Solving the Outdoor IoT Challenge with Z-Wave Long Range

Smart homes are expanding, and the next wave of growth is happening outside. Connected outdoor IoT devices aren’t just indoor devices placed farther away—they operate in much harsher conditions. Ground and water attenuation, weather fluctuations, foliage density, metal fences, gates, and parked vehicles make outdoor RF connectivity a serious challenge. This blog explores how Z-Wave Long Range (LR) enables reliable connectivity in tough environments—and how you can build for it.

Connected Outdoor IoT Introduction

As connected home expectations expand beyond four walls, smart device makers face a growing challenge—and opportunity—at the property’s edge.

Customers now want secure, reliable automation not just for thermostats and locks, but for driveways, backyards, gates, gardens, sheds, and more. The connected outdoor smart home is here, and it demands more from wireless design than ever before.

For Z-Wave developers and hardware teams, this shift introduces a distinct set of engineering requirements. You’re no longer designing for temperature-controlled, interference-light interiors. You’re dealing with long-range requirements, non-line-of-sight conditions, underground sensor placements, and environmental exposure. Add in tight power budgets, signal attenuation through dense materials like stone, soil, and foliage, and the expectation of “install and forget” battery life, and it becomes clear that not all wireless protocols are up to the task.

This is where Z-Wave Long Range (LR) shows its true strength.

Connected Outdoor IoT Is Not Just "More of Indoor"

From a network design perspective, outdoor IoT devices are not simply “indoor, but further away.” They involve fundamentally different RF conditions. A smart irrigation valve buried six inches underground doesn’t just need range—it needs signal resilience through moist soil with mineral content and water-based attenuation. A driveway sensor might sit behind a metal gate and parked vehicles, while a weather station could sit hundreds of meters away from the hub, with trees and walls in between.

And that’s before considering real-world weather cycles. Connected outdoor devices must maintain stable operation across wide temperature swings, from below freezing to high heat, while continuing to communicate reliably and conserving battery.

Power delivery is also limited. Many outdoor IoT devices are entirely battery-powered, placed in remote locations with no access to mains power, and expected to last multiple seasons—if not years—without maintenance. Frequent battery replacements aren’t just inconvenient for consumers; they’re a deal-breaker in commercial and agricultural use cases.

These challenges make it clear: connected outdoor IoT demands more than what traditional 2.4 GHz mesh protocols or Wi-Fi can offer.

Z-Wave Long Range Benefits for Outdoor IoT

Z-Wave Long Range (LR) was engineered specifically to solve these challenges—and to unlock new outdoor applications for smart home device makers. Built on the Z-Wave 700 and 800 series platforms, Z-Wave LR offers a powerful combination of:

• 1+ mile range (line-of-sight), covering entire properties without repeaters
• 10-year coin cell battery life for unattended outdoor operation
• Easily manage hundreds of nodes per network with direct-to-hub topology
• Sub-GHz operation (908/868 MHz) for superior wall and foliage penetration
• S2 Security & SmartStart for secure, touchless inclusion—even at distance

Unlike mesh-based alternatives, Z-Wave LR supports a star topology, where devices can connect directly to the hub instead of routing through repeaters. This simplifies deployments, improves latency, and makes coverage more predictable—particularly important for perimeter sensors, gate locks, and motion detectors at the far edge of a property.

And because Z-Wave LR operates at sub-GHz frequencies, it performs better than 2.4 GHz protocols in real-world outdoor scenarios, where RF interference, water absorption, and physical obstructions degrade higher-frequency signals.

Whether you’re designing soil moisture sensors, outdoor floodlights, long-range access panels, or environmental monitors, Z-Wave LR gives you the physical layer performance to connect in conditions where other radios fail.

Take your Outdoor IoT Device from Concept to Certification with Silicon Labs

Silicon Labs works closely with the Z-Wave Alliance and ecosystem partners to offer an integrated platform for building Z-Wave LR devices, supporting faster time-to-market and long-range performance in the field.

We offer three hardware paths for your connected outdoor product roadmap:

• EFR32ZG28 SoC - Perfect for multi-protocol applications and higher-performance devices like hubs, irrigation controllers, or security panels. Offers advanced RF performance, and ample memory.
• EFR32ZG23 SoC - Optimized for ultra-low-power devices like battery-powered motion detectors, climate sensors, or underground leak sensors. Compact and efficient, yet fully Z-Wave LR capable.
• ZGM230S Module - Pre-certified, drop-in module ideal for accelerating time to market. Includes antenna matching, RF front-end, and Z-Wave LR firmware integration—ideal for resource-constrained teams or rapid prototyping.

All options are supported by the Silicon Labs Z-Wave SDK, Simplicity Studio development tools, range testing utilities, and reference designs tailored to outdoor conditions.

Your Competitive Advantage Starts at the Property Line

The outdoor smart home market is still underdeveloped compared to its indoor counterpart—but that’s exactly why it matters. Demand is rising for devices that secure and automate entire properties, and Z-Wave LR is the most robust and efficient protocol to meet that demand.

For Z-Wave device makers, this is a chance to differentiate your product line, solve hard RF problems others can’t, and enter categories where reliability and battery life are non-negotiable. From smart garden lighting to water conservation systems, there’s real business in helping homeowners and property managers gain control of what lies beyond their walls.

With Z-Wave LR and Silicon Labs, you have the tools—and the range—to build it. Explore the Connected Outdoor Application Page to learn more.