Do you know what the brain of a smart home system is? It must be a designated hub for the smart system, and the Z-Wave hub is one of the most popular and advanced hub systems you can go for. Now, the question is, what is this Z-Wave hub system?
The smart Z-Wave hub is a tremendously advanced and high-tech hub that lets you control the entire home system, including all your smart devices. It’s not a typical hub you have seen in the past. Indeed, this hub has numerous features that are hard to find anywhere else.
Follow along to learn more about this advanced technology and the best Z-Wave Hub.
- What is a Z-Wave Hub?
- What Kind of Z-Wave Hubs ?
- What Are the Benefits of Using Z-Wave Hubs?
- Best Z-Wave Hub in 2023
- What to Check Before Buying the Best Z-Wave Hub?
What is a Z-Wave Hub?
Z-Wave hub works as the central command center of smart home systems. And the fundamental task of this system is to let you control the entire array of smart devices you have at home just using a smartphone application or a control panel. Managing smart devices with voice commands and controlling them remotely are the benefits of using the hub.
This smart device management system gives you access to check and change the status of any device from anywhere in the world. You can also create multi-step actions using the advanced Z-Wave hub, allowing the devices to act automatically.
What Kind of Hubs does Come with Z-wave?
For sure, you will get a lot of home system hubs out there. But a Z-wave smart hub is designed with the most advanced technology aiming to modernize your home. So, you cannot expect all the market hubs to support Z-wave.
There are specific and authorized Z-wave Hubs, and you have to buy them wisely. Generally, the Z-wave hubs supports are officially named Z-wave controllers.
Different brands produce smart hubs with Z-wave supports. But choosing the right z wave hubs often seems complicated. An upcoming section will help you select the right z wave hubs for your home.
What Are the Benefits of Using Z-Wave Hubs?
Z-wave hubs are undoubtedly one of the most secure smart home management systems out there. No wonder its popularity is soaring with each day. Let's check out the fundamental benefits of using a z wave smart hub.
- A Z-Wave is operated with complete cellular communication and built-in WiFi service.
- You can easily control all your home's smart devices using Z-Wave hubs.
- It lets the homeowners control the system and share the controlling access with up to 50 members.
- It has no wire and has a high-tech 'smashproof' design.
- This high-end Z wave hub has an alarm system unlike a regular phone alarm. Indeed, it will make a siren-like sound to wake you up.
- The Z-wave smart hub offers 24-hour battery backups, and it won't die so easily, offering you reliable support.
Besides, it lets you control the entire home device system smartly. Also, it has some unique features like a carbon monoxide sensor, smoke, heating sensor, etc. So, it should be at your home to make your life secure and comfortable at the same time.
>> Zigbee vs Z-Wave: What’s the difference?
Best Z-Wave Hub in 2023
If you want to buy Z-Wave hubs, check out the five best 5 options.
EVVR Center Lite (Zigbee & Z-Wave)
EVVR Center Lite is your top pick for a smart home gateway. With compatibility for Z-Wave, Zigbee, Bluetooth, and WiFi, it provides automatic matching, driver creation, and development kit functionalities, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of smart home devices.
There's no need to fret over figuring out how to use this gateway. With simple drag-and-drop automation nodes on EVVR Console, you can set up automated workflows for various scenarios. Thanks to the user-friendly interface that allows anyone to easily manage their home, you can control your devices through an App, Web Application, or Tablet.
With a local network, multiple smart devices can communicate without an internet connection. All your private data is processed and stored in real-time and locally. Dependable peer-to-peer network connection and data encryption are in place when accessing electronic devices remotely. When the power is out, record logs and data are stored locally and your controller runs on a backup battery.
Pros
- Offers a wide range of connections,
- Ensure smooth control over all smart, multi-protocol devices
- Comes with a highly user-friendly UI on EVVR Console and EVVR App
- Indemnifies a one-step advanced data encryption security
Cons
- Comparatively costly
Fibaro Home Center Z-wave Smart Hub
Next, it is a powerful hub from Fibaro. For a comfortable home system controlling experience that you can afford easily. Thus smart home system hub ensures security and advanced functions simultaneously.
Pros
- It's a wireless system with powerful controlling power
- Supports controlling from a distance
- Compatible with Homekit ecosystem, Google Assistance, and many other
- Supports over 150 trademarks
Cons
- Doesn't work well with different models of CCTV
Hubitat Elevation Home Automatic Hub
If you are looking for widely z-wave compatible hubs, you can use one from Hubitat Elevation. This smart hub looks pretty good and is compatible with most smart devices.
Pros
- It doesn't require a cloud service or internet connection to work
- Ensures high-end S2 wireless style security
- Supports bost Z-wave and Z-wave plus devices
- Hubitat SmartStart technology
Cons
- It's not a good choice for the beginners
AEOTEC Z-stick Gen5 Z-wave Hub
How about a stick hub? AEOTEC has brought a stick size z wave hub that you can operate just like a USB stick. It's not more than 3.5 inches long in size, and it works very fast and smoother.
Pros
- It supports more than 232 different smart devices
- Compatible with lots of home automation software
- Certified to work with Z-wave plus
- Ensure a bigger range of wireless power
Cons
- It's not completely USB compliant
Ezlo Atom Smart Hime Hub
We have another small-size stick hub to recommend, and this one is from Ezlo Atom. You can control this Z wave smart hub from long distance area. Also, it's the cheapest z wave hub you can find in the market.
Pros
- Lets you create more than 15 automation scenes
- One-tap device controlling system is available
- Compatible with up to 20 smart devices
- Lets you make lots of pre-set modes
Cons
- Number of compatible devices is not satisfactory
Among all these options, EVVR is definitely the best one. This Zigbee z wave hub has unique features with unlimited device compatibility.
What to Check Before Buying the Best Z-wave Hubs?
There are tonnes of different Z-wave compatible hubs out there. And not all of them are the same in terms of functions and features. So, you should choose the right Z-wave hub wisely. However, it’s not that easy to find out a quality one.
You need to check out some of the essential functions of a z wave smart hub. However, let's find out the basic factors one should look into while choosing the best z-wave controller hub for your home.
1. Compatibility
The first thing you should check in a hub is if it is compatible with the devices at your home. The smart devices can support Z-wave or Z wave plus. The devices that are authorized for Z-wave plus may not work with the typical Z-wave hub.
So, before you buy the hub or just a device for your home, make sure that their functions match properly. You can check the product information on the packages to check the compatibility information.
2. Hardware Functions
Different Z wave smart hubs come with different hardware functions. You can find one with a part of a USB dongle or a part of a circuit board, or simply a Raspberry Pi HAT.
A hub with a Raspberry Pi or a USB dongle part needs a hosting system to operate. But a hub with a circuit board's part doesn't need anything like that. So, you will have to install a configurable application for those two options that need a host.
3. Smart Assistance
Some smart things hub z wave offers the smartest assistance where you can easily connect most of the z wave devices with your other smart devices.
This smart Assistance will again let you control it with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistance, and almost all other smart home systems. So, if you want to control the hub with another smartphone through those home systems, you will need to buy one with smart Assistance.
4. SmartStart Function
SmartStart is one of the newest technology recently added to this z wave smart hub. So, if you are going to buy a new one, it's better to buy the hub that comes equipped with this technology.
The SmartStart function offers a smart scanning system that lets you easily access and synchronize the application with the hub. It will give you a QR code, which you can use to add a gateway. So, the entire technology will be handy and more convenient.
5. Controlling Range
Next, you have to check the range of controllability of the device. In this case, you have to match it with the measurement of your home. However, most smart z wave systems let you control it from a long distance.
There are many z-wave hub Schlage that actually lets you control it from 150 to 200 feet away. Eventually, some of them also let you take over the system from 500 feet distance. So, choose one that has a long-distance controlling range.
6. Manufacturer and Warranty
Finally, you have to check out the brand and Warranty system. Remember that different brands produce z wave hubs, and all of them are not the same in quality. So, buying a Z-wave hub from a reliable manufacturer like EVVR Hub is always better.
Also, it is essential for the warranty and other services as well. A Z-wave hub is not a one-time product; you have to pay a lot of money for it. So, make sure that the manufacturer is providing a long-term warranty.
Bottom Line
After a long and detailed discussion on Z-Wave hubs, we’re at the final parts of our guide. We’re positive that the effective guidelines we’ve provided would come in handy while choosing a quality Z Wave hub for your home.
So, let us know which one you decided to try and how it works in your home. If there is anything you want help with don’t hesitate to reach us and become our partner. Leave us your messages and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
