Clever Home Automation - Frequently Asked Questions.
What is ZigBee home automation?

What is ZigBee home automation, how does it work, and integrate with C-Bus?

ZigBee home automation uses the ZigBee wireless device specification, which is poised to become the global standard for wireless control/sensor networks in residential, industrial, and commercial applications. ZigBee home automation may also be integrated with C-Bus home automation as described below.

What is ZigBee home automation?
  • ZigBee home automation is a home automation system that uses wireless components that communicate with each other using the ZigBee specifications.

  • Like any wireless home automation system, ZigBee may be easily retro-fitted into existing homes without installing additional cabling.

  • Unlike other wireless home automation systems, the ZigBee specifications that it employs have been more rigorously engineered to better suit the requirements of wireless home automation communications, which include:
    - The ability to deal with internal walls and obsticles.
    - An innovative, self-configuring, self-healing system of redundant mesh-network nodes.
    - Low low latency communications at low data rates (less than 250kbps).
    - Low power consumption, dramatically less than WiFi or Bluetooth.
    - Low equipment cost per ZigBee network node component.
    - Low maintenance and low installation costs.

  • ZigBee is a set of specifications created specifically for 2.4GHz wireless control and sensor networks by the ZigBee Alliance from the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for wireless personal area networks (WPANs).

  • The ZigBee Alliance formed in 2002 brings together public and private industry leaders seeking to develop a single standard for the interoperability of proprietary wireless sensors and control systems with each other, and with and newer technologies.

  • Since the ZigBee specification was released in 2006, it has been further developed and is now poised to become the global control/sensor network standard for a wide and varied range of residential, industrial, and commercial applications, including home automation.

  • The ZigBee standard enables wireless two-way communications over up to 20m inside a home for control signals. As with any wireless system, range is affected by the type of walls, solid objects, and other sources of EMI.

  • ZigBee uses 2.4GHz frequencies like home WiFi, and for the same good reasons. However, the different way in which ZigBee uses these frequencies allows a ZigBee network to co-exist with WiFi networks. Simple strategies like maintaining at least 2m between WiFi and ZigBee devices, and at least 30MHz between the channels used by each, help further mimimise the potential of either system to interfere with the other.

  • Residential and commercial applications of ZigBee include home automation, lighting controls, smoke and CO2 detectors, HVAC controls, home security, automatic utility meter readings, and remote control to and digital set-top box communications. As mobile telephone operators integrate ZigBee into smart phones and PDAs, you may use these as a remote control device. Inndustrial examples include monitoring medical equipment, building and industrial automation, and environmental controls.

  • Schneider Electric is one of the leading ZigBee Alliance members that is further exploiting ZigBee’s potential for industrial and home automation applications, and have produced this helpful explanation of ZigBee.
How does ZigBee home automation work?
  • ZigBee home automation networks support two types of devices:
    1. Full Function Devices (FFDs) - either network coordinators, or routers that mediate information between devices.
    2. Low cost Reduced Function endpoint Devices (RFDs) that simply interact with the physical world and communicate with their parent ZigBee FFDs.

  • Every ZigBee home automation network must have a coordinator that:
    - Sets up the network, is aware of all of the ZigBee nodes in that network.
    - Handles and stores information.
    - Acts as a repository for security keys.
    - Manages the information transmitted and received within the ZigBee network.

  • ZigBee supports reliable mesh, energy-efficient star, or cluster network configurations of nodes.

  • Multiple ZigBee networks may co-exist in the same area.

  • In a ZigBee mesh network each wireless node communicates with the one adjacent to it. Two ZigBee nodes that cannot see each other may communicate via the mesh network of other ZigBee nodes. If a ZigBee node fails, information may be automatically rerouted to maintain communication between nodes.

  • ZigBee devices are either awake or asleep, and they may be extremely energy efficient by waking up only to transmit and receive.

  • ZigBee supports two modes of operation capable of seamlessly managing periodic, intermittent, or repetitive low latency data transmissions:
    1. The beacon mode minimises energy consumption (ideal when using battery-powered coordinators), by periodically waking to send beacons to the ZigBee routers to wake up other nodes and check for incoming messages. If there are none, the nodes and coordinators go back to sleep.
    2. Non-beacon mode suits ZigBee networks using mains-powered coordinators in which some ZigBee nodes are always active and others sleep. The coordinator and routers’ receivers never sleep continuosly listening for messages from any active node. Non-beacon mode still uses little energy because most of the network devices can remain inactive over long periods.

  • All ZigBee devices have 64-bit IEEE addresses, though short 16-bit addresses may be allocated to reduce packet size.

  • ZigBee was engineered to use inexpensive hardware by:
    - Using principally digital RF circuitry and direct sequence CDMA that requires simple low-cost analog circuitry.
    - Extensively using relatively simple RFDs that are cheap to manufacture and maintain.
    - Implementing the ZigBee application layer in such a way as to allow networks to grow physically without the need for more powerful power transmitters, even when networks have very large numbers of nodes with low latency requirements.
    - Simplicity - using four times fewer layers in ZigBee’s protocol stack than in Bluetooth’s for example.

  • ZigBee 3.0 is the unification of the ZigBee Alliance’s market-leading wireless standards into a single standard.
Can wired C-Bus and wireless ZigBee home automation be integrated together?
  • Yes, when the below new hardware becomes available.

  • The new Clipsal C-Bus Wiser Home Controller 2 may support connection to both a C-Bus wired home automation network, and also to a wireless ZigBee home automation network, when the required optional ZigBee interface units are released in Australia.

  • A Clipsal ZigBee Interface Unit of one of the below two types needs to used with the Clipsal C-Bus Wiser Home Controller 2:
    1. The Clipsal 5200UZI USB ZigBee Interface Unit, which may be installed neatly inside a Wiser 2 Home Controller; or
    2. The Clipsal 5200EZI Ethernet ZigBee Interface Unit, which may communicate with your Wiser 2 over your LAN.

  • The Clipsal ZigBee Interface Units may connect to an existing ZigBee network using Easy (E) mode.

  • Clipsal Zoolkit software on a PC connected to a Clipsal ZigBee Interface Unit may be used to:
    - View and control the devices on the ZigBee network.
    - Retrieve the ZigBee network configuration and create a file that may be used by PICED software to create and upload a home automation project file to the Wiser Home Controller 2.

  • Integration of Clipsal C-Bus home automation and ZigBee home automation devices should be performed by a qualified and experienced home automation Systems Integrator such as a Clever Home automation Engineer.
Welcome to Clever Home automation.
Frequently Asked home automation Questions (FAQs).
What additional Convenience can home automation provide?
How can home automation make your home more Elegant?
How can you enhance your home Security?
How can you make your home Safer for your family?
How can Clever Home help you obtain better Value from your home automation?
How can we provide you with unique Quality home automation solutions?
How is Clever Home automation Support better?
View our aminmated home automation page (2min download time).
Email Clever Home automation now at inquiry@cleverhome.com.au for more information.
Contact Details for Clever Home automation.
How to get started with your home automation project - Click Here.
Call 03 9722 9210
Email Us
Clever Home Automation
Contact Us
Home Owner Testimonials
Home Automation
Browse home automation topics by category. Home
Automation
Categories
 
Browse home automation products. Home
Automation
Products
 
Appliance automation
Automatic watering
Automatic lighting
Bathroom automation
Blind & curtain automation
Ceiling fan automation
Convenience
Disability automation
Door automation
Door station IP
Electric strikes
Electrical house plans
Elegance
Exhaust fans
Gate automation
Heated towel rails
Heating and cooling
Home automation C-Bus
Home theatre
Home theatre actuators
Multi-room audio
Quality
Remote control RF & IR
Roller shutter automation
Safety
Security
Security PIR/light detector
Security systems
Smoke detectors
Software
Speakers
Speakers outdoor
Subwoofers
Support
Surveillance IP cameras
Structured pre-wiring
Thermostats
Value
Video intercoms
Wall switches
Water tank level detection
Window linear actuators
Wireless access control 3G
Wireless home automation
Wireless intercom
Wireless intercom 4G
Wireless phone long-range



What is new at Clever Home automation? Home
Automation
News & Info
Clever Home News
Home Automation FAQs
User manuals
Installation manuals
Home Automation Specials
Discontinued Products


Aristel
Aristel wireless intercom and door station with gate access control.
Wireless door/gate stations.
Wireless access controller 3G
Wireless intercom 4G
Wireless intercom long range

C-Bus
Clipsal C-Bus glass Saturn home automation wall switch page.
Home automation system.
C-Bus home automation
Automated wall switches
Automatic lighting sensors
Automatic watering relay
Avanti wall switch
Blind/curtain relay
Ceiling fan relay
CMU energy monitor
eDLT wall switch
Multi-room amplifiers
Multi-room audio
PAC home controller
Reflection wall switch
Saturn wall switch
Saturn Zen wall switch
Software
Thermostats
Wireless switches
Wireless automation
Wiser 2 home controller
Wiser C-Bus home controller
C-Bus Installation manuals

Clipsal
Clipsal Starserve structured pre-wiring future-proofing for your home.
Home safety & wiring.
Smoke & heat detectors
Starserve structured wiring

Crowson
Crowson home theatre TES-100 linear actuators and A300 motion amplifiers.
Home theatre seat actuators.
Linear actuators

DALI
DALI C-Bus lighting control and automation.
Automated lighting system.
DALI C-Bus control

EnGenius
EnGenius long range cordless wireless telephones.
Long range cordless phones.
EnGenius long range phones
DuraFon long range phones
FreeStyl long range phones

GTI
GTI G3 Window linear actuators under home automation control.
Automated window control.
Linear window actuator

Inner Range
Inner Range integriti home security, access control and home automation systems.
Security & access control for automated homes.
Integriti security
Integriti Mobile App
Concept 4000 security

Linn
Linn safety compliant speaker cable plugs.
Home multiroom audio.
Speaker cable plugs

Krix
Krix Epicentrix full size centre home theatre speaker.
Krix Speakers for automated home theatre & multiroom audio.
Active subwoofers:
Seismix 1 active subwoofer
Seismix 3 active subwoofer
Seismix Cube subwoofer
Tektonix active subwoofer
Volcanix active subwoofer
Floor-standing speakers:
Apex floor speaker
Harmonix floor speaker
Neuphonix floor speaker
Phoenix floor speaker
Rhythmix floor speaker
Bookshelf/centre speakers:
Acoustix theatre speaker
Atomix bookshelf speaker
Epicentrix centre speaker
Equinox bookshelf speaker
Graphix centre speaker
Sonix centre speaker
Vortex centre speaker
In-wall speakers:
Ecliptix speaker
Epix speaker
Scenix speaker
Symmetrix speaker
In-ceiling speakers:
Atmospherix A20 speaker
Atmospherix AS speaker
Helix outdoor speaker
Hemispherix speaker
Hemispherix AS speaker
Holographix outdoor speaker
Stratospherix AS outdoor spkr
On-wall speakers:
Aquatix outdoor speaker
Dynamix speaker
Phonix speaker
Tropix outdoor speaker
Mobotix
Mobotix Megapixel IP cameras for home surveillance.
Home automation IP cameras.
Mobotix cameras introduction
Outdoor automation cameras:
D15/D16 dual dome camera
D25/D26 single dome camera
M15/M16 dual camera
M25/M26 single camera
Q25/Q26 single camera
S15/S16 modular camera
V16 dual armored camera
Indoor automation cameras:
c25/c26 ceiling camera
i25/i26 wall camera
p25/p26 ceiling camera
v25/v26 dome camera
Video intercom cameras:
T25/T26 modular door station
S15/S16 custom door station
MxDisplay+ intercom t/screen
Free software & manuals:
Mobotix iOS App
MxBell Android & iOS Apps
MxManagementCenter software
MxSoftPanel intercom software
Mobotix Installation manuals

Ness
Ness Lux HW PIR and light level home automation security detector with night light.
Security detector & light.
Movement/light sensor

Padde
PADDE Trimec electric door and gate strikes for keyless entry.
Door/gate access control.
Trimec electric strikes

Presco
Presco access control keypads and support modules.
Door/gate access control.
Access control keypads

Shading Systems
Shading Systems of Australia, automated control of electric Blinds and Curtains.
Automated blind/curtain control.
Electric blinds

Wika
Wika water tank level detectors, integrated with home automation monitoring and control.
Water tank automation.
Water level sensors
Search Clever Home Automation Provide your feedback about the Clever Home automation website.
Provide
Feedback
Clever Home automation contact details.
  Copyright © 1999-2024  Clever Home Pty Ltd, Melbourne Victoria Australia  Disclaimer & Trade Marks


inquiry@cleverhome.com.au

Call 03 9722 9210









AdSense Helpful Links

wordpress visitor counter
Tuesday, 19-Mar-2024 04:21:30 GMT