Vera Edge Default Parameters when using Z-Wave and z-Wave plus

Community Playground Getting Started & Initial Setup
#1

I’m a new to HA and looking to set up my first system. I think I have landed on the Vera Edge to take advantage of the new z-wave plus technology. I read somewhere that with the Vera Edge, the only way to take advantage of the new 500 series chip (z-wave plus) is that all the devices in the system need to be z-wave plus. If one device is just z-wave, the Edge will default to z-wave and thus I will not get the signal speed or distance benefit. Is this correct and if not, what happens if I use a mixture of z-wave and z-wave plus devices. This is my most likely scenario as there currently vary limited amount of z-wave plus devices in the market place.

Thanks in advance for any assistance I may get.

#2

[quote=“Bosch4, post:1, topic:185012”]I read somewhere that with the Vera Edge, the only way to take advantage of the new 500 series chip (z-wave plus) is that all the devices in the system need to be z-wave plus. If one device is just z-wave, the Edge will default to z-wave and thus I will not get the signal speed or distance benefit.[/quote]Where did you read this. I’ve heard nothing of the kind. Frankly I doubt the use of Z-Wave vs. Z-Wave+ is up to Vera but is rather up to the Z-Wave chip.

If the communication between the VeraEdge and a Z-Wave+ node is through an intermediate standard Z-Wave node, then speed and distance will be impacted. However, If VeraEdge can reach the Z-Wave+ device directly or via other Z-Wave+ nodes, then I would expect the VeraEdge Z-Wave chip to choose Z-Wave+ communication.

It is important to note that as an end user you are highly unlikely to notice or care about the speed differences in Z-Wave+. This is likely only to be an important factor when performing future over-the-air(OTA) firmware updates, or if there are a large number of nodes. The speed of the standard Z-Wave protocol is quite fast enough for sending and receiving commands.

Is this correct and if not, what happens if I use a mixture of z-wave and z-wave plus devices.
I don't think that this is correct. Forum users with mixed networks have not reported any issues, so far, related to mixed devices save for a bug in UI7 when negotiating secure communication. There is a work around and the bug may well be fixed by the time of this writing.
This is my most likely scenario as there currently vary limited amount of z-wave plus devices in the market place.
As stated, you should have no problem mixing Z-Wave and Z-Wave+ devices. Protocol selection and communication will be completely transparent to you.
#3

Z-waver, thanks for the feedback.

The following link http://www.vesternet.com/us/what-is-z-wave-plus is where I read that I would not get the range advantage of the edge is I use devices other than z-wave plus.

#4

I think you missed this paragraph [quote=“Vesternet.com”]If you do have a Z-Wave Plus controller, then you will start to see the range benefits of Z-Wave Plus, but make sure that the other devices in the ‘route’ to the Z-Wave Plus device are also compatible. Otherwise, it will again default to operating as a plain Z-Wave device.[/quote]The VeraEdge is a Z-Wave Plus controller, so you could/will see available benefits, provided that there is not a standard Z-Wave device in the route. This is just as I previously stated.

#5

Z-Waver, thanks for clarifying things for me. I am feeling better about moving forward with my initial set up using the Edge controller.

#6

Don’t worry the controller is the cheap part of home automation. I spent more on a door lock then a controller. And I have thousands in z-wave devices. I can throw away the controller and switch to another without felling much of a loss compared to total system. And the z-wave plus is the least of the problems with the vera’s or the edge specifically.

I own an VeraLite and an EDGE but don’t use the Edge for anything but testing yet.