Items Tagged With zwave

We're always on the look out for a better selection of Z-Wave products, so when Vesternet cntacted us earlier this week to tell us they now had over 100 Z-Wave products available – the largest choice in the UK - we had to have a look...

The Danish boffins at QEES have released two new products using the Z-Wave wireless system.  The QEES-Ring keyring pendant has 4 programmable buttons and an effective range of around 400 feet.  Perfect for easy control of lights, garage doors, shutters or thermostats etc as you leave or arrive at home...

Like torturing yourself with more Z-Wave goodies you can't buy in the UK?  Here's two interesting new products equipped with the wireless home automation system...

Asian manufacturers, TrickleStar has launched an Apple Macintosh Z-Wave-compatible system.  Using their USB stick and software widget, the Mac can now be used as the central controlling unit for Z-Wave home control networks. Mac users will now be able to control their lighting, heating, entertainment and security systems with just a few clicks of the mouse, while improving comfort in the home and reducing energy costs. The widget will be available as a free download by December 17 on the TrickleStar homepage....

Nokia have announced their entry into the Smart Home world with the introduction of their "Home Control" program.  They are actively seeking third party partners to help develop their Linux powered hardware gateway (see specs below).  The system will be available in late 2009 and features open APIs and support of Z-Wave.  KNX is also mentioned by Nokia and it looks like they will support as many Home Automation systems as possible.

Can the mighty Nokia succeed where everyone else has seemingly failed? With their huge power in the handheld world, and the willingness here from the world to reduce its energy bills, we'll be watching this one with interest...

What do you get if you cross the Logitech Squeezebox Duet with the Innovus Z-Wave House Controller and some custom software?  Home Automation of course!  The new Innovus and Logitech package includes the special Innovus MyHome Plug-in software for the Squeezebox Duet controller...

LinuxMCE is of course a open-source media centre distro.  But did you know you can use it as a home automation controller as well?  Other goodies are lurking under the bonnet too such as the integrated Asrerisk VoIP system, already pre-configured for many providers and phone hardware.  Read on for the overview of this amazing free system...

In the fourth of our video interviews from this years Smart Home Show we talk to Chiu Lu Yung from Cytech, manufacturers of the Comfort smart home security system.   Chiu shows us round some of the new additions to the range, including the Z-Wave serial interface we announced last month.  We also look at the new design of the door station as well as a biometric interface and a new CCTV option...

Check out our Videos Page for the High Quality options

CE Pro have news on a new range of z-wave door locks from Schlage.  Having a door lock that can be controlled and monitored from a computer or cell phone sounds like some sort of home automation perfection but that's exactly what you can do with these puppies via a Z-Wave to Ethernet gateway...

Danish based company Modstroem have developed an interesting new Z-Wave based electricity monitoring system.  The device includes a small digital camera that mounts on the meter to read energy consumption...

Last week at the Smart Home Show we interviewed Chiu from Cytech (video of our interview coming soon).  In our chat he showed us some interesting products, amongst them the brand new Z-Wave UCM interface for Comfort...

We thought 2008 would turn out to be the year that Z-Wave finally hit a critical mass in Europe.  But we're well into the 2nd quarter and modules are still thin on the ground here in the UK at least.  It's getting really old reading more and more press releases on new products without actually seeing anything available, but here's another one anyway.  One day we might actually be able to buy some of this stuff...

We've just got some details through from Pulse Living on their new smart home system.  We're being teased with some beautiful publicity shots of their new kit.  Three touchscreen options are available for example, two in-wall and 1 stand alone.  Features include widescreen and potrait options, LED backlighting, Wi-Fi and some models can be powered over CAT5.  The system controller runs on embedded Windows CE 5 and includes Z-Wave / KNX/EIB, 2 ethernet ports and RS232...

This morning Danfoss launched their new Z-Wave radiator thermostat.  The RA Plus-w gives wireless control of your home heating system by replacing your existing radiator thermostats with this motorises unit.  Once installed, home heating can be controlled from a huge range Z-wave transmitter, including via PC interface, mobile phone and the Web...

Actiontec have taken one of the Innovations awards at the CES show with their newly announced zControl (ZCHAV1) which will be available from next month at around $400 - "The zControl gives you the ability to automatically add consumer devices to the network such as IP cameras, thermostats, powered shades, garage doors or lights, and then control them, not only from any location in your home, but anywhere in the world where you can access the Internet. Plus, you can capture and store any activity recorded by any of your IP cameras. With the zControl™, you can bring your home with you wherever you go...

More good news on the UK Z-Wave front.  We've been contacted by Hawking Technology with information on the UK launch of their "Home Remote" Z-Wave solution.  Here's a quote from Hawking's Sales Manager Europe, Samy Moustafa... 

Seluxit, a Danish company specialising in intelligent energy saving devices, has just launched the ViaSens home controller. The device is based on the Z-Wave standard and provides users with an overview of the status of all devices within their home control network.  The ViaSens Home Controller connects to a PC via USB and the free software retrieves information via sensors connected to the devices and provides a comprehensive, easy-to view analysis of it. Using the ViaSens controller, homeowners can continually monitor the power consumption of their household and can optimize energy consumption by adjusting their device settings...

More Z-Wave goodness, this time in the shape of the "ABMHZ" from Electronic Solution Inc.  This device allows you to integrate a variety of motorised home automation systems into a Z-Wave setup.  For example you may like to attach it to Motorised Window blinds or shutters, Projector Screens & TV Lifts etc...

Here's one we haven't covered before, HackMyth is described as "the home automation control kit for mythTV" and offers Z-Wave wireless control of your smart home, from the same box that carries out your PVR functions... 

Here's another teasing release on new UK Z-Wave modules, this time from the Taiwanese, Everspring Industry.  Promised for release in Europe "during the next few months", the new units promise "low-cost home automation" and the initial products include a plugin dimmer and on/off switch, a PIR plus magnetic door and window sensors... 

Merten have just announced their new "CONNECT" system, based on Z-Wave technology.  Aimed squarley at the (huge) retro-fit market, the system is based around the "CONNECT radio centre". This wall mounted central contoller has a colour LCD screen and user configurable buttons all of which can be programmed from a PC via USB.  Read on for the full press release... 

This morning INNOVUS have announced a new range of European Z-Wave modules!  In addition to switches and dimmers, the MYHOME PC software adds a GUI to control the system.  All products will be available from this month.  Read on for all the juicy details...

The HRGZ1 HomeRemote Wireless Home Automation Gateway from Hawking Technology is a great example of the power and simplicity of Z-Wave products.  It's also the type of system our lucky US cousins have access to right now, whilst the UK is still waiting for any meaningful range of Z-Wave products.  So, if you're in the US rejoice! and if you're in the UK, read on and weep...

We've just received news from Zensys that their latest generation of Z-Wave chips is now in production. The ZW0301 is backwards compatible with existing Z-Wave products, is cheaper and uses less power...

News of a new Home Automation software package has just been posted to our forums. A free trial is available for download and an introductary price of $24.99 is on offer...

"A new software with a variety of cool features has been introduced recently: Supports multiple technologies (currently Zwave, Insteon, and X10). HomeZIX enables automation features from different technologies working together to achieve broader functionality for your home automation. Easy to use. Simply drag-and-drop automation components on top of your house's floor plan to build your automation network...

HomeSeer have launched a new Home Automation Controller - HomeTroller. With a web interface, voice control and support for Lutron, Leviton, Z-Wave, UPB, Insteon products it's feature packed. Priced at around $1,100 for the basic unit, it's definately positioning its self at the upper end of the DIY Home Automation market and perhaps the lower end of the custom installer sector...

Electronic House are reporting on a new venture between Microsoft and Leviton designed to bring remote controlled lighting and other Z-Wave-enabled home automation products...

"Leviton has joined forces with software giant Microsoft Corporation to offer a way to remotely control lighting and other Z-Wave-enabled home automation schemes using any number of popular consumer electronic products.

Bridging the Microsoft/Leviton connection is the industry's first Z-Wave-compliant Ethernet gateway, the Vizia RF Foyer from Leviton. Available during the second quarter of this year, the Vizia RF Foyer will connect to a PC or laptop Ethernet port and transmit signals to a Z-Wave home control network...

Mal Lansell has just released his xPLZwave software which adds full Z-Wave support to xPL...

"xPL now includes support for Z-Wave RF devices. Based on the Z-Wave SDK from ControlThink, the xPLZwave service for Windows 2000, XP, MCE and Vista provides full control and status reporting of activity in a Z-Wave network.

Operating in conjunction with other xPL applications, it is now possible to fully integrate Z-Wave devices into a home automation system. xPLZWave also includes a configuration application providing full management of a Z-Wave network, with support for inclusion and exclusion of devices and the editing of groups and device parameters...

The Register is running an interesting piece on how Intel is now backing the Zensys Z-Wave system instead of Zigbee... "Intel has joined the Z-Wave Alliance, which backs technology from Zensys, as a principal member, just months after the platform gained its greatest boost to date with the announcement that Cisco would invest in Zensys and rebrand its products under its Linksys name...

Submission by James Clabon - Out of the box the ZWave ZIR010 PIR Motion Sensor seem to be well manufactured. They have a quality feel about them. Compared to X10's MS13's they are slightly larger in all dimensions.

I guess looks are down to personal taste but I think these look cool. They look modern and seem to blend into their surroundings thanks to their rounded edges. Also no logo on the front and no aerial sticking out makes them more attractive than the X10 counterpart...

mControl, the Windows Media Centre Edition Smart Home plugin from Embedded Automation has just been upgraded to version 1.4. With the upgrade comes support for the Z-Wave wireless mesh based home automation modules. Registered users of V1.xx can upgrade for free, or new users can download a 30 day trial...

This looks very interesting..."It almost sounds too good to be a true - a universal IR remote with high-quality LCD screen, built-in WiFi, a handful of adapters to bridge WiFi to Z-Wave, RS-232 and IR, and native Windows Media Connect. All this for $249 including docking station...

We've just received an update from ZenSys on the availability of new UK Z-Wave products. The bad news is there's not much firm information yet. The good news is their partners are working on full range of products for the British market...

The HomeSeer Pro-100 has now been released. This is Home Automation in a box, a PC based hardware/software system dedicated to smart home control...

"HomeSeer Technologies announces the release of its new PRO-100 home automation controller. The controller is part of the new HomeSeer PRO series, a new line of home control products designed specifically for the professional integrator and installer. The PRO-100 is the most powerful and flexible controller of its type featuring complete integration of lighting, security, HVAC and home theatre systems...

"At the International Builder's Show in Orlando, Fla. last week, Zensys announced an alliance of more than a hundred companies that will support Zensys's chip and software technology designed to automate the home. The Z-Wave Alliance will focus on marketing, interoperability testing and technology collaborations, according to Raoul Wijgergangs, VP of U.S. business development for Denmark-based Zensys...

"Long Beach 16th November, 2004: ConvergeX, a UK based global leader and innovator in digital home and smart living solutions, officially announced a partnership with Zensys at the EHX Fall 2004 today, to enable property owners to affordably automate their homes...

"Z-Wave™ is a wireless RF-based communications technology designed for residential and light commercial control and status reading applications such as meter reading, lighting and appliance control, HVAC, access control, intruder and fire detection, etc. "

CLICK HERE to visit the forum.

With discussions about Z-Wave on both the mailing list and forums again recently I contacted ZenSys for a comment..."Hello Mark, The current situation is that several OEMs are considering a UK launch for the end of this year but none has taken a final decision. Hopefully in August I should be able to tell you who is coming first...

Just noticed a good z-wave demo on the Zen Systems website - It gives a good overview of the technology, including things like the alternative routing capabilities. Well worth a look...

"Intel is teaming up with a wireless control network vendor so consumers can control lights, thermostats and other devices through the same interface they use for wireless entertainment gear, the companies intend to announce Monday...

AutoM8it are the first UK company to partner with Zensys the creators of Z-Wave RF home automation modules...

We are proud to announce our new partnership with z-wave and the arrival of the first UK Z-wave devices. We are expecting the first UK (CE approved) production shipments of z-wave devices in Q2 2004. We are currently interested in hearing from people wishing to place orders, if you would like to purchase z-wave devices, please email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ...