A modern trend is the adoption of wireless systems for controlling lighting and other smart home components. In this article, we discuss the wireless digital protocols that are most widely used.
Z-Wave
This protocol was created in 1999. It uses frequencies below 1 GHz instead of the crowded 2.4 GHz band, which provides highly reliable communication. However, because of this, Z-Wave uses different frequency bands in different countries: 908 and 916 MHz in the U.S., 868 MHz in EU countries, and so on. Because Z-Wave was used primarily in the U.S. during its early years, this variation was not a problem. The protocol is developed by the international organization Z-Wave Alliance, but only Silicon Labs manufactures chips for implementing it.
The protocol was originally based on a mesh topology. A key feature of this topology is that each wireless network node can not only receive and transmit information but also relay it to other nodes. Combined with smart routing, this makes it possible to work around obstacles that block radio waves, as well as sources of interference. [Hard to read] During the protocol’s development, special attention was given to low power consumption. As a result, a portable lighting control panel, which looks like a standard remote control, can operate for several months on a single set of batteries.
The current version of the protocol is Z-Wave Plus. Its maximum data rate is 100 kbps, and its communication range is up to 328 ft.
At the end of 2020, the Z-Wave LR protocol was introduced. It features a star topology and a longer communication range of up to 1 mile. [Passive] So far, it has been approved for use only in the U.S. Its main application is large office buildings.
Zigbee
The Zigbee protocol dates back to 2004. Like Z-Wave, it is built on a mesh topology. Zigbee equipment is also highly energy-efficient. The standard is developed by the international organization CSA.
The main band for Zigbee is 2.4 GHz, which does not require a license anywhere in the world. This makes it possible to manufacture a single device model in large volumes for use in different countries. In the U.S., 915 MHz is also available for Zigbee, and a second band is supported in some other countries as well. The second band is rarely used and is mainly chosen when especially reliable communication is needed.
Several companies manufacture chips for implementing the Zigbee protocol, and they compete with one another. Combined with high production volumes, this usually makes Zigbee equipment less expensive than Z-Wave. At the same time, Zigbee offers a higher data rate of up to 250 kbps.
Consumer devices typically use Zigbee 3.0. Its communication range can reach 328 ft. Professional equipment uses Zigbee Pro, where the range can reach 0.9 miles. In 2023, Zigbee Direct was introduced, making it possible to connect Bluetooth devices, such as smartphones, directly to the wireless network.
Conclusions
By many measures, Zigbee outperforms Z-Wave Pro. However, because Z-Wave appeared five years earlier, it became the market leader in the U.S. Zigbee, meanwhile, became the most popular wireless protocol in the rest of the world. As technology continues to evolve, both protocols will gradually be replaced by other wireless protocols based on the IoT.
