In an home automation context, communication is essential. If there is no communication lines between your Home Automation system and the related smart devices, your system is useless. In the case of our Smart Home, the communication lines are called communication protocols.
It’s helpful to understand how they works and how they interacts with each other to be able to make a decision on which protocol is best for your usage.
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Wired and Wireless Home Automation Protocol
Nowadays, 10 communications protocols are in use by Home Automation systems and smart devices. These protocols can be divided into 2 different categories:
- Wired; and
- Wireless.
Wired
Wired protocols use your house’s existing wiring, namely the powerlines, to exchange information. These protocols offer reliability and are difficult to jam. However, they are slower then wireless and requires a physical medium to exchange the information. As such, you might need to install new wiring inside a wall to be able to use them.
Notable wired protocols:
- The venerable X10; and
- It’s successor UPB.
Wireless
Wireless protocols are usually faster then their wired counterparts. In addition, there are more devices on the market that uses wireless connection because it’s easier to set up and doesn’t requires you braking some walls and hiring an electrician to do the wiring.
Notable wireless protocols include:
- WiFi;
- Bluetooth;
- Z-wave; and
- ZigBee.
Tips:
Not all Smart Devices are compatible with all home automation protocols. As such, compatibility issues must be considered and not overlooked.
Additionally, if you are starting, considering the use of a protocol that is easy to use and that is compatible with a broad range of Smart Devices so you can continue using this protocol with products that are being introduced on the market.
Wired and Wireless Home Automation Protocol
Nowadays, 10 communications protocols are in use by Home Automation systems and smart devices. These protocols can be divided into 2 different categories:
- Wired; and
- Wireless.
Wired
Wired protocols use your house’s existing wiring, namely the powerlines, to exchange information. These protocols offer reliability and are difficult to jam. However, they are slower then wireless and requires a physical medium to exchange the information. As such, you might need to install new wiring inside a wall to be able to use them.
Notable wired protocols:
- The venerable X10; and
- It’s successor UPB.
Wireless
Wireless protocols are usually faster then their wired counterparts. In addition, there are more devices on the market that uses wireless connection because it’s easier to set up and doesn’t requires you braking some walls and hiring an electrician to do the wiring.
Notable wireless protocols include:
- WiFi;
- Bluetooth;
- Z-wave; and
- ZigBee.
Tips:
Not all Smart Devices are compatible with all home automation protocols. As such, compatibility issues must be considered and not overlooked.
Additionally, if you are starting, considering the use of a protocol that is easy to use and that is compatible with a broad range of Smart Devices so you can continue using this protocol with products that are being introduced on the market.
Home Automation Protocols
WiFi
WiFi is a wireless communication protocol that uses radio-frequencies to allow communication between your smart home devices and you. Most of the “user friendly” smart home automation devices are able to connect to your home WiFi network.
How does it work
WiFi uses radio-frequencies to provided connectivity in the 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency band. Therefore, it uses a router to generate a local network for smart devices to connect to. All devices connected on the network can use the protocol to communicate with each other. Once that network is set up, it is easy to add Smart Devices to it.
Compatibility
There are countless Smart Devices that can connect to your home WiFi network. In addition, most of those home automation devices setup is quite straight forward and easy. As such, it’s easy to add devices to your existing home network.
Pros
WiFi is ubiquitous, almost every home has a WiFi network already configured. As such, adding a device is often as straightforward as to connecting it to your network.
Also, there is no need for a HUB to “translate” your commands for the devices, your smartphone/tablet/computer already speak the same langage. And, adding WiFi to a device is not as costly as adding some of the other protocols. As such, it’s much more cost effective for the customer. Additionally, WiFi protocols are well established and regulated. Most importantly, you don’t have to upgrade your router or network with every smart device update.
Cons
WiFi quality depends on the quality of the router, lower quality router might limit you on the number of devices you will be able to connect to the network.
WiFi is not a low energy consumption protocol, it can only receive and send information while connected.
For remote application, you will have to implement some features to lower the consumption or you will need bigger batteries. However, the frequencies used by WiFi are crowded. Not only are you introducing new devices to your network, with a change of overcrowding it, but your neighbor is also using the same frequencies.
As such, you might experience some interference from time to time.
Z-Wave
Z-Wave is another wireless radio-frequency based communication protocol. Created by Zensys in Danemark, it made it’s entry in North America in the early 2000s. Initially, it was developed for businesses which had a requirement for a great number of devices to connect to a single network. The protocol crept into the home consumer market due to the increasing amount of Smart Devices the average consumer want to connect to a network. Since then, it has become one of the most popular smart home protocol.
How does it work
Z-Wave uses a central controler (hub) to generate a network upon which all Z-Wave device can connect. As such, the Z-Wave protocol allow an easy control of additional devices, even once the network is completely set up.
Also, it is considered a mesh network. Such a network spread it’s communication over all nodes and can switch nodes if one is not available.
Compatibility
There are numerous devices which are compatible with Z-Wave. As such, you have a variety of option to customize your home automation system. Also, it is easy to add, set up and use a device on Z-wave thanks to the Central Hub that “translate” your command.
Pros
Working on the 908.42MHz frequency band, makes for a less crowded air space. This frequency band is significantly lower than most other wireless devices, such as home phones, Microwave and WiFi. As such, there is lower risk of interference on your network,
Also, opposite to WiFi, the power consumption of a Z-Wave devices is much lower. As such, you will need smaller batteries for remote usage, lowering the overall cost and the plugged in smart devices won’t make your energy consumption raise through the roof. Also, being a mesh network, it will grow stronger with the amount of devices you connect to it.
Additionally, a mesh network is much more reliable since the communication can use any node to communicate to the others. One of the greatest advantages of using a Z-wave based Home Automation system is that regardless of upgrade to devices, they will work on the network. Z-wave is designed to remain operable with both older and newer version of any compatible product. As such, the need to upgrade your Hub and other communication equipment is much lower.
Cons
Your home automation system requires a smart hub. It’s an additional requirement that add cost to your home automation system. Also, since your smart home requires a hub, compatibility issues might arise. Additionally, some integration problems might arise, in certain location, if you only need a hub for 1 device.
Another potential danger is that Z-wave is not a communication standard, it’s a proprietary home automation protocol that is solely detained by Sigma Design. As such, any design change the company makes to their protocol might impact any Z-wave network.
ZigBee
Similar to Z-Wave, Zigbee is a wireless communication protocol that is increasing in popularity in the home automation market space. This protocol was initially developed for commercial application but as since made it’s way into the home consumer market. However, it has become a communication standard in 2004.
How does it work
Similar to Z-Wave, a ZigBee network will use a central controler (HUB) to generate a wireless network. Also, it is considered a mesh network. Such a network spread it’s communication over all nodes and can switch nodes if one is not available.
Compatibility
As with other home automation protocols, there are numerous solutions and smart devices that are compatible with a ZigBee hub. As such, it would be easy to find a device to match your need.
Also, being an open source technology, it is much easier for developers and makers to design new products that are compatible with Zigbee.
Pros
The low power usage of the protocol is one of the greatest pride of the developers. As such, the battery life of such a device can potentially last several years.
Similar to Z-wave, ZigBee operates as a meshed network.
This protocol can handle up to 65 000 nodes, which makes growing the network of smart devices quite easy. One of the less known feature of ZigBee is the incredible encryption build into the protocol.
The protocol uses the same encryption method used by financial institution which makes it the most secured form of home automation protocol.
It’s also one of the network home automation protocol that allows the most customization, the reason why DIYers praise it so much.
Cons
The low power consumption is only obtainable with a significant reduction in range, one third of Z-wave. Your smart home system requires a smart hub to use this home automation protocol. It’s an additional requirement that add cost to your home automation system. Also, since your smart home requires a hub, compatibility issues might arise. Additionally, some integration problems might arise, in certain location, if you only need a hub for 1 device.
Bluetooth
You probably know Bluetooth in it’s capacity to make your smartphone hand-free or for it’s magic ability to make your speaker come alive with music. However, it’s not the only use. Bluetooth is another communication standard that is already in use by several smart devices.
How does it work
Bluetooth is another type of wireless home automation protocol that uses radio frequencies to allow communication between 2 devices. Although Bluetooth is most often used for the communication between 2 singular devices, it is possible to connect all of your Bluetooth Smart Home devices to a single central controler (HUB).
Compatibility
There are currently several hundreds of bluetooth enabled devices on the market. Since you need to connect a pair of Bluetooth devices together, you can’t add a non-Bluetooth device to the hub unless it handles multiple home automation protocols. The other significant downside is that, due to the low power consumption, the range is somewhat limited. As such, a perfectly working devices might loose it’s connection more easily when moving it.
Pros
Bluetooth is one of the fastest growing home automation protocols. It’s also has one of the lowest power consumption of all the home automation protocols, it’s will guarantee that your energy bill will stay low.
Cons
With a low power consumption goes a lower range.
Insteon
This is a special home automation protocol that is a hybrid of Wired/Wireless technologies. As such, it’s a unique welcome addition to this home automation protocols list.
How does it work
Using a patented Dual-Mesh network, this home automations protocol signal can travel further without loss or interference then other protocols. Using both wires and radio waves, Insteon overcome most other problems that other types of protocols encounters.
Also, a Insteon Central Control unit (hub) is required to connect other Insteon compatible devices and to control them using your Smartphone, Tablet or computer.
Compatibility
Since the Insteon home automation protocol relies on a patented technology, it’s the one that relies the most on it’s own line of smart devices to automate your home. However, there will be very limited compatibility with other Smart devices manufacturers and other home automation protocols. However, there are several hundreds smart devices using the Insteon home automation protocol. As such, your home automation needs will be covered. Additionally, Insteon, thanks to there Statelink technology, ensures that all backward and forward compatibility are kept. Most importantly. it means that your Insteon network will always work with both new and old devices.
Pros
Insteon is easy to set up and use. A smartphone and/or a tabet allows to manage every aspect throught the Smart Hub. Also, as soon as your smart hub detects a compatible device on the network, it pairs it automatically. As whit other mesh network, the reliability of this home automation protocol is very high, it can bypass broken or non-responding nodes to get the signal to it’s destination. For those envisioning a large network of countless interconnected devices, know that Insteon is the most scaleable of all the home automation protocols.
Cons
Your home automation system requires a smart hub to use this home automation protocol. It’s an additional requirement that add cost to your home automation system.
Another potential danger is that Insteon is not a communication standard, it’s a proprietary home automation protocol that is solely detained by Insteon. As such, any design change the company makes to their protocol might impact any Insteon network.
UPB
UPB, or Universal Powerline Bus, is a wire home automation protocols that is the “successor” to the X10 standard. The UPB home automation protocol been around and in use since 1999 is one of the most advanced protocol in the home automation industry.
How Does It Work
UPB uses your home existing power lines to send digital data between smart devices via pulse-position modulation . Communication between smart devices can be peer to peer but it’s easier to use a Central Controller (HUB) to manage all communication on your power lines for UPB.
Compatibility
UPD enjoy one of the broadest range of home automation devices on the market. It also enjoy the support of some major manufacturer. Also, it can coexist with other power lines home automation protocols without interference. However, it’s not enjoying the expansionnisme that some of the Wireless home automation protocols are experiencing.
Pros
This home automation protocol is the most reliable on the market due to it’s noise reduction circuitry. It is also impervious to RF interference and a multi home automation protocol hub can use it in order to combine it with Wireless technology. This home automation protocol can be used for a long distance across your whole house and even across several electrical panels.
Further, it can be used without a hub since it was originally used for peer to peer communication between 2 devices.
Cons
Home automation systems based on UPB requires a little more tech savvyness then other home automation protocols.
The End
Smart Home technology is entering into more and more household. It can be denied that this technology is here to ease our life and here to stay. However, before starting to go on a mad rampage to install or upgrade your home, you should be careful and select a home automation protocol that is suitable for your need and technology level. If you need more information on the subject, please look at this Home Automation Beginners Guide and this Home Automation Components guide
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