Re: Wil I be able to use a Z-Wave controller

["Dan Wright" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

"Neil Cherry" <njc@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:slrnfgutd2.mu5.njc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> On Fri, 12 Oct 2007 13:11:11 GMT, Dave Houston wrote:
>> Neil Cherry <njc@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>>Jason Sharpee also found this:
>>>
>>>http://www.leviton.com/OA_HTML/ibeCCtpSctDspRte.jsp?section=22201&minisite=10024
>>
>> Thanks for that URL. The PDF "Specifying a Vizia RF system" says
>> more-or-less the same things I've been saying for a few years (since
>> Z-Wave
>> was introduced). They say you need a node every 30' "typically" while
>> I've
>> said 20-25' for reliability, especially in in an unfriendly RF
>> environment.
>
> This seems reasonable for whole house automation (one every 25 ft) as
> it would be one in every room. But for the Christmas lights folks they
> may have some trouble. My computer is on the far side and the displays
> would be towards to front of my home.
>
> One thing I found out is that in addition the the device module you
> must have a Master (Leviton calls it a Primary) Remote to group the
> devices. The RS232 interface is not a master device. So I now need to
> get a Remote. I intend to go cheap and not get the nice Leviton unit
> but one of the other ugly units. The RS232 documentation suggests it
> should work. I've found one for about $45. I'll find out later if
> Z-Wave will operate without the Remote once the group has been setup.

I've done ~10 Z-wave installations so far and would be glad to answer any
questions you may have.  I also have a Z-controller serial interface you can
play with.  Please contact me direct (dan at starwolfsystems dot com).

Some thoughts:
- Every network must have a master controller.  Its a hand held in many
cases, though there are several serial ones out there that can be master
- Once setup, the lights will work with the master powered down, but without
some sort of command device (handheld, computer, etc) how are you going to
initiate actions?
- The routing algorithm in the master "knows" all devices and provides some
level of routing optimization.  How "smart" the routing actually is seems to
vary, and most vendors are a little cagy on it.  This also means that unlike
X-10 you can not add and remove without updating all the controllers in the
network.  You also must have devices join the network in their intended
physical location.
- I've done both better and worse than 25ft between modules.  However, I am
yet to see a home where I could not get things to work properly.

At this point I am only installing ViziaRF. Levition has worked out the
kinks within their own product line quite well and will fix things when
issues are found without fingerpointing.  HAI has teamed with them as have
other HA vendors like Somfy to insure working solutions that do not require
a lot of X-10 style hacking.

This is not to say that Insteon and others are not there or going to get
there, but right now, for me, Vizia is the best choice.  YMMV.