Choosing a networking protocol—wired, wireless, or a combination of both—is the first step in launching a home automation system. Popular home automation systems include Zigbee, Z-Wave, UPB, and a few other reliable protocols. Your future home automation system will take a different turn depending on which one you choose because every new gadget you add needs to work with the others. Whichever home automation technology you choose may depend on the smart home appliances you currently own or on your desire to use the cloud to access them remotely.
The first wired home automation protocol was called X10. But it\’s getting on in years. Many aficionados think that the more advanced and adaptable wired or wireless technologies have rendered X10 technology obsolete.
The built-in wiring in the house is used by UPB (Universal Powerline Bus) to convey control signals for home automation. UPB is a better power line technology than X10, designed to address many of the issues that X10 faces. X10 is incompatible with UPB. A controller that communicates with both is required if you already own X10-compatible devices and you want your UPB and X10 compatible products to function together.
Z-wave
Z-Wave was the first technology to create standards for wireless automation of homes. It turns every device into a repeater, increasing the usable range of home automation. It made the network more reliable, enabling business applications. Particularly useful for novice enthusiasts, Z-Wave devices are made to be simple to set up and operate. They are as near to being turnkey as the home automation market permits.
Zigbee
ZigBee is solely a wireless home automation technology, much like Z-Wave. Zigbee devices sometimes have trouble connecting with those built by various manufacturers, which is one of the main reasons it has taken so long to catch on with home automation aficionados. For those who are new to home automation, Zigbee is not advised unless they plan to employ just products manufactured by the same manufacturer.
Wi-Fi Manufacturers have started creating smart home appliances that integrate with the house\’s current Wi-Fi networks. Typically, all that is needed to connect to a home network is the password. The bandwidth cost associated with this route is one. Your smart home gadgets may reply slowly if there are already a number of devices that regularly utilize your Wi-Fi connection. Moreover, networked devices that run on batteries lose their batteries more quickly than those that utilize other protocols due to Wi-Fi\’s high power consumption.
Bluetooth Bluetooth wireless technology has been adopted by manufacturers for comparatively short-range communications. Examples of devices that already employ this wireless technology are smart lightbulbs and door locks. It\’s easy to work with and comprehend. Over the next few years, Bluetooth technology—which is secure and encrypted—is anticipated to increase at a quicker rate than any other wireless technology.
The newest kid on the block for wireless smart home technology is Thread Thread. With the Thread protocol, 250 smart devices can be connected with minimal power consumption. The majority of Thread-compatible devices run on batteries. Similar to Zigbee, the Thread protocol creates a low-power, secure network using radio chips.
