RF interfaces

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Are there any moves to provide an RF interface to the ever increasing no of wireless protocols around. e.g Zigbee Zwave Insteon RFID

We are just begining to see products in the marketplace using these protocols.

[slychiu]

We are working on ZWave. Our interface is expected early next year
It will be able to work with the other Zwave products available

[palmlodge]

Chiu

 

Any update on this ?

 

For areas where CBUS is not practical (plugin modules), zwave would appear to be a massively better proposition than X10.

 

Is this due to be a specific UCM or a set of codes for using a standard UCM with the zwave serial module ?

[slychiu]

We are working on a UCM for Zwave. However do not expect it soon as there is a lot which needs to be done.
There are also other options eg Ulti and Cbus wireless or Rako for RF lighting

[palmlodge]

Thats an expensive route for simple things such as christmas lights and plugin modules :-)

 

Mebe a cheaper and quicker route for you is a standard UCM to he serial zwave module ?

[garym999]

If if is just occasional (crimbo lights etc.) use then X10 is cheap and may still be viable.

Finally there is new product out there with better internals providing more reliable (sensitive) reception. Not perfect but better than it was. Take a look at Simply Automate\'s Domia Ten. The two channel wall switch is a bargin.

Dare I say it (I\'m prepared to be flamed) X10, no, powerline communication has so much potential. I know there are alsorts or reasons why X10 fails but many lighting control systems only need a 9600 baud bus to realise massive systems eg: Rako, Dynalite. Electronics and encoding methods have changed so much since the development of X10, you can even run ethernet over the mains at respectible speeds!

Wireless has its place but cables are secure and reliable and every home has a set.

[palmlodge]

That Domia kit is the 3rd party Chinese X10 stuff - still just as flakey :-)

[garym999]

Agreed thats X10 all over, shame. But these are better units in terms of build quality and signal reception. Still far from ideal but great for occasional use.

[Swiss-Toni]

Any chance of a zigbee UCM in the pipeline?

Just thinking outside of the box is it possible to do a RF UCM that has variable frequencies that could cover other products, or one that can be programmed to cover cetain RF ie zigbee, zwave ect

[slychiu]

We are not working on that at present. Perhaps the RPi would allow that if working with Snmartthings as that can support Zigbee and zwave