Wireless Mesh Networks for Home Automation Applications
A wireless mesh network is tailor made for home automation applications. Indeed, this type
of network topology was developed at MIT for process control applications. In a mesh
network, all nodes are both send and receive and have routing capabilities. Every node is
a repeater for all the other nodes so the network is self expanding and has multiple data
paths. This redundancy and scalability are two of the things that makes mesh networks so
well suited for home automation applications. For certain applications within home
automation, such as lighting control and security systems, reliability is critical. Ninety nine
percent is not good enough when it comes to this type of systems.
The two most common wireless mesh networks sued for home automation applications
today are ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4) and Z-Wave. ZigBee is an open standard that has
robust industry support from over 100 different manufacturers. Z-Wave was developed by
Zensys, who has formed the Z-Wave Alliance. The Z-Wave Alliance has about 60 member
firms.
A quick comparison between ZigBee and Z-Wave:
One or both of these standards may become the defacto replacement for X-10 in the do it
yourself home automation market. In addition, the added capability and reliability have
several companies, such as Control4 and Crestron, earmarking these types of wireless
mesh network technologies for commercial home automation products.
The ability to have a complex, interconnected array of devices with no installed
infrastructure will be a boon to the home automation industry. It will open up a much larger
market which should speed up the penetration of "smart" and automated home systems.
Up to this point, only extremely expensive homes have benefited from professionally
installed systems of his type. Now many more people, especially with existing homes, will
find home automation affordable enough to contemplate.
This technology shows great promise but the jury is still out on which of the
implementations, if either, will prevail as the new standard for home automation
applications.
NOTE:
On Jan. 05th, 2006 networking giant Cisco Systems announced an additional strategic
investment in Zensys, the parent company of Z-Wave. This round follows the $16 million
Cisco invested in Zensys in July, 2005. Cisco views the investment as an additional step
into the home control market.
of network topology was developed at MIT for process control applications. In a mesh
network, all nodes are both send and receive and have routing capabilities. Every node is
a repeater for all the other nodes so the network is self expanding and has multiple data
paths. This redundancy and scalability are two of the things that makes mesh networks so
well suited for home automation applications. For certain applications within home
automation, such as lighting control and security systems, reliability is critical. Ninety nine
percent is not good enough when it comes to this type of systems.
The two most common wireless mesh networks sued for home automation applications
today are ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4) and Z-Wave. ZigBee is an open standard that has
robust industry support from over 100 different manufacturers. Z-Wave was developed by
Zensys, who has formed the Z-Wave Alliance. The Z-Wave Alliance has about 60 member
firms.
A quick comparison between ZigBee and Z-Wave:
One or both of these standards may become the defacto replacement for X-10 in the do it
yourself home automation market. In addition, the added capability and reliability have
several companies, such as Control4 and Crestron, earmarking these types of wireless
mesh network technologies for commercial home automation products.
The ability to have a complex, interconnected array of devices with no installed
infrastructure will be a boon to the home automation industry. It will open up a much larger
market which should speed up the penetration of "smart" and automated home systems.
Up to this point, only extremely expensive homes have benefited from professionally
installed systems of his type. Now many more people, especially with existing homes, will
find home automation affordable enough to contemplate.
This technology shows great promise but the jury is still out on which of the
implementations, if either, will prevail as the new standard for home automation
applications.
NOTE:
On Jan. 05th, 2006 networking giant Cisco Systems announced an additional strategic
investment in Zensys, the parent company of Z-Wave. This round follows the $16 million
Cisco invested in Zensys in July, 2005. Cisco views the investment as an additional step
into the home control market.
Insteon
Insteon is a technology developed and marketed by Smarthome. Insteon is, according to
their web site "..a powerful, wireless home-control networking technology that simply,
affordably and reliably integrates systems in the home..." Insteon's major difference
between the competing wireless mesh technologies is that it uses both wireless mesh and
powerline carrier communications. All devices act as repeaters and receive all messages
sent. It communicates at 131.65 kHz for PLC and 902-924 MHz for RF. The system is fully
closed loop and all messages are repeated both over the wireless RF and the PLC for
additional robustness.
One of Insteon's strengths is that it is fully compatible with existing X-10 installations. The
powerline carrier communications are two way and response time is given by Smarthome
as only .04 seconds. This is much faster than X-10, which averages about .7 seconds.
As of May, 2005, there were over 50 manufactures in the Insteon Alliance. This number
has been growing steadily.
their web site "..a powerful, wireless home-control networking technology that simply,
affordably and reliably integrates systems in the home..." Insteon's major difference
between the competing wireless mesh technologies is that it uses both wireless mesh and
powerline carrier communications. All devices act as repeaters and receive all messages
sent. It communicates at 131.65 kHz for PLC and 902-924 MHz for RF. The system is fully
closed loop and all messages are repeated both over the wireless RF and the PLC for
additional robustness.
One of Insteon's strengths is that it is fully compatible with existing X-10 installations. The
powerline carrier communications are two way and response time is given by Smarthome
as only .04 seconds. This is much faster than X-10, which averages about .7 seconds.
As of May, 2005, there were over 50 manufactures in the Insteon Alliance. This number
has been growing steadily.
Crestron infiNET
Home automation industry leader Crestron showed their new infiNET wireless mesh
network at the 2005 CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis in early September, 2005. Similar to
ZigBee, it uses the ZigBee protocol but instead of only one channel, it uses all 16 available
channels to avoid interference and ensure robust communications. It is frequency agile
and will automatically switch channels if interference is detected.
Crestron uses their C2N-MNETGW gateway as the wireless mesh interface. It can support
up to 30 devices. If the RF environment is clear enough, up to 16 C2N-MNETGW
gateways can be included in a system. At this time Crestron is using the infiNET system for
lighting control, but other applications, such as wireless thermostats, have been
announced and will follow soon. Crestron's infiNET devices work any existing with a
2-series control processor. This will allow home automation capabilities to be very easily
added to existing Crestron systems without the hassles of retrofitting new wires. It also
allow the existing control hardware to be leveraged, so a new, dedicated lighting or HVAC
controller is unnecessary, potentially saving money.
network at the 2005 CEDIA Expo in Indianapolis in early September, 2005. Similar to
ZigBee, it uses the ZigBee protocol but instead of only one channel, it uses all 16 available
channels to avoid interference and ensure robust communications. It is frequency agile
and will automatically switch channels if interference is detected.
Crestron uses their C2N-MNETGW gateway as the wireless mesh interface. It can support
up to 30 devices. If the RF environment is clear enough, up to 16 C2N-MNETGW
gateways can be included in a system. At this time Crestron is using the infiNET system for
lighting control, but other applications, such as wireless thermostats, have been
announced and will follow soon. Crestron's infiNET devices work any existing with a
2-series control processor. This will allow home automation capabilities to be very easily
added to existing Crestron systems without the hassles of retrofitting new wires. It also
allow the existing control hardware to be leveraged, so a new, dedicated lighting or HVAC
controller is unnecessary, potentially saving money.
Copyright 2004-6 1 touch movie.com
Home theater and Automation Guide
All rights reserved.
Home theater and Automation Guide
All rights reserved.
ZigBee, Insteon, Z-Wave, and inifiNET Wireless
Mesh Networks for Home Automation
Mesh Networks for Home Automation
1 Touch Movie.com
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