Z-Wave / Z-Wave Plus

Community Playground General Discussions
1

Hello,
the Z-Wave Plus (GEN5) seems to be much powerful than its earlier version…
but how to be sure that this version is really used between the Vera and the device ?

For examples :

  • ZD2102-5 is GEN5 compliant and there are ‘S’ in variable ‘Capabilities’

  • ZD2102 is not GEN5 compliant and there are no ‘S’ in variable ‘Capabilities’

  • Zipato Bulb should be GEN5 compliant… and there are no ‘S’ in variable ‘Capabilities’

  • Aeotec Bulb should be GEN5 compliant… and there sometimes ‘S’ in variable ‘Capabilities’ (seems to depend from the VeraEdge firmware) and I have an error with secure classes.

  • Aeotec Bulb on a VeraLite (not GEN5) has no ‘S’ in variable ‘Capabilities’ and has an error with secure classes

So I’m a bit confused

2

If the end-to-end path consists of Gen5 devices, then the sending node will “speak Gen5” to the end node. But, if there is any prior version in the path, which will not understand Gen5 enhancements, then the sending node will use the Gen3(?) protocol.

3

Thats odd… You’d think the protocol would just pass thru parameters it didnt understand so protocol features could pass thru old nodes.

Now the PHY enhancements, ya that would not work.

4

As it seems, that there is no prefered way to contact a module by its neighbours, we can’t be sure that controler and device will speak with the Gen5 if there are some Gen3 in the Z-Wave network ?

Besides, for the inclusion, how to be sure that the Vera has understood that the module is Gen5 ?
As the Z-Wave protocol is backward compatible, a Gen5 module is able to speak with Gen3.

The different values in the variable ‘Capabilities’ (with and without ‘S’), are leading me to think that the VeraEdge is a bit embarrassed with these Gen5 devices.