ZigBee gets more serious about home automation
By Nilay Patel 
posted Nov 3rd 2007 11:18AM
posted Nov 3rd 2007 11:18AM
The ZigBee household device networking standard is starting to branch out even further -- just a few weeks after announcing ZigBee PRO, the consortium has announced the ZigBee Home Automation application profile, which should make it even easier for companies to develop interoperable automation products based on ZigBee tech. The spec covers most of what you'd expect, like lighting, HVAC, power outlets, motorization, security and audio/video applications, and devices should just plug into existing ZigBee nets and be a part of the self-healing mesh love. No word on when HA profile devices will ship, but with the rate ZigBee's going, it shouldn't be long.
I'm tired of waiting around for ZigBee (lot's of hype ... no products). My Zwave devices work just fine, thanks, and don't sit on the crowded 2.4 spectrum.
Actually, ZigBee is very widely used in other automation, monitoring and process control areas, it's just now really starting to get into home automation. I prefer that the technology matured in those spaces before coming in the home environment. Mainly because the home environment is far more noisy, i.e, wireless networks, wireless phones, blenders, microwaves, pumps, lighting, copper pipes, crappy electrical wiring, etc all of which produce significant RF interference. Case in point is wireless networks...
ZigBee most be the worst name ever. Change it and maybe people will start to take them seriously.
Centerpoint Energy is starting to install electric meters in Texas that have a ZigBee interface that will allow the utility to offer peak load management that will potentially lower retail electric bills. This is the kind of stuff that will allow it to finally get traction.
Compare with Z-Wave. I can't find out any ZigBee Home Automation products for DIYer. Also, ZigBee does not provide standard way to join the its network such as Z-Wave. I think it makes confusion to average users and Z-Wave is more simple, easy to use and understand, available!
I beg to differ. ZigBee is indeed within reach of the at-home DIY-er, and for cheap. I managed to design and build a ZigBee capable node for $21, and I know there are commercial nodes available for around $50. There aren't too many DIY projects using ZigBee out there yet, but give it a few months, and I think that will change.
Or, people will ditch the extra overhead of ZigBee and just use 802.15.4, though that certainly won't catch on commercially since it doesn't have a spiffy name.
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