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Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 13:29
by Cletus
Hello,

I could not really find the answer searching the forum, maybe I've looked incorrectly.

The question is:

I currently use Domoticz on a Rpi3 with RF-Link 433MHz. When switching a scene with lights it will fire the commands after each other, so it can happen that it takes 15 - 30 secs before all my lights are on or off. I presume this is normal behavior because it fires command after command.

If i switch to Z-Wave or Z-Wave+ will those commands be sent simultaneously or is the behavior the same? Looking for something that fires everything in one go!

Thanks!

Regards Paul

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 13:40
by Hobbybob
If you are using CoCo (Klik-aan-Klik-uit in Dutch since you're from the Netherlands), or something similar, you can always put the receivers in the same CoCo-"group". I have that in my house. Then you only have to send one command.
I have several of these receivers that are all in one group, but also listen to another group, so I can still operate them individually. I don't know if all receivers support listening to multiple groups at once though...

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 13:41
by heggink
Depends: 433 is a shitty protocol and guarantees nothing (kaku basically shouts a couple of times and hopes for the best so if another device shouts as well, things get lost). In that sense, zwave is much better (and the key reason why I switched even my door sensors to zwave). I do find that even with zwave, devices in scenes somtimes take a few seconds to act on commands. No idea why.

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 15:00
by Cletus
Interesting, thanks for the feedback so far. Indeed i use Kaku. I will check how to put them in one group. :)

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 15:45
by Hobbybob
You can just put them in learning-mode with the button, and assign the new group with the remote you have. After that, they listened to both groups on the remote (and therefore also in Domoticz).

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 16:42
by heggink
Kaku is particularly bad: any remote sends 3 signals hoping one makes it. I have seen on multiple occasions that messages got lost. It's cheap for a reason. If you want cheap, switch to esp based technology. Downside: no commercial wall switches I know of. You could reuse kaku switches but then you are dependent on domoticz.

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 18:12
by Stuntteam
I think that is a bit too negative. The current Kaku devices work well for most uses. It does send more than 3 signals and when you keep things normal in terms of number of devices and use groups to talk to multiple receivers you will not experience too much problems.

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 21:17
by sincze
Stuntteam wrote:I think that is a bit too negative. The current Kaku devices work well for most uses. It does send more than 3 signals and when you keep things normal in terms of number of devices and use groups to talk to multiple receivers you will not experience too much problems.
I agree with Stuntteam. I pretty much use all kinds of devices. Kaku works just fine. (started with those cheap things). I have an RFXCOM with an external antenna, but still I do however have some dead areas in my house so I installed an additional RF-LINK.
RFLINK even support more devices than the old RFXCOM (tnx Stuntteam).
In this way, my house was covered :lol: with those 433mhz devices.

However keep in mind the burst 433mhz devices like motion/dusk sensors. Stuntteam mentions that on the official RFLINK website. If you start with those.. It can get you into some serious reachability of other devices trouble.

Still the downside is, there is no 2 way communication. So Zwave or Mysensors would be a nice addition for those crucial devices. I even have a several reprogrammed Sonoff devices that also works just fine but does require a reliable wifi 2,4ghz, but then again these devices can be monitored via 'ping'.

So within every budget there is a solution and ALL can be controlled from the budget friendly Domoticz. :D

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 21:59
by heggink
True but if you need reliability (door/window sensors for an alarm system) then they are just a bad choice. Anyways, besides the point here as rfx should send signals correctly in a group and as long as nothing interferes, devices should switch.

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 22:25
by sincze
heggink wrote:True but if you need reliability (door/window sensors for an alarm system) then they are just a bad choice. Anyways, besides the point here as rfx should send signals correctly in a group and as long as nothing interferes, devices should switch.
A yes. missed the part about the alarm system ;-) my mistake but I do agree :D

Re: Z-Wave vs 433 RF-Link

Posted: Tuesday 27 June 2017 22:27
by heggink
No worries. We all make our own choices based on our needs. Not everyone is into soldering esp modules .