When I started building my smart home, I was still figuring things out and making mistakes. But one thing I’m glad I got right from the start was the decision to use a mesh network, rather than just relying on Wi-Fi for everything.
While this choice largely applies to server-based solutions like Home Assistant, even closed smart home platforms can take advantage.
What is a smart home mesh network?
A smart home mesh network is a wireless network that links devices like plugs, switches, and sensors with a server or hub. As the name suggests, these networks form a mesh for superior coverage. Powered devices on the network act as repeaters that extend the network’s reach around your home.
Though similar in principle to a Wi-Fi mesh network, which achieves coverage using multiple nodes, smart home mesh networks are designed specifically with this use case in mind. There are three main mesh network technologies that you should be aware of when selecting one for your smart home.
Zigbee is one of the oldest, having been introduced in 2005 before experiencing a surge in popularity throughout the 2010s. It uses the 2.4GHz band, the same as older (slow) Wi-Fi networks, and has been through several iterations with Zigbee 4.0 on the horizon (which moves away from the 2.4GHz band).
Thread is the newest of all the mesh network options, first introduced in the mid-2010s with devices gradually trickling onto the market since 2020. It also uses the 2.4GHz band and is primarily used with Matter devices. Matter is a cross-platform standard that, in theory, allows smart home devices to work with all major smart home systems. In reality, Matter hasn’t quite realized this vision yet.
Finally, there’s Z-Wave. Z-Wave and Z-Wave Long Range use the 900MHz band. As a result, Z-Wave enjoys a longer range than rival technologies, with communication possible over distances of up to a mile in ideal conditions.
Despite slight differences in approach, these networks fundamentally work in the same way. They allow for two-way communication between a server or hub and a smart home device. This means you can change a device’s state, like turning on a light, and receive a response that reflects this state change, so your hub knows that the light is on.
This is superior to a technology like 433MHz, which is built on one-way communication.
Why mesh networks are better than Wi-Fi
Choosing a mesh network over Wi-Fi has a number of key advantages. The first is redundancy, which means that your smart home devices aren’t dependent on your Wi-Fi network to work. If your router crashes, you can still turn the lights on. By plugging network equipment into a smart plug that communicates over a mesh network, you can even reboot your crashed router or modem automatically.
Consumer-grade network equipment can be flaky, too. While your router might advertise support for a few hundred devices, things can begin to fall apart with far fewer devices on the network. Putting as many bulbs, switches, and sensors on their own dedicated network takes that strain off your router.
Battery-powered devices are particularly well-suited to mesh networks on account of their low-power nature. Wi-Fi is a thirsty technology, which is why contact, water leak, temperature, and other sensors so often rely on Zigbee, Thread, or Z-Wave.
Wi-Fi dead zones are less of a problem with a mesh network, as long as you have powered devices that can expand the network’s reach. Cheap smart plugs can be used to strengthen the network, and you can even add extra mesh network coordinators (including Power-over-Ethernet options) for out-of-reach zones.
There are always going to be some devices that you can’t avoid connecting via Wi-Fi, and that’s not necessarily a problem. I have my HVAC controller and garage door opener connected to Home Assistant via Wi-Fi, but my decision to rely on Wi-Fi as little as possible means I have 25 devices and counting on a separate Zigbee network.
Choosing between Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Thread
The mesh network you choose largely depends on what you’re already using, your budget, and your desired use case.
If you’re using a proprietary smart home system like Apple Home, Thread is likely your best bet. Apple’s HomePod smart speaker acts as a Thread Border Router, as do many Amazon and Google hubs. You’ll also get access to IKEA’s new range of cheap Matter over Thread devices.
For Home Assistant and Homey users on a budget, you can’t beat Zigbee. Price and the massive selection of existing devices are just two of the reasons to still pick Zigbee over Matter. IKEA’s departure from the Zigbee ecosystem is a shame, but there are still plenty of cheap Zigbee devices out there.
Lastly, there’s Z-Wave. It’s the most expensive option, but it has range, reliability, and device selection on its side. Z-Wave also avoids the 2.4GHz interference problems that can accompany Zigbee or Thread networks. Nothing quite compares to Z-Wave Long Range if you need the reach!
If you use Home Assistant, you can run all three at once. All you need are adapters like the ZBT-2 for Zigbee or Thread or ZWA-2 for Z-Wave and its long-range variant. There’s nothing wrong with a mixed-technology approach here since Home Assistant is the glue that makes these devices work with one another.
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- Dimensions (exterior)
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83x83x179mm
- Weight
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157g
The Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 supports both Zigbee and Thread, although it must be set up for use with either one of the two protocols. It offers 4x the responsiveness of the previous model, and is designed to be easy to open for modding, with accessible pins and pads.
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- Compatibility
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Home Assistant
- Connectivity
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Z-Wave
The Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 Z-Wave antenna connects to your Home Assistant setup through a simple USB cable. Offering nearly a mile of range from the hub, you can connect Z-Wave devices even from outbuildings on your property to your Home Assistant setup with this hub.
As an example, you can write an automation that takes a reading from a Zigbee sensor, turns on a Z-Wave switch, and adjusts a Thread thermostat.
While you might not have a problem that needs “solving” with a mesh network right now, as your smart home grows and your Wi-Fi network begins to bow, you’ll thank yourself down the line.
