The “RaZberry” is launching next week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The $59 kit includes a hardware daughter board that snaps onto the Raspberry Pi’s GPIO connector plus a license for “Z-Way” controller software. Read on for the full PR and links.
“The Raspberry Pi, an inexpensive yet powerful mini-computer that’s taking the development world by storm, is about to get smarter. The new intelligence arrives via a plug-in module that adds Z-Wave, the key enabling technology behind the wireless home control and automation revolution. The marriage of the two technologies will be launched at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, NV, January 8-11 and shown at the Z-Wave Alliance exhibit, booth #20800, South Hall #1.
Z-Wave Alliance member Z-Wave.me is introducing the RaZberry, a kit incorporating a Z-Wave hardware module that snaps on the Raspberry Pi’s serial connector, along with the award winning Z-Wave protocol stack and firmware Z-Way. Together, these two products make it possible for developers to access the huge Z-Wave ecosystem of home control products, and gives them the ability to create their own unique, inexpensive, powerful control and automation solutions. Z-Wave provides the world’s largest ecosystem of interoperable products, such as lighting and HVAC controls, window and shade controls, door lock and access controls, as well as a multitude of sensors and actuators. Raspberry Pi provides the access to user control from smart phones, tablets, browsers, HDMI devices and the cloud.
How Z-Wave Extends The Raspberry Pi Platform – Connecting the new RaZberry plug-in to the Raspberry Pi empowers the mini-computer with impressive new capabilities for the exploding smart home market. By using Raspberry Pi as a Z-Wave gateway, businesses and consumers can connect the computer to any Z-Wave compatible home automation solution and be assured of interoperable compatibility between brands. There are now more than 700 certified home control products and services available in the Z-Wave Alliance portfolio. The RaZberry plug-in can easily be connected to the Raspberry Pi without the need for any specialized knowledge — users simply insert the Z-Wave plug-in module into the mini-computer’s GPIO (General Purpose Input/Output). The RaZberry kit contains optimized firmware for Z-Wave, as well as a license for Z-Way, which is the controller software that the Raspberry Pi requires in order to be able to read the Z-Wave wireless protocol.
The Z-Way software also provides users with an initial user interface demo, through which all the functionality provided by the Z-Wave wireless technology can be tested. It also includes a JSON (Java Script Object Notation) interface integrated into the software. JSON is a compact data format which provides both humans and machines with an easy to read text format, which makes it possible for even programming novices to create their own user interfaces for iPhones, Android phones and web browsers.
The combination of the inexpensive Raspberry Pi and the Z-Wave plug-in module also make the technology suitable for commercial applications. The two components combine to provide a robust gateway solution, with straightforward connection to a typical grouping of Z-Wave components. In the event of a broad-scale commercial deployment with a large number of components being connected, users can acquire additional Z-Way software licenses from Z-Wave.
With a price tag of about $59 US, the RaZberry kit makes it easy and affordable for anyone to build Z-Wave applications on the Raspberry Pi.”
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Last update on 2024-04-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It’d be fantastic if one of the XBMC distributions that are available for the Pi incorporate some Z-Wave interfacing. Start a film using Raspbmc and the lights go to a set scene, for example.
very exciting news and in keeping with the new wave of solid state PCs that will inevitably fall in price quite soon. I assume that the RaZberry-pi runs on the American frequency and Euro users will have to wait???
Far as I can tell it’s made in Germany and the company behind it – z-wave.me are european too. The specs here mention “PCBA Antenna for 868/908 MHz” which covers both Europe and USA – http://razberry.z-wave.me/docs/RaZberryOnePager.pdf
M.
It’s a good initiative (and yes z-wave.me is based in germany).
It’s a shame though that we aren’t allowed to release z-wave related code into Open Source. Zigbee is picking up speed (Philips Hue, Nest, etc.) and Z-wave is putting themselves at a disadvantage by setting up unnecessary barriers…
Yeah, we asked Z-Wave just that in our interview a few years ago – see question 4 here.
@Mark McCall
Until now Z-Wave partners Danfoss and Zwave.Me (and a few others) have failed to demonstrate that “it will work seamlessly with any other product that has a Z-Wave logo” (quoted from question 4) for the Danfoss Living Connect and the controllers of these other parties. Judging from postings on the relevant fora, the major obstacle lies with Danfoss being unwilling to communicate.
This attitude, and the closedness of the Z-Wave API is imho a serious factor to consider before making long term investments in Z-Wave based systems.
This looks like a cheaper option.
http://www.uk-automation.co.uk/products/Serial-Adapter-Board-for-Z%252dWave.html
Will need a connector to the GPIO (4 wires).
I will hang off any z-wave stuff. I have been strongly pro open-source for too long to go back and tie myself into proprietary hardware (he says typing on his Macbook Pro… 🙂 )
But… interesting information. My next project is to try some simple home automation. We have a problem in that lightning storms trip out our ECD in the power distribution box, and we get lightning storms regularly here on the equator. This causes problems when we are away – imagine coming home to a fridge/freezer that has been off for a couple of weeks, full of food, in 35C+ temps. Eeeeewwwww! Nasty!
I want to find some way of the system notifying me by txt that the power has gone off, I can then txt my neighbour to come and reset the power.
For me, that would be a great use of this sort of technology.
Thanks Mark, for a great website.