Z-Wave hub launches in three different starter kits
A Z-Wave only smart home system in 2023 seems like a questionable move but that’s exactly what we’ve got with the new Zooz Z-Box kits, which have just gone live.
Built in collaboration with Z-Wave specialist Fibaro, the Zooz Z-Box is available to buy on its own for around $130 and has been out for a few months now.
Guide: What is Z-Wave
But it’s the three specific Z-Wave kits that have been announced which make it a bit more appealing.
Zooz hopes that by targeting specific use cases then the individual protocol restriction won’t, erm, matter.
Read this: Matter smart home explained
First up is the Z-Box Security Kit, which boxes the hub with two Zooz Z-Wave Plus XS open/close sensors, one Zooz Z-Wave Plus motion sensor, and a Zooz 800 Series Z-Wave Long Range DC signal sensor, which can relay alarms from your dumb analog smoke and CO detectors.
You can have it operate offline and locally or connect to the cloud for expanded functionality. It costs $169.95
Next up, the Z-Box Flood/Water Protection Kit includes one Zooz Z-Wave Plus Titan water valve actuator and two Zooz Z-Wave Plus water leak sensors, for $279.80.
Finally, there’s the Z-Box Smart Garage Door Kit which boasts a Zooz Z-Wave Plus Multi-Relay, which can automate up to three garage gates, as well as two Zooz Z-Wave Plus XS tilt/shock sensors which can be deployed to instantly upgrade nearly any garage door and controller combination to make them smart.
The Garage kit is $158.80.
Obviously, with all of these kits you can add as many other Z-Wave devices as you like and, because of that Fibaro involvement, there is the opportunity to sync up your Z-Wave with the likes of Sonos and Philips Hue.
Through the Fibaro app you can also get the system singing and dancing with Amazon Alexa or the Google Assistant.
The documentation does mention that you can “connect your Z-Box Hub with other IoT systems thanks to the full local API documentation, available straight from the WEB UI,” but, let’s face it, that will only really appeal to super enthusiasts.
It’s hardly the ease of a smart home hub such as the Aoetec SmartThings Hub, which offers Z-Wave, Zigbee, Matter and more in a similarly priced package.
However, if you are looking to plug a particular gap in your smart home then I guess I see the appeal of the kits.
They are all available now from getzooz.com
