Z-Wave Long Range FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions About Z-Wave Long Range

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Can I have both mesh and LR devices connected to a single Z-Wave hub?

Yes! Z-Wave and ZWLR are designed to co-exist. Z-Wave LR reserves network nodes for new or existing Z-Wave mesh network devices to preserve compatibility and guarantee interoperability between certified Z-Wave devices on the network

Z-Wave mesh network ID vs ZWLR network ID's:

Mesh network ID's are between 2-255 (1 is reserved for the hub/controller). The maximum number of mesh nodes in a traditional Z-Wave network is 232; each time you include a new node, it gets a new network ID. Once you reach 255, your hub will recycle any unused nodes (devices that were removed, etc.)
ZWLR node ID's start with 256 and go up. You can have up to 4000 ZWLR devices connected to a single Z-Wave hub.

Can ZWLR be added to a 700 or 800 series device via a firmware update?

Yes, with some caveats.
- The only way to add a device via ZWLR to your hub is via Smart Start/scanning the QR code. However, the format of the QR code is different for LR, so there is that challenge when looking to upgrade from non-LR to LR when the device already has a dedicated non-ZWLR QR code.
- However, as long as the Z-Wave hub / controller supports changing the boot mode after scanning, you can simply scan the old QR code and then change the boot mode to Long Range. This is confirmed to date for Home Assistant, and we are awaiting confirmation for Hubitat as well. Our technicians are looking to add this ability to the Z-Box as well with the FW update to provide ZWLR on the Z-Box.

Can I get ZWLR in EU frequency?

Not yet (as of May 2024). However, the Z-Wave Alliance has announced a ZWLR specification for the European market so we expect to see development in this area and first ZWLR products coming out soon.

My hub doesn't support ZWLR; will the 800 series LR devices work with my hub?

Yes! As long as your hub is listed on the device compatibility page, then the device will simply include as a standard Z-Wave mesh device.

Do I need a ZWLR supporting hub to include a device using ZWLR?

Yes. For ZWLR to work, both the hub software as well as the end devices must support ZWLR. If you have a ZWLR enabled Z-Wave stick, you still need to make sure that the home automation software you're using with it supports Z-Wave Long Range implementation to add and manage Z-Wave devices in a star topology network.

Can I use direct association between two devices that are included via ZWLR?

No. ZWLR is device-to-hub direct communication; there are no repeaters and no mesh and the ZWLR devices do not communicate with each other, so direct association programming is not an option for ZWLR devices.

Your ZAC38 Range Extender is an 800 series device; does it support ZWLR?

No. 800 series and long range are not synonymous. The ZAC38 uses the 800 series Z-Wave chip; however, since ZWLR is direct hub-to-device communication, there are no repeating devices and therefore no need for range extenders with ZWLR.

How does ZWLR extend battery life?

ZWLR employs dynamic RF power, meaning that for nodes situated close enough, only sufficient RF power is utilized to reliably communicate with the controller, thereby extending battery life. Fortunately, the dynamic power algorithm is integrated into the Z-Wave protocol, eliminating the need for manual management.

How many ZWLR devices can I connect to a single hub?

More questions? Reach out to our team; we're happy to help!