Z-Wave Long Range is now available for Pre-Certification while pending Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Review  

Last fall, the Z-Wave Alliance announced the new Z-Wave Long Range (Z-Wave LR) specification, currently undergoing third-party silicon certification. The addition of technical capabilities to significantly extend both range and node functionality is also in the works. With such a promising outlook, it only makes sense to start getting your Z-Wave LR Pre-Certification. Let’s break down what this really means. 

What is Z-Wave LR and Why Does It Matter? 

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already very familiar with Z-Wave LR, but a refresher can always come in handy.  

Engineered to provide significantly extended wireless range and support robust networks, Z-Wave LR extends Z-Wave connectivity beyond the boundaries of the home and accelerates the adoption of Z-Wave in other spaces such as light commercial, hospitality, and multi-dwelling units (MDU). Z-Wave LR is an extra 100kbps DSSS OQPSK modulation addition to the Z-Wave protocol. The modulation is treated as a fourth channel, allowing gateways to add LR nodes to the existing Z-Wave channel scanning.  

Developed and managed by the new Z-Wave Alliance Technical and Certifications workgroups, the updated specification has been designed to usher in a new era of Z-Wave connectivity while still adhering to Z-Wave technology core values such as backwards compatibility and interoperability. The updated specification promotes a number of key technical benefits best summarized as: 

• increased range and coverage 
• increased scalability 
• optimized battery life 
• interoperability 

Its most exciting benefit, however, is the considerable increase in transmission range, spanning over a mile. Z-Wave LR also increases scalability on a single smart home network up to 4,000 nodes. It’s also user friendly, as it extends connectivity without the need for repeaters, guaranteeing and easier install and lower cost. These features make Z-Wave LR scalable beyond the home.   

Why Should You Get Pre-Certified? 

Starting April 1, 2021 original equipment manufacturer (OEMs) are able to submit a product for a Z-Wave LR Pre-Certification based upon Specification version 2021A.  

“But is it worth going through this process?” you might ask. Let us assure you: there is a plethora of benefits to reap.  

For starters, OEMs earn a certification number, the right to market, and a badge that indicates Z-Wave LR functionality. Additionally, it will allow any OEM to sell their product xas Z-Wave LR compliant – a label that will increase your product’s credibility.  

Last – but certainly not least – a certified Z-Wave LR device is interoperable and compatible with the deployed Z-Wave ecosystem of more than 100M products. Plus, you’ll be ahead of the game, as you won’t have to go through the certification process again once this becomes fully available. 

All of these make a strong case as to why a trustworthy OEM should pursue pre-certification. 

Get Started Today 

We’ve compiled a list of resource to help you get started if you’re interested in securing your pre-certification: 

• Get started with your Z-Wave Long Range Product 
• Read from the Z-Wave Alliance here on Z-Wave certification 
• Read more about Z-Wave and Z-Wave Long Range 

The Z-Wave Long Range certification program will be through IPR review through June 1, 2021. 

IoT protocols such as Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, and Bluetooth are all networking technologies that make it possible for IoT products to communicate and work with other platforms, devices, and applications. We rely on these wireless protocols to specify the rules that establish and manage networks and transmit data.

In keeping pace with rapid advances in smart home development, Works With, the smart home developer conference, will feature training and how-to tutorial sessions designed to accelerate IoT development across platforms. With built-in essentials for IoT wireless already implemented into the stack, developers can focus on application development and not spend time worrying about lower-level network details.

To get started with smart home development, check out the featured sessions covering IoT protocols training sessions. But first, we will define what an IoT wireless protocol is.

What is an IoT Wireless Protocol?

IoT wireless protocols specify the rules and formats to manage and transmit data across networks so that devices, gateways, and applications ‘speak’ to each other.

Training Featuring IoT Protocols

Samsung Technical Track: Introduction & Certification

This course will teach engineers how to get started designing products that are capable of connecting with the Samsung SmartThings Ecosystem. This introduction will provide attendees with an overview of how devices can connect to SmartThings using different protocols (Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Z-Wave), as well as explore some upcoming SmartThings developments on Wednesday, September 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CDT.

Z-Wave Technical Track: Development & Certification

Works With Z-Wave - Development

The Z-Wave Technical Track features development and certification components that build upon each other. Attendees will gain a deeper level of understanding of the Simplicity Studio Development Environment and Device Testing for Z-Wave Developers. The session begins with an overview of using Simplicity Studio to develop Z-Wave End Devices (sensors, switches, thermostats, etc.) with a focus on specific features of Simplicity Studio and Z-Wave. Eric Ryherd, a.k.a. “Dr. Z-Wave” will then share some testing and debugging tips learned over his many years of developing Z-Wave products. Eric will describe some hard-to-find “gotchas” and relate several anecdotes from the field that have cost significant time and money.

Works With Z-Wave - Certification

Certification is a cornerstone of Z-Wave and will continue as Z-Wave becomes an Open Standard. The sessions in this curriculum will cover how certification works, how it is likely to change in the new Standards Development Organization, and how you can use the tools provided to self-test your products. Silicon Labs’ Bettina Roll will lead the certification session on Wednesday, September 9, 2020.

Introduction to Zigbee in Simplicity Studio v5 (Amazon)

The development tracks at Works With by Silicon Labs will require attendees to have a good base understanding of the software development environment.  Silicon Labs’ Claudio Filho will walk through how to get started using Simplicity Studio.  The attendee will learn the location and usage of the different libraries used for the different ecosystems.  They will learn how to program a kit with an example project.  The attendee will be better prepared for the development sessions after completing this course. This session is scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. CDT.

HomeKit Technical Track: Introduction & Certification

This course will introduce engineers on how to get started designing products with Bluetooth solutions that can connect with the HomeKit Ecosystem. This session features two parts. The first part is an introduction to provide attendees with a holistic overview of how Bluetooth is used to provide that connectivity. The second part of the course will cover the process that customers must follow to become a recognized and certified device in HomeKit. This session will be held on Wednesday, September 9, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. CDT.

We look forward to seeing you online and from anywhere in the world at Works With 2020 by Silicon Labs.

Title: Develop Secure, Interoperable Smart Home Devices with Z-Wave

Date: July 11 & 12, 2018

Duration: 1 hour

Speaker: Johan Pedersen, Product Marketing Manager of Z-Wave

Topic:  Z-Wave is a popular wireless technology for smart home applications with a large ecosystem of interoperable devices, such as smart lighting, energy monitoring, and home security systems. Consumers benefit from Z-Wave’s ease of use and secure interoperability thanks to mandatory product certification and features including SmartStart plug-and-play installation, Security 2 (S2), and backwards compatibility. Adding Z-Wave connectivity to your product is straightforward due to clearly defined software stacks, published device profiles, pre-certified modules, a finished product certification program and development tools that ensure high-quality products get to market fast.

In this webinar, we explore how Z-Wave wireless technology enables easy-to-use, secure, and interoperable products for the smart home market.