which z-wave controller should i buy?

[tjabas]

im using a raspberry pi3 and domoticz.
im planning of getting myself a z wave controller, i guess that Aeon Labs Z-stick gen5 and the RaZberry module are the best.
But which one should i buy?
I´ve read somewhere that its possible to make a backup of the whole z wave config if youre using RaZberry, and not able to do so with the Aeon, is that correct?

or is there another z wave controller that is better?

please give some help choosing the right one.

[Ricard1]

I have the Aeon Z-Stick Gen5 stick. I RF performance is bad, compared to RaZberry it is not as good but I modified it and routed RF to an SMA Coax connector, even if having two meters of coax loss to the 868MHz external dipol antenna it performs much better than the internal PCB antenna.

The built in battery could be an advantage but why should you need to carry around the controller to include nodes... controller should work fine including nodes from a remote fixed installation. If not its really not a serious product design, IMO. Maybe the battery was needed because bad RF sensitivity "so you need to be close to have enough signal for an successful inclusion.

[tjabas]

I have the Aeon Z-Stick Gen5 stick. I RF performance is bad, compared to RaZberry it is not as good but I modified it and routed RF to an SMA Coax connector, even if having two meters of coax loss to the 868MHz external dipol antenna it performs much better than the internal PCB antenna.

The built in battery could be an advantage but why should you need to carry around the controller to include nodes... controller should work fine including nodes from a remote fixed installation. If not its really not a serious product design, IMO. Maybe the battery was needed because bad RF sensitivity "so you need to be close to have enough signal for an successful inclusion.

Thank you for the answer, so you recommend the raZberry instead of the Aeon?
There are two different versions of the raZberry. Which one is the best?
Do you have any pictures of the modification you did on the Aeon stick?

[gizmocuz]

No razberry ! stick with an USB controller so you can use it in other hardware as well (razberry will only work in a raspberry pi, and has a very bad RF field, it is layed on top of the raspberry PCB !?? which produces a lot of noise as well)

So to name a few that have zwave+ support
- Aeotec
- zwave.me

[Ricard1]

Today I am on Windows platform, when I used Rasperry the RaZberry GPIO was just fine, but the USB version is the choice if you like to use it with anything else than Raspberries. the USB version RF performance is for me unknown though... Unfortunately there is no easy way to confirm RF performance on any Z-Wave devices, and I am surprised over the bad RF performance Z-Wave provides. It feels like most Z-Wave manufactures just hopes the hallelujah MESH algorithm should compensate bad RF designs, some neighbors close enough around can forward the message... Of course the antenna design is a problem on nodes such in wall switches close to mains power wires etc. But the Controller should be optimized in the first place as it is should have direct contact with as many nodes as possible for best system performance.

Sorry I did not take any pictures of the modification, however it is quite good space to solder an external SMA connector/coax in just at the point of feeding PCB antenna. Dont forget to disconnect the PCB antenna by cutting at least 1mm of gap in copper foil before passing signal to PCB antenna (just after the point you solder in the SMA center conductor.

[Ricard1]

And yes, it should of course be a zwave+ device.