You've likely encountered announcements about the arrival of Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) devices. In fact, many of the products sold at our store today support the new ZWLR protocol. But what exactly does "long range" mean in the context of home automation? How is it different from the conventional Z-Wave mesh setup? And most importantly, what advantages does it offer to everyday users?
We'll be addressing these questions and more below as we look into the evolution of Z-Wave Long Range, exploring its mechanics, functionalities, and the transformative impact on the landscape of home automation. If you're curious about the future of smart home technology and how it could enhance your living experience and daily life, you'll find plenty of useful tips and insights in this post.
Don't feel like reading? Watch this video from DIY Smart Home Guy for a quick tech recap and some cool automation ideas for Z-Wave Long Range. Don't forget to subscribe, like, and comment on YouTube.
In simple terms, ZWLR allows for direct hub-to-device connection at longer distances, bypassing the standard Z-Wave mesh network of repeating devices.
Until now, the strength of Z-Wave has been in the mesh network. The more non-battery powered Z-Wave devices you had, the stronger your mesh network and the farther you could extend it. A single standard Z-Wave mesh network on a single hub could support up to 232 devices within the mesh, with up to 4 hops. The maximum range with 4 hops on a standard mesh network is roughly 600 feet (or 200 meters), based on the average Z-Wave mains powered device.
Instead, ZWLR devices operate on a distinctive star network topology, a configuration where the gateway or hub serves as the central point, establishing direct connections with individual devices. This new design offers significant advantages, including the capacity to support up to 4000 nodes within the network. These direct communication pathways between the gateway/hub and devices minimizes latency and enhances performance, particularly in environments characterized by high levels of wireless communication activity.
The key difference between a ZWLR star network and a standard Z-Wave mesh network is the star topography allows direct gateway/hub-to-device connection across increased distances, whereas mesh traditionally permits signals to hop from node to node until the intended destination is met. With a mesh network, the number of end devices strengthen connectivity and boost signal. The downside of the mesh, however, is that it can cause some latency in command execution when signals need to travel through 3 or 4 repeating devices to reach the end device.
The graphic below illustrates the standard Z-Wave mesh network working alongside the ZWLR star topography. Note the ZWLR devices in yellow have a solid line connection only to the hub, while the mesh devices, indicated in blue, show a dotted line with connection to the hub or through repeating Z-Wave devices.
You can connect ZWLR and mesh devices to the same hub! With this kind of hybrid setup, your mesh devices benefit from the strength of repeating devices and can also be programmed via direct association for quicker device-to-device communication, working even when the hub is down. At the same time you can also leverage the direct connectivity advantages and range of ZWLR star topography in other parts of your set-up. This ensures that the network operates at its optimum level, delivering consistent performance and reliability across various scenarios and usage patterns. This allows you to experience the best of both worlds: the resilience and programming options of mesh networks and the efficiency of direct communication pathways, resulting in an unparalleled home automation experience.
Since Z-Wave and ZWLR are designed to co-exist, ZWLR reserves network nodes for new or existing Z-Wave mesh network devices to preserve compatibility and guarantee interoperability between certified Z-Wave devices on the network. It is an optimal wireless protocol for applications where long-range, high performance, low power, and increased security are vital for connected devices. When star and mesh networks are used in concert, ZWLR is ideally suited to cover large areas with centrally controlled and monitored systems.
Remember that in order to add a device with Z-Wave Long Range enabled, your Z-Wave hub or home automation software needs to support Z-Wave Long Range as well. In other words, any Z-Wave Long Range end device can be paired as either a ZWLR or traditional Z-Wave Plus device to your hub. But you need a ZWLR enabled hub to start building a Z-Wave Long Range network. While more systems are adding this functionality, please check with your platform provider about this feature first.
In the ever-evolving landscape of smart home technology, one of the biggest challenges has been extending connectivity to areas beyond the traditional reach of wireless protocols. For homeowners with expansive properties or multiple outbuildings, controlling devices such as gates, garage doors, and outbuilding locks remotely has often been a logistical hurdle.
Traditionally, these remote locations have been situated at a distance from the main dwelling that is further than the maximum 600 ft approximate range of the standard Z-Wave mesh, posing a challenge to reliably connect and control. However, with the introduction of ZWLR, the possibilities for remote control and monitoring have expanded exponentially. No longer confined by the limitations of traditional protocols, ZWLR can penetrate through walls and across vast distances, up to 1.5 miles, seamlessly connecting compatible systems and end devices in connected and free-standing buildings alike.
One of the most exciting benefits of Z-Wave LR is the massive increase in transmission range. The specification supports a maximum output power of 30dBm (the maximum power allowed by FCC regulations), which can be leveraged to bolster range capabilities and support future transmission distances up to several miles.
Imagine being able to effortlessly open the gate at the end of your driveway from the comfort of your living room, or securely lock the door to your detached garage based on an automated trigger or schedule. With ZWLR, these scenarios are not only possible but easily achievable. Homeowners with large properties can now enjoy the convenience and peace of mind that comes with being able to control many devices spread across the estate, from pool houses and workshops to barns, chicken coops, guest houses, and beyond.
ZWLR devices automatically adjust and optimize the radio output power at every transmission. This dynamic power control is critical to supporting future-proof Z-Wave device installations since one of the most compelling use-cases for sensors with increased battery life is the ability to deploy them in hard-to-reach places such as attics, basements, or behind walls.
Thanks to the star topology and direct hub-to-device communication, adding a Z-Wave Long Range device is much quicker than to a traditional mesh. The node doesn't need to report neighbors and the hub doesn't need to establish a custom route for each device anymore. This much simpler structure translates into a seamless pairing experience for all of us!
ZWLR introduces an additional 100kbps DSSS OQPSK modulation to the Z-Wave protocol. This modulation actually acts as a fourth channel, which allows gateways to incorporate LR nodes alongside existing Z-Wave channel scanning. The ZWLR network expands its addressing space to 12-bit, which is the key factor enabling it to accommodate up to 4000 nodes. The increase in the addressing space which helps increase the number of devices from 232 to 4000 on a single hub is made possible by several key enhancements in ZWLR:
ZWLR introduces a 64-bit addressing scheme for node IDs, effectively doubling the address space compared to traditional Z-Wave networks. This allows for a much larger number of unique identifiers, enabling the support of up to 4000 devices within a single network.
ZWLR incorporates advanced routing algorithms optimized for long-range communication. These algorithms enable more efficient use of network resources and facilitate the management of a larger number of devices within the network without sacrificing performance or reliability.
ZWLR introduces improvements in network management protocols, allowing for better scalability and stability in networks with a large number of connected devices. This includes features such as dynamic network optimization and load balancing, which help ensure that the network operates smoothly even as the number of devices increases.
The extended range capabilities of ZWLR enable the deployment of larger networks spanning greater distances, thereby accommodating a larger number of devices spread across expansive properties or multiple buildings.
When considering the RF range of Z-Wave, it's important to note the different power levels utilized by regular Z-Wave and ZWLR. The following values reflect US standards, as regulations vary by region.
There are 3 levels of Z-Wave RF transmit power in the US:
-1dBm – Regular Z-Wave GFSK modulation – 12mA
+14dBm – ZWLR DSSS-OQPSK modulation – 41mA
+20dBm – ZWLR DSSS-OQPSK modulation – 92mA
The significant increase in transmit power is the main reason why ZWLR boasts more than double the range of regular Z-Wave. This increased power capability in ZWLR is made possible by its spread spectrum modulation, which spreads energy across a 1MHz carrier, contrasting with the narrower band Frequency-Shift Keying (FSK) used in regular Z-Wave mesh networks. While the FCC permits a transmit power of up to +30dBm, this could pose a challenge for battery-powered devices, potentially requiring as much as half an amp of current, which is quite demanding for standard batteries.
This leads into the reason for having two power levels currently for ZWLR: matching the RF transmit power to the typical power supply of the intended application. +14dBm is often utilized in battery-powered devices, where even the 41mA current can strain low-cost batteries. On the other hand, the +20dBm is better suited for mains-powered devices, maximizing the range potential. ZWLR employs dynamic RF power, meaning that for nodes situated close enough to the hub, only sufficient RF power is utilized to reliably communicate with the controller, thereby extending battery life. This dynamic power algorithm is integrated into the Z-Wave protocol, which entirely eliminates the need for manual management.
Whether it's simply easy control of your previously hard to reach garage door, opening a gate from the comfort of your living room, or monitoring devices in remote outbuildings, ZWLR empowers users with newfound flexibility and peace of mind. The exciting development of ZWLR and the future possibilities it opens up makes it clear it's not just about the house anymore. It's about changing the game in smart home tech, making life easier in ways we've never seen before. With ZWLR at the helm, the future of home automation looks promising, brimming with innovative concepts and enhanced avenues for connectivity through Z-Wave Long Range.
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Yes, Home Assistant, Hubitat, and HomeSeer with the Z-Wave Plus plug-in and ZWLR Z-Wave dongle all support Z-Wave Long Range.