I have many Z Wave LR compatible devices, I have just installed Hubitat Package Manager and SmartStart on Hubitat C-8
My question is, with so many people on here were using LR devices without the LR capability, what's the best option? My Hubitat will be approximately 200 feet from most of the sensors and devices.
From what I've read, not using LR means you have a mesh network, but using LR you can potentially get much further distance and better power management.
Keep in mind that Smart Start is a hub feature, and all you need is the (new/green background icon) Hubitat mobile app to use Smart Start. What you've found is a community-developed app that provides an alternative way to do this (if you have the full DSK and know the other options you'll need to select; the mobile app lets you scan the QR code and is by far the easiest way to get this data in) or want a neat way to "manage" the list -- but it's not required to use this feature.
I have a mix of both, LR mostly just to try it out since it was new and cool (and they made me test it ). I don't think there's a strong reason to prefer one or the other in most cases; mesh is tried and true (or at least tried...), and 700/800-series repeaters make great "backbones" for a mesh if you still have traditional Z-Wave devices around that might need them. It also supports Z-Wave Association if you need that feature, which LR (being star-only topology) does not. So there are definitely reasons some people may want to keep at least some joined as mesh instead of LR.
There are probably fewer reasons to prefer LR over mesh, but I suppose longer distances or a distaste for mesh topology (maybe chattier devices like power-monitoring devices where you need the data and don't want to tone it down -- or risk bogging a mesh down with repeating this traffic?) would be some. More nodes would be another: Z-Wave maxes out at 232, while Z-Wave LR can max out around 4000. But I'd probably think twice before putting anywhere near that on a single network (but that might be my mesh experience poking through a bit!).
Good to know, there isn't a whole lot on LR, the post I was following was from May 2024 I think.
I'm mostly going to have Zooz relays, a few sensors, a couple plugs (don't need power monitoring if they do) and most of my sensors are actually Ecowitt (or Ambient Weather for the US members), so the large amounts of sensor data won't be on the Z Wave network anyhow. I am anticipating maybe 30 Z-wave devices total, but maybe 10 to start.
I thought Z Wave was supposed to be able to achieve about 300 feet?
Not sure where you looked, but the docs have had this information since the hub supported LR. There is a dedicated, more detailed doc:
as well as the summary in the Add Device page (you can't add LR here, per the above, but it is accessible from the help/"?" icon in the top right of this page and is likely to be useful to know in this context):
I think that's reasonable for 700-series mesh-mode single-hop estimates and not too far off from older generations, though, of course, your luck will vary based on your particular environment. Unfortunately, it's hard to get real-world LR estimates from Silicon Labs, even for single hop in mesh mode on 800 devices, as they only seem to want to brag about the 1+ mile range achieved line of sight in LR mode. (So, I don't really know what their theoretical mesh-mode claims are now.)
I'd still be surprised if this didn't work even indoors at this distance in LR, but it should definitely work in mesh ... but, again, your environment will have the final say.
I’ve one LR device that is 35 ft (and 3 walls) away from the hub. Response is spotty. Identical devices paired in mesh mode and right next to it are fine.
I moved over to mostly LR. All mains powered switches, all but 3 contact sensors, all water sensors, four ZEN34 battery switches, Aeon hem. All plugs (ZEN04). All motion sensors. All temp/hum sensors. I think that's it.
I've had problems with with the Zooz tilt sensor, so have stuck with the Ecolink.
I still have some ZEN16s to change out. I'm hoping that won't be tricky.
I didn't look too much into the official docs, I'll have to revisit that, as most of my interest has been in non-official integrations (like NodeRED)
All of my LR devices are 800 series. My media cabinet is right by a window, with direct line of sight to the devices. If it does have an issue, I can always move it closer, in the next few months I will be have two CAT6 runs out that way, if needed, I'll just move the Hubitat to within a few feet. I will make sure to try to provide as much info as I can on the LR devices, but my only real barrier for the signal is a triple paned window.
Let's say my hub and the devices were 15 feet away, would you set the z wave network up as mesh or star, knowing that I would never get beyond 50 devices.
Ok so at least one die hard vote for LR. I have no experience with either, my smart home is all HomeKit stuff and matter, and its been awful lately, if this all works out, I'll get a second Hubitat to do my home.
Is it battery powered or wired? I think all Zooz sensors (at least the ones I have) are coin battery powered, and maybe thats where @velvetfoot is having an issue, mains powered devices seem to work well but not the tilt sensor. The sensors I got are just to compare to existing sensors, but the AC powered relays and outlets are the ones that are critical to function for me.
I tried to maximize the signal out to the gate at the end of driveway.
My thinking was that the aluminum screen on the window might not help, so I just mounted the hub on an exterior wall. I still have problems once in a while when it's raining hard and the vegetation is fully leafed out, but other than that, pretty dependable. This is with Ecolink mesh contact sensor, two LR motion sensors, and the ZEN34 wireless switches to control the gate and garage door.
I'm not sure what the heck is going on with the Zooz tilt sensor.
It might be that the ball, or whatever, gets stuck.
Ecolinks have been rock solid.
I have many LR battery devices.
Edit: this was during the winter.
). I don't think there's a strong reason to prefer one or the other in most cases; mesh is tried and true (or at least tried...), and 700/800-series repeaters make great "backbones" for a mesh if you still have traditional Z-Wave devices around that might need them. It also supports Z-Wave Association if you need that feature, which LR (being star-only topology) does not. So there are definitely reasons some people may want to keep at least some joined as mesh instead of LR.
(So, I don't really know what their theoretical mesh-mode claims are now.)
