Z-Wave

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What Does Z-Wave Mean?

Z-Wave is a wireless network designed by Zensys Inc. to provide communication between devices in a home control network. Z-Wave may be used to control lights, heating and air conditioning, and appliances and home security, among other functions.

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Z-Wave makes it possible to unify home electronics into a single network without having to run cables or reprogram devices. Most home electronics can operate on Z-Wave with the addition of a Z-Wave accessory module.

Techopedia Explains Z-Wave

A remote control is generally used to send Z-Wave signals to a base station. These signals are then relayed to various devices. Z-Wave operates in a 902 – 928 MHz band, which does not interfere with Wi-Fi and other common wireless transmissions.

Z-Wave employs a mesh network topology to provide a two-way communication medium. This means that the remote control device can send messages to electronic devices in the home and receive feedback from those devices about whether commands have been executed. A Z-Wave mesh network can include up to 232 devices, and can be controlled via various devices, including a Z-Wave remote control, a cell phone or a PC. Z-Wave devices can also be programmed to perform certain tasks, such as to turn up the heat each morning, or turn off all lights at the touch of one button when the homeowner leaves for work.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.