Ive been thinking about getting a key fob. Any thoughts or experiences to share. Which to avoid, which to buy etc.
I’d like to know if the FOBs are REALLY meant to be used in more variable locations, such as on keyring. I’m getting the impression they’re not.
The whole concept of zwave mesh network revolves around relatively static routes through the network, so that once a device is placed, it stays there.
So with a mobile fob… if left in the one location, should be fine, but what if left on keyring? And if that keyring goes out of range of the network regularly?
Perhaps zwave allows for some devices to broadcast to the network (keyfob says “I’m here now, and button 3 is now pressed”) instead of talking to the previously configured neighbours?
I’ve seen other posts in these forums from people saying their vera gets snooty when the fob is no longer visible on the network (eg. when taken offsite on a keyring).
Unless the zwave protocol specifically allows for these scenarios, I don’t see how anyone could hope to do anything but hang them on a hook in the one room.
Perhaps for routing, one can hand craft the routes (neighbours) to specifically talk to nodes that cover all usage scenarios? (nodes in garage, alfresco, back shed, etc…) Does that break zwave mesh if not nodes that area already neighbours (or close to)?
Stu.
Stu has good points. I didn’t buy one yet but was thinking of the Aeotec single button panic alarm where you just hit a button for a 1 scene program but others like the minimote product which is probably more useful. They just send out their signal and don’t need to be polled from what I saw but Vera’s last 2 updates caused problems with the minimote.
I want one personally to hit a button and turn on all lights if I hear something. I don’t want to fumble with the phone and open an app then turn on the lights.
Although I have several wall controllers, that’s exactly why I have a plain old GE zwave remote on my nightstand and an HA07 next to the couch. Easy to switch certain lights on or off and yeah, one of the buttons on each is an all lights on. With notable exception of the lights in the room it’s set as in don’t change status.
I could see where communicating back to the fob might be an issue, but since the node IDs don’t change, I don’t think the fact that the keychain fob is constantly in and out of the network range should matter. it might make it useless in relaying commands, but I don’t think that matters for what you’d use it for (sending commands).
another alternative, if you want to activate a scene from your car as you pull into the driveway, is the wayne dalton gateway. my town & country has 3 “garage door signals.” one is actually for the door, the other two go to the wayne dalton gateway/controller, which is secondary to vera. one scene turns on the garage lights and turns them off after 10 mins. the other does the same for my outdoor lights. you could create similar scene actions for your front door (if you want to avoid the key ring fob).
in any case, the ze-me fobs are out of stock everywhere. so I can’t give them a shot. unfortunately, the only proximity fobs I’ve seen (for door locks) are bluetooth, and I want nothing to do with those.