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Z-Wave Alliance Announces Z-Wave Source Code Project Now Open and Available

z-wavealliance.org

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Re: Z-Wave Alliance Announces Z-Wave Source Code Project Now Open and Available

#121

Post by vineyardmike »

CommanderData wrote: post #115
vineyardmike wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't own ZWave devices, but comments here seem to question their superiority. The range and battery life is likely due to the lower-frequency it uses, which is less congested and longer range. Typically, this will translate to a lower power usage (better battery life).

Linus tech tips has done a few videos on his smart home (z-wave) and he does not seem overly happy with it.. I'm really glad I went Zigbee as its been almost completely pain free even with third party non cloud software. I can't fault it but I do worry about future security updates should something be discovered in Zigbees stack.

> I can't fault it but I do worry about future security updates should something be discovered in Zigbees stack.

I agree it’ll likely be few devices that’s ever see an update but I think theoretically Zigbee proton supports OTA from the hubs. I know home assistant supports automatic OTAs from a handful of brands.

Re: Z-Wave Alliance Announces Z-Wave Source Code Project Now Open and Available

#122

Post by ocdtrekkie »

vineyardmike wrote: post #120
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Most people aren't equipped to ensure their IP devices can only talk to other LAN devices (I am, my cameras live on a VLAN that can't route to the web). Combine IP capability with the possibility for software updates, and you have botnet fuel. It's why IP cameras are a leading source of botnet participants: Long-lasting IP hardware often managed by users without VLAN segmentation.

I agree that segmenting VLANs and stuff aren’t accessible to average people, but there are accessible alternatives. I recently upgraded to Google WiFi pucks after babysitting a ubiquiti installation for almost half a decade, and you can “disable internet” on devices without disabling LAN. You’d have to trust the device to be friendly on the LAN but it’s good balance for consumers. After Eufys whole security meltdown…

That's a single proprietary option from a single vendor with its own storied history of both poor privacy and poor long-term hardware support. (I believe they've effectively bricked the first generation of their routers already!)

It's so much smarter to just not have smarthome devices on the network, and have a single interface or bridge which acts as a security barrier.

Re: Z-Wave Alliance Announces Z-Wave Source Code Project Now Open and Available

#123

Post by yencabulator »

ihattendorf wrote: post #11
slimginz wrote: post #5

Now that Matter and Thread are finally starting to roll out, is there really any good reason for new products to still use Z-Wave? Or am I just crazy to see this as Z-Wave trying to continue a format war (first started with Zigbee) that they're almost certainly going to lose?

Z-Wave devices are almost universally better (longer battery life, longer range, more reliable, etc.) than Zigbee (I have both). Not sure if this is based on price (Z-Wave devices being more expensive), certification, different radio frequency, or something else. With the investment into Thread (still sharing frequency with 2.4 GHz WiFi) I could see this changing.

> longer battery life

Meanwhile, this HN discussion has people telling others to never use battery-powered Z-Wave devices, or it'll be laggy...

Re: Z-Wave Alliance Announces Z-Wave Source Code Project Now Open and Available

#124

Post by vineyardmike »

ocdtrekkie wrote: post #122
vineyardmike wrote: post #120

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree that segmenting VLANs and stuff aren’t accessible to average people, but there are accessible alternatives. I recently upgraded to Google WiFi pucks after babysitting a ubiquiti installation for almost half a decade, and you can “disable internet” on devices without disabling LAN. You’d have to trust the device to be friendly on the LAN but it’s good balance for consumers. After Eufys whole security meltdown…

That's a single proprietary option from a single vendor with its own storied history of both poor privacy and poor long-term hardware support. (I believe they've effectively bricked the first generation of their routers already!) It's so much smarter to just not have smarthome devices on the network, and have a single interface or bridge which acts as a security barrier.

I think many routers have a simple feature to restrict internet access for a device on the network. I simply highlighted a consumer product (highly recommended by tech sites) that many average consumers may have.

Re: Z-Wave Alliance Announces Z-Wave Source Code Project Now Open and Available

#125

Post by ocdtrekkie »

vineyardmike wrote: post #124
ocdtrekkie wrote: post #122

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a single proprietary option from a single vendor with its own storied history of both poor privacy and poor long-term hardware support. (I believe they've effectively bricked the first generation of their routers already!) It's so much smarter to just not have smarthome devices on the network, and have a single interface or bridge which acts as a security barrier.

I think many routers have a simple feature to restrict internet access for a device on the network. I simply highlighted a consumer product (highly recommended by tech sites) that many average consumers may have.

This is not a realistic view. Most users do not mess with the settings on their router. Most, do not have this feature either. This isn't a good or practical assumption to make of most home networks.
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