Compatibility Z-Wave / Z-Wave+

[Michel13]

Hello everybody and happy new year to all of you.

This year, I have decided to enter in the home automation world.
I have got a Raspberry PI 2 to start with and I have selected Domoticz for my application.
Now it's time to get some equipment to build my project.
I started some search and then discovered that we have two protocols here : Z-Wave and its latest issue Z-Wave +.
There is still lot of equipment in Z-Wave only on the market, a little less in Z-Wave +. Then there are compatibility issues with Domotitcz which have to be checked.
And so this bring to me a stupid question.
I understand that Z-Wave units can work in a Z-Wave + network, but is a Z-Wave unit acting as a repeater for a Z-Wave + unit do transmit the data in full to the interface or is there some restriction ?

Thank you for your help.

Michel

[nayr]

Z-Wave (pre-gen5) and Z-Wave+ (gen5+) are entirely interoperable, they all do the same things... the ZWave+ stuff just has a newer radio in it and a stronger crypto chip, but as far as the end user can tell, there is really no difference.. just newer tech within.

mix and match is the only option at this point in time, if you are silly enough to try to do a Z-Wave+ only network at this time why did you choose z-wave at all? there's tons of obscure protocols out there with just a few devices.

If given option of old gen or new gen, say the Aeon USB Stick, buy the new generation.. duh.. but if your looking at an old gen sensor for $25 or a new gen sensor for $50, I cant see what's so much better in the new gen to be worth twice the cost.

The only thing I am waiting on Z-Wave+ is some door locks, the old gen's crypto was pathetic and im not keen on using it for access control.

[Michel13]

Thanks nayr for your reply.

I am not looking for a 100% Z-Wave + network. That is almost impossible for the moment.
It is clear I have actually to deal with both systems.
My question was only on the repeating aspect.I have no clue for the moment how it works.
Suppose I have one or more Z-Wave + items far from the interface and a Z-Wave module in the middle to act as a repeater. Is the repeater only buffering the Z-Wave + signal or is it worked out and converted into Z-Wave protocol, thus loosing the security features of the + protocol ?

For the stick I have ordered a ZME-UZB1 at 30$ approx. It is Z-Wave +.

Michel

[nayr]

if the device in the middle is not Z-Wave+ then the Z-Wave+ devices on both ends will revert to a protocol compatible with the older version..

Think of it as connection speed, ZW+ to ZW+ can negotiate a faster link with better error correction and power management.. ZW to ZW+ or vice versa negotiate a slower speed that was the standard for that generation.. In modem days when you ran out and got a 56k modem only to find out that your ISP was still 28.8k, its like that.. still works no problem, but until both ends do the same tech its going to be what we call "Transition" period... too young for that? uhhh, you just bought an iPhone cant get 3G here, howami gona troll instagram!?

the ZW Protocol is pretty much unchanged with ZW+, a few small bits were added but most of the benefit is in newer hardware.. ZW is 10 years old now, tiny RF transceivers and power sipping processors have got alot better in that time.. largely thanks to smartphones.

With more Bandwidth and better error correction you get more stable links and you can start to do things with the protocol that weren't feasible before, like OTA updates of firmware, Stronger Crypto, etc.. Notice that ZW+ is Gen5, they have been incrementally getting better for a while, my house is full of hardware from all generations.. they added stuff like beam forming, security, etc along the way and it's been a pretty good experience... most of it is waiting on OpenZWave project to get it working, was painfully slow at first but now there rolling along pretty quickly.

Given how many Gen1 ZWave devices are still sold, dont hold your breath for them to jump to Gen5 ZWave... I was just looking at a GE scene controller that couldn't handle device ID's higher than 32, sigh..

[Michel13]

OK nayr, now I understand how it works. It's clear.
So for the time being, owing the fact that I just start learning about all that stuffs, I will not bother too much and choose what can suit my need. I will upgrade step by step.
Euh .... just FYI, I'am not so too young for that : I turn 62 in few days. But don't say a word to my wife, she thinks I'am still 30
Thanks a lot nayr for your help