Z-Wave is a home automation radio protocol that runs in sub-GHz bands, around 900 MHz depending on region, and uses a source-routed mesh network with a single primary controller. Every certified product must pass interoperability testing, and the command classes are shared across vendors, so a lock, thermostat and dimmer from different brands can be combined in one controller.
Compared with Zigbee, the lower frequency gives better wall penetration and keeps traffic clear of crowded 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi, at the cost of lower data rates and a smaller ecosystem built largely around a single chip supplier. Z-Wave is common in professionally installed security and lighting systems. The specification has been opened in recent years through the Z-Wave Alliance, but the radio remains tied to specific silicon.
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