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Zigbee interoperability isn't what you might think it is. Think of it like a layer 1-4 interop, while layer 7 (application layer) can, and in many cases is, up
by luma 7y ago
Zigbee interoperability isn't what you might think it is. Think of it like a layer 1-4 interop, while layer 7 (application layer) can, and in many cases is, up to the device vendor. That means Zigbee radios in your house can use each other for mesh networking, but may not actually be able to talk to each other in any meaningful way. ZLL and then ZHA are intended to address this, but aren't always widely adopted by device vendors for a bunch of reasons, one of which might be the "walled garden" you mention.
Solutions like Z-Wave also have a tightly-defined application layer which allows nearly all devices to have some level of meaningful interaction with each other. For example, a Z-Wave motion sensor from Vendor A can turn on a Z-Wave light from Vendor B in response to motion. This was largely possible due to all Z-Wave radios being made by one organization. There are now promises of opening the stack a bit so partners can also develop radios, and it remains to be seen what impact this will have on the interoperability of Z-Wave devices in the future.
- bkor 7y agoIf you like tinkering, look into Zigbee2mqtt (=software). It supports loads of Zigbee devices so you can mix various devices together. Everything you need to do is pretty well explained. IMO home automation is currently anything but smart. It's fun if you like to tinker with things. That'll allow you to get great results. It's still too cumbersome though for non technical family members. Everything needs to be made easier by several factors.
- darkwater 7y agoWhy? Did ever normal people install electric equipment (wires, fusibles, switches etc) in their homes? The biggest problem here is that most electricians are not keeping up with the tech and, as always, tech is atill young and moving too fast. But in most cases you shouldn't worry about zigbee, z-wave, mqtt etc, you should just tell the electrician what you want to achieve, the basic workflow and that's it. Then you could customize it if you are a bit skilled/interested, or call them again (paying a fee).