http://electronicdesign.com/article/...ee-zwave-73665

[Todd32]

Would be even nicer if NEST would publish an API. I've been searchign for Wifi stat with API. Only one on market from what I can see and that's the RadioThermostat's one (aka, filtrete). I was shocked.

Not quite an open API but here is a python script to get/set what you need from Nest.

http://www.smbaker.com/a-python-api-for-the-nest-learning-thermostat

[mark_anderson_us]

I have noticed that on the international side of "things" there seems to be a trend levitating a bit towards Zigbee.

BTW Control4's literally sudden foray into the automation world and use of Zigbee did in fact turn off many folks to the HA world due to basic simple issue of collateral RF interference. This did give both Zigbee and Control4 a "black eye" relating to first time HA users.

in my discussons with HA vendors that covers the two reasons why they elected to use Zigbee:

1. Global acceptance - Z-wave is still obtaining licenses to use the spectrum for different countries (territories) and each country may require a different frequency (e.g Europe and US use different frequencies)
2. Not single-sourced. No-one wants to be dependant on a single supplier (Zensys). Last year Zensys licensed a second manufacturer, so the risk is a little lower.

Also Zigbee has been around a lot longer, but I'd still rather have z-wave if I'm cobbling together my own solution because of interoparibilty.

Regards

mark

[Pete]

Over the years past (I am old now) I have had to deal with licensing of radio frequencies in general relating to international whatever endeavors. I had to work with what was most accepted at the time.

Personally it was always a PITA when trying to come up with some "cookie" cutter standards relating whatever country or government laws that governed radio frequencies and play with the various RF standards from one country to another. (relating to what I was doing and writing guidelines for).

The above said the direction will be relating to "one size" fits all on the international side relating to a universally acceptable means of using RF for Home automation.

[Jingoro]

It's a year later, and I'm wondering if there's any reconsideration of Zigbee? I'm seeing a lot more new products support Zigbee (many of Lowe's IRIS line, for example), and I would love to integrate some of their components (especially their dirt-cheap button triggers) into HomeSeer.