Expanded network size opens up opportunities for applications beyond smart home into commercial and hospitality markets
Offering seamless wireless connectivity beyond the smart home, the Z-Wave 700 Series SoCs and modules with backward compatibility present unique benefits of Z-Wave Long Range (LR) for IoT applications in commercial, multi-dwelling unit (MDU) and hospitality markets.
Z-Wave LR is a new specification by the Z-Wave Alliance that offers point-to-point wireless connectivity up to several miles and supports thousands of nodes. Z-Wave LR also eliminates the need for mesh repeaters, saving time and money for developers and end customers.
The Z-Wave 700 Series products demonstrate one-mile point-to-point range (line-of-sight) at +14dBm output power. Several mile ranges can be achieved with an external power amplifier to meet the maximum Z-Wave LR specification limit of +30dBm. Additionally, the 700 Series supports dynamic output control to optimise power settings and enables up to ten years of operation on a coin cell battery.
“The Z-Wave 700 Series product offering brings Z-Wave beyond the home into IoT markets requiring substantially greater range and penetration,” said Jake Alamat, vice president and general manager of IoT home and consumer products at Silicon Labs.
“Silicon Labs’ Z-Wave 700 solutions with Z-Wave Long Range will provide energy-efficient, scalable IoT connectivity to our smart apartment communities,” said Felicite Moorman, Co-Founder of STRATIS, a leading IoT platform for connected buildings. “With the ease of installation and extended range capabilities, these Z-Wave solutions enable connected products that deliver an excellent experience for installers, staff and residents.”
New development kits supporting Z-Wave LR are available from Silicon Labs. Software support for Z-Wave Long Range on Z-Wave 700 devices is also available via Simplicity Studio 5, Silicon Labs’ free IoT developer environment. Z-Wave Alliance certification for Z-Wave LR devices will be added by end of Q1 2021, with new Z-Wave 700 products to follow (that will further extend its range with an increased +20dBm output).
