Zigbee vs. Z-wave vs. Insteon vs. X10
The past few months have left me looking harder and harder at the current protocol that I use in my house to control lighting and other automated events. Currently I am using the Decora style X10 dimmer switches, X10 receptacles, X10 motion sensors, X10 Socket rockets, X10 serial controller that is driven by Homeseer and X10 remotes scattered around the house. (some slimline switches, keychain, universal remotes and last but not least in wall controllers).
I spent this weekend working on getting 8 new switches in my house finishing up the top and middle floor leaving my game room and theater along with outside light still on the to-do list. Let me state for the record that I have always been an opponent of X10 lighting controls primarily because of the price point and also just the length that I have used them. I am accustomed to the unwanted light turning on about once a month in the house and some issues here and there not knowing for sure if the garage lights have actually shut off or not. This for the most part I can live with – not ideal but I can live with it as my options 10 years ago where very limited. I have been using Homeseer along with the Media Center Plug-in allowing control of my security system, lighting and other devices used in my automation environment. (more on this later – I added Vista to the mix and the results where less then desirable) I am currently using the CM11A to intercept x10 commands on house codes currently not in use and recreate the scene lighting that I am after. Most of the time this works fine and I would have to say the few times I have issues with this its not that big of a deal (because I put it in myself, I am going to look past a few glitches). This last weekend was the breaking straw, I spent about an hour trying to get a dimmer switch working with the X10 model of a switch (RWS17) and a companion switch (RWS19). I then proceeded to add a X10 (4086v2) to make sure that the lights come on and dim when I pull into the garage after work and turnoff shortly after I walk inside. Low and behold, I was unable to get this to work so I deiced I would let it sit and see if I can get it working when I return from dinner. When we returned home later that night we found the lights flashing on, then off over and over. Great! So at that point I decided that it was time for a new protocol. This time I have a few requirements:
* Secure
* 2 way communication
* Can be used with Homeseer
* Must be widely adopted
* Price point must be reasonable
Zigbee vs. Z-wave vs. InsteonThree somewhat new protocols with multiple advantages and disadvantages. Note: Let me also state that if I was not retrofitting a house we would be talking about a completely different solution as well.
Zigbee and Z-Wave
The two competing solutions offer a mesh type architecture utilizing each device as a receiver and a transmitter. This design relays signals from one node to the other essentially meaning the more nodes you have on site the better your network may be.Â
Zigbee is also found in both commercial/ industrial controls by the likes of Philips, Motorola, and Mitsubishi holding an industry standard formed as IEEE 802.15.4. The Zigbee home automation market has followers such as Control4, AMX, Crestron and Vantage. (Big names in the market) Control4 offers switches for about $100 each and the first to market with a Zigbee residential dimmer. (Note- that a controller is also needed for your automation to work)
Z-Wave seems to be targeted more on the residential markets and has been around a short time longer then the Zigbee offering. As its based on more of the home market at its current stage, it has attracted brands such as Sylvania (lighting), Wayne Dalton (door openers) and Leviton (lighting). Dimmers are starting around $45 each and offered by several companies on line. (Note- like Zigbee, a controller is also needed for your automation to work)
Last but not least, Insteon. Insteon I happened to stumble across on smarthome.com and later found that this protocol and brand is an in-house technology offered by smarthome.com. The device uses similar technologies as the mesh networks and also bridges a concept of PLC (Power line – somewhat of the same technology that x10 uses) to create a hybrid of the two network offerings. This allows the lighting controls to operate without the need for bridges and repeaters. Targeted around $30 a dimmer, Insteon is currently the lowest product offering on the market offering a meshed type architecture. Note: Powerline (PCL) controls use bursts of noise on your internal wiring within your house to send signals to the switches/modules that control the on and off state. This noise is essentially what X10 uses to operate its network within your home. The good news, it looks like Homeseer has plug-ins for all protocols and thus allowing me to still keep some of my X10 and move to a new protocol without the need to rewire my entire home.I am a little concerned that the protocol is the newest, and only seems to be supported by a handful of companies at the moment.  I am still going to order a few Insteon switches and see how well they work. I plan on switching my theater and outside lighting to this protocol as they will be wrapped into separate themes and should not require much programming for my automation system Â
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March 6th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
you really should just get a bunch of clappers installed ’round the house.
March 11th, 2007 at 3:23 pm
Yea? All on or al off? he he ..
So, yes I need less toys in my life I think- less things to think about as I sleep.