Home Automation FAQ

What is home automation?

Home automation describes products that are used to set up a smart home. Smart lighting or a doorbell that you can control via an app are a few examples. Home automation is mainly used for some domestic automation. Home automation is also used in industry for the mutual communication between machines.

What should you pay attention to when purchasing home automation?

When you are looking for home automation, it is important to pay attention to compatibility. Home automation can communicate with each other in different ways, via different protocols. These protocols generally cannot work together. Many home automation products only support one of these protocols. A few examples of protocols are Z-Wave, Bluetooth and Zigbee. You can often find the frequency in the product specifications. This is indicated in Megahertz (MHz) or Gigahertz (GHz). These frequencies indicate the protocols.

How do you integrate home automation into your home?

Home automation can be set up in two ways. Via a controller, possibly a router and one or more end devices. Or with only the end devices. More and more home automation can be controlled directly via your phone or PC. But in larger home automation networks it is smart to connect everything with a controller. Possibly with one or more routers in between. The advantage of a controller is that you can connect everything with each other. From lamps to sockets. This means there are fewer disruptions. There is also less signal delay and a better connection.

What is a home automation protocol?

In this case, a protocol means how your home automation communicates with each other. There are many protocols such as Z-Wave, Zigbee and Thread. Each protocol has its advantages and disadvantages. Most protocols work via a 'mesh network'. A mesh network means that the home automation can communicate with each other and via each other. This allows, for example, smart lamps to communicate with a controller via other smart lighting. The disadvantage is that with each additional intermediate step there is more signal delay. After six or seven intermediate steps you quickly reach the maximum data speed of a protocol.

Which protocol is best?

There are many different communication protocols for home automation. Each protocol has its advantages and disadvantages. A few examples are the Zigbee protocol and the Z-Wave protocol. Zigbee works on the same frequency as WiFi and Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz. This can cause some light interference, but this is so light that it is almost unnoticeable. Zigbee does have the advantage that around 60,000+ devices can be connected. This makes it suitable for large office buildings or factories with many machines. Z-Wave works between 800 MHz and 930 MHz. This makes it isolated from other wireless networks such as: Bluetooth and WiFi. Z-Wave is a protocol that makes home automation easier to connect. This makes it very user-friendly and easy to set up in your household. There are many other protocols. But for the general household it does not matter which protocol you choose. As long as you use the same protocol.

What protocols are there? And what are the pros and cons per protocol?

We have created a table here with the most common protocols. From this you can choose which protocol is most suitable for you.

Protocol:		WiFi	Bluetooth	Infra-red	Zigbee	Z-Wave	Thread	868 MHz	433 MHz
Frequency:	2.4/ 5 GHz		2.4 GHz	300 GHz – 430 THz	2.4 GHz	800-930 MHz	2.4 GHz	868 MHz	433 MHz
Common in:	Laptops and equipment with internet		Speakers	Remote controls	Relief	Sensors and actuators	Battery powered wireless equipment	Budget devices	Budget devices
Data rate:	600 Mbps 1300 Mbps		24 Mbps	NVT	250 kbps	100 kbps	250 kbps	40 kbps	20 kbps
Range:	10-100M		10M	As long as there is direct line of sight between transmitter and receiver	10-70M	50M	10-70M	100M	100M
Number of systems:	Theoretically infinite		7	2 at a time	60,000+	200+	60,000+	100+	100+
Mesh application:	Yes, with mesh router		No	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Can you use multiple protocols in one environment?

If you find yourself in a situation where you are using multiple protocols, don't worry, this is not a problem. There are some controllers that can connect to multiple protocols. With these controllers everything can still communicate with each other.

Do you need home automation?

Whether you need home automation depends on what you want to achieve. If you only want to control the lighting via your phone, it might not be worth it. But if you add a smart doorbell, it probably is. A Google speaker that lets you control your lighting by talking, or a smart thermostat that you can control on your way home quickly makes it interesting. In our opinion, everyday life becomes much easier if you can control everything remotely.
For example, you forgot to turn off the light or you want the coffee to be ready when you come downstairs. Then home automation is perfect.

Is home automation IoT?

Home automation and the Internet of Things (IoT) are often confused. Although they seem similar, there is certainly a difference. The IoT mainly consists of devices that need access to the internet. While home automation only needs to be connected to each other. Of course, you can access home automation remotely via the internet, but it is not necessary. The IoT does not work without an internet connection. So home automation can be completely independent of the internet.

Your Home Automation question not answered?

Didn't find your home automation question? Don't worry. Our website has several pages with information. These go into more depth on certain topics. Take a look at these pages and you will probably still get the answer to your question. If you really can't figure it out, please feel free to contact us. We will then see if we can help you further.