Your smart home needs a mesh network, here’s what that means

When I started building my smart home, I was still figuring things out and making mistakes. But one thing I’m glad I got right from the start was the decision to use a mesh network, rather than relying solely on Wi-Fi for everything.

While this choice largely applies to server-based solutions like Home Assistant, even closed smart home platforms can take advantage of them.

What is a smart home mesh network?

A smart home mesh network is a wireless network that links devices such as outlets, switches, and sensors to a server or hub. As the name suggests, these nets form a mesh for superior coverage. Grid-powered devices act as repeaters that extend the reach of the network in your home.

Although similar in principle to a Wi-Fi mesh networkwhich achieves coverage using multiple nodes, smart home mesh networks are designed specifically with this use case in mind. There are three main mesh networking technologies you should consider when selecting one for your smart home.

Credit: Adam Davidson/How-To Geek

Zigbee is one of the oldest, having been introduced in 2005 before experiencing a surge in popularity throughout the 2010s. It uses the 2.4 GHz band, as do older (slow) Wi-Fi networks, and has gone through several iterations with Zigbee 4.0 on the horizon (moving away from the 2.4 GHz band).

Thread is the newest of all the mesh networking options, first introduced in the mid-2010s and devices have been gradually hitting the market since 2020. It also uses the 2.4 GHz band and is primarily used with Matter devices. Matter is a cross-platform standard that, in theory, allows smart home devices to work with all major smart home systems. Actually, Matter has not yet realized this vision. still.

Finally, there is Z-Wave. Z-Wave and Z-Wave Long Range use the 900 MHz band. As a result, Z-Wave enjoys greater range than rival technologies, with communication possible over distances of up to a mile in ideal conditions.

Credit: Home Assistant / Nabu Casa

Despite slight differences in approach, these networks function fundamentally in the same way. They allow two-way communication between a server or hub and a smart home device. This means that you can change the state of a device, such as turning on a light, and receive a response that reflects this change in state, so your hub knows that the light is on.

This is higher than a technology like 433MHz, which is based on one-way communication.

Why mesh networks are better than Wi-Fi

Choosing a mesh network over Wi-Fi has a number of key advantages. The first is redundancy, which means your smart home devices don’t depend on your Wi-Fi network to function. If your router fails, you can still turn on the lights. By connecting your networking equipment to a smart plug that communicates over a mesh network, you can even Reboot your broken router or modem automatically.

Consumer network equipment can also be defective. While your router may advertise support for a few hundred devices, things can start to fall apart with far fewer devices on the network. Placing so many light bulbs, switches, and sensors on your own dedicated network takes that strain off your router.

Battery-powered devices are particularly suitable for mesh networks due to their low-power nature. Wi-Fi is a thirsty technology, which is why contact, water leak, temperature, and other sensors often rely on Zigbee, Thread, or Z-Wave.

Wi-Fi dead zones are less of a problem with a mesh network, as long as you have Powered devices that can extend network reach.. Cheap smart plugs can be used to strengthen the network, and you can even add additional mesh network coordinators (including Power over Ethernet options) for out-of-range areas.

There will always be some devices that you can’t help but connect over Wi-Fi, and that’s not necessarily a problem. I have my HVAC controller and garage door opener connected to Home Assistant via Wi-Fi, but my decision to depend as little as possible on Wi-Fi It means I have 25 devices and I have a separate Zigbee network.

Choose between Zigbee, Z-Wave and Thread

Which mesh network you choose depends largely on what you’re already using, your budget, and your desired use case.

If you’re using a proprietary smart home system like Apple Home, Thread is probably your best option. Apple’s HomePod smart speaker acts as a Thread Border Router, as do many Amazon and Google hubs. You will also have access to IKEA’s new range of cheap Matter over Thread devices.

For Home Assistant and Homey users on a budget, there is nothing better than Zigbee. The price and the huge selection of existing devices are just two of the reasons to continue choosing Zigbee over Matter. IKEA’s departure from the Zigbee ecosystem is a shame, but there are still There are many cheap Zigbee devices out there..

Credit: Tim Brookes / How-To Geek

Lastly, there is Z-Wave. It is the most expensive option, but You have range, reliability and device selection on your side. Z-Wave also prevents 2.4GHz Interference Issues That Can Accompany Zigbee o Thread networks. Nothing compares to long range Z-Wave if you need range!

If you use Home Assistant, you can run all three at once. All you need are adapters like the ZBT-2 for Zigbee or Thread either ZWA-2 for Z-Wave and its long-range variant. There’s nothing wrong with a mixed-tech approach, as Home Assistant is the glue that makes these devices work with each other.

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  Dimensions (exterior)

  83x83x179mm

  Weight

  157g

  Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 supports Zigbee and Thread, although it must be configured for use with either protocol. It offers 4x more responsiveness than the previous model and is designed to be easy to open for modification, with accessible pins and pads.

  
  

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  Compatibility

  home assistant

  Connectivity

  Z wave

  The Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 Z-Wave antenna connects to your Home Assistant setup via a simple USB cable. Offering nearly a mile of range from the hub, you can connect Z-Wave devices even from rooms you own to your Home Assistant setup with this hub.

  
  

As an example, you can write an automation that takes a reading from a Zigbee sensor, turns on a Z-Wave switch, and adjusts a Thread thermostat.

While you may not have a problem that needs to be “solved” with a mesh network right now, as your smart home grows and your Wi-Fi network starts to give out, you’ll thank yourself in the future.