Invest in a hub like SmartThings Hub or Wink Hub 2 that work with both Zigbee and Z-Wave. Some smart displays like the Amazon Echo Show 10 and smart speakers like the newest Amazon Echo function as Z-Wave or Zigbee hubs, meaning you won't need to buy a separate hub to add new devices to your home.
In this aspect, it is possible to run Z-Wave devices without a "hub" but instead using a "controller". While it might seem like a technicality, we will soon see that using a controller can be a lot cheaper and more convenient than using a hub.
Z-Wave Controllers and Hubs for Google Home
Z-wave must connect to a home automation hub, like Alexa or Siri or a Quolsys IQ 2.0+ Panel. Once you have selected a hub for your Z-Wave system, Google Home will be all set to voice activate your light bulbs, thermostats, locks and other devices.
Google Home devices do not have built-in Z-Wave capabilities. Instead, they use Wi-Fi to communicate with other smart home devices. To use Google Home with Z-Wave, you will need to connect your Google Home device to a separate Z-Wave compatible smart home hub using your home's Wi-Fi network.
The Apple HomeKit certified Z-Wave controller to extend your Smart Home with Z-Wave products. Thinka bridges HomeKit to Z-Wave. The (included) Z-Wave controller is best of breed, with a 700 series chip for better range, Smart Start, provisioning, backup and restore, remote access and remote support.
It currently doesn't support Z-Wave, the protocol of choice for home automation thanks to its high speed and low interference with other connected devices in your home. That means you can't have a Z-Wave switch or plug speak directly to your Echo.
Z-Wave commands need to be understood by the controller. Insteon, by contrast, uses Statelink commands that are backward and forward-compatible. While you can use some Insteon devices for basic functionality without a hub, you'll need a gateway for Z-Wave devices. Insteon Scenes kick in without any delay.
Amazon Alexa owners can now add voice control to their Z-Wave devices within their smart home network. The marriage of these two technologies is enabling smart homeowners to control lights, adjust thermostats, change music and unlock doors.
SmartThings Wifi Smart Plug
This Wi-Fi version of the SmartThings outlet can work with or without the SmartThings hub.
A Samsung SmartThings network consists of software and hardware. You'll need a hub as well as a compatible SmartThings app. In turn, the hub communicates with SmartThings compatible hardware such as smart lights, connected thermostats, security systems, and more.
Zigbee has a similar number of compatible products, but there is a major difference to remember. Z-Wave devices all work together, while there are some versions of Zigbee that don't work with each other. If you choose Zigbee, be sure to only choose devices that use the same version, such as Zigbee 3.0.
However, right now, Alexa is not quite powerful enough to truly stand alone, in the way SmartThings can. There's the fact it only supports Zigbee (no Z-Wave), but even within this Alexa is limited in exactly how much control you can wield over your connected devices, and Routines are not always totally reliable.
Insteon is not directly compatible with SmartThings—they use their own proprietary communications system.
Insteon works with the Google Assistant on voice-activated speakers, eligible Android phones, TVs and more.
The catch is that the Echo Plus contains a Zigbee radio only and does not support Z-Wave technology, which is—at least in my experience—more widely supported. Ring, for instance, favors Z-Wave over Zigbee in its Ring Alarm system.
The new controller is the first Apple HomeKit-certified Z-Wave controller and is designed to add more than 3,300 smart Z-Wave products for HomeKit users. With the new Z-wave hub, Thinka is bridging the gap between people who want to use Apple's privacy-focused smart home technology but recognize the benefits of Z-Wave.
Answer: A: Apple's HomeKit requires using either Bluetooth or WiFi. This is because iPhones, iPads, and AppleTV only have those standards built-in. However this does not itself mean it would be impossible for a Z-Wave compatible device to be used.
Z-Wave networks allow for up to 4 hops between devices while Zigbee, as we stated earlier, has no effective limit. Z-Wave networks are capable of supporting 232 devices, Zigbee networks an incredible 65000.
Philips Hue smart lights
Philips Hue uses the Zigbee protocol, which differs from the z-wave protocol in some aspects.
Samsung SmartThings devices (Outlets and Motion, Multipurpose, Arrival, and Water Leak Sensors) contain ZigBee chips to receive and provide information.
The SmartThings Hub is a Z-Wave certified central static controller. It can be included in any Z-Wave network and operate with Z-Wave certified devices from other manufacturers.