A Primer on Wi-Fi and Z-Wave

Wi-Fi is a popular technology that allows an electronic device to exchange data wirelessly (using radio waves) over a computer network, including high-speed Internet connections. The Wi-Fi Alliance defines Wi-Fi as any “wireless local area network (WLAN) products that are based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) 802.11 standards.”

A device that can use Wi-Fi (such as a personal computer, video game console, smartphone, tablet or digital audio player) can connect to a network resource such as the Internet via a wireless network access point. Such an access point (or hotspot) has a range of about 65 feet indoors and a greater range outdoors. Hotspot coverage can comprise an area as small as a single room with walls that block radio waves or as large as many square miles, which is achieved by using multiple overlapping access points.

Z-Wave is a mesh networking technology developed in 1999 to create a standard for wireless radio frequency (RF) communication for home devices. The key to the technology is that Z-Wave products are designed using a family of low-cost, low-power RF transceiver chips embedded with Z-Wave. Because all Z-Wave-enabled devices use the same chip family, they communicate using a common communication protocol.

Z-Wave communication is modeled after computer network protocols and is designed to afford high reliability. Z-Wave devices also act as signal repeaters, re-broadcasting signals to additional devices on the network. Z-Wave products enable a wide variety of devices to communicate, including those related to lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers, energy management, security and access control, and building automation.

— Compiled by SSI

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