If Tuya decides to shut down their system, it breaks. If Amazon decides to stop supporting Tuya, it breaks. Amazon has to be reachable for the echo to work and then they have to have the connector to the Tuya/SmartLife cloud AND your plug has to be logged into the Tuya cloud. Even less pleasant, you may need multiple clouds, meaning there are 2 or 3 different ways your gear can turn into doorstops. If there's any internet problems or the people running that cloud computer shut it down, your stuff stops working. Want a less pleasant surprise? A lot of the times (like >80% of the time) that computer requires some cloud computer to be online. Those are computers running a program to be the brain. They have a doodad (wifi access point) that connects to a phone/tablet/cloud. Yes, ZWave, Zigbee, Insteon require hubs/controllers. Wifi also has security concerns as IoT devices have become prime targets for botnets. In zwave, zigbee, insteon the command for "power on/off" is clearly defined. Even a "standards" based solution using MQTT as the API layer can have devices of the same type with radically different commands and attributes (lights on/off, power true/false, etc) or implement different encryption schemes. "Wifi" is just networking, there are several more components you need for device controls and they are very disparate. Insteon is 900Mhz and also has powerline signaling as well in a dual-path configuration that is great in concrete block/steel housing that eats RF.Ĭompare to wifi devices, which are wifi+tcp+ip+custom encryption+custom API+custom attributes.
Zwave is 900Mhz (good signal penetration for power but frequency varies by country), zigbee is 2.4Ghz (which can conflict with bluetooth and wifi b). However only mains-powered devices can act as relays. Low power, so battery friendly, and the mesh let's them have decent range. Zwave, zigbee, and insteon use mesh radio networks. They are not IP/wifi-based (they have their own network technology). Zwave and zigbee allow for new, novel commands when new device types hit the market. Every smart switch uses the "switch" profile and the command for "light on" is always the same. What that means is that communication layer, enrollment, encryption, API and device attributes are baked in. Zwave, zigbee and insteon are "full stack" automation solutions. There are two questions here, one about the different communication standards and one about controllers. Join the Home Automation Discord by Clicking Here! (If you would like your sub listed please contact the mods!) It will get removed and you will be banned without warning. Please use the provided flairs to appropriately label your posts.ĭo not spam your blog, website YouTube channel, company, product, etc. Reposts, low-effort content, karma whoring, and shitposts may be removed at the discretion of the mods. Posting a video/image without detail will result in a removed post and may result in a ban.Ĭrowdfunding links MUST be in a self-post with more information, Q&A, etc. When posting project details must be included. NO POLITICS! There are plenty of other subs to discuss them, this is not one. Referral/affiliate links are NOT ALLOWED! If you are being an ass you will be banned. This is a forum for friendly discussion, personal attacks will not be tolerated and you will be banned without warning.ĭon't be a dick, it doesn't make yours bigger. If you are not sure about what you are doing, hire a licensed professional.**** Please keep this in mind while assisting others. **** Working with electricity can result in injury/death/property damage if it is not done properly. If you would like to learn more about Home automation, Please look HERE Home automation may include centralized control of lighting, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), appliances, security locks of gates and doors and other systems, to provide improved convenience, comfort, energy efficiency and security. It is automation of the home, housework or household activity. Home automation is the residential extension of building automation. The Home Automation Network Main Deals Trade