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Which Home Automation Technology Is Best for You?

The best home automation tech depends on your specific needs and wants

By Ron Fritz Ron Fritz Writer Ron Fritz is former Lifewire writer and a computer technology writer with over 15 years of experience with information technology and home automation products. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on November 9, 2019 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Smart Home Your Best Year Ever: College Tech Tips Amazon Appliances & Lighting Google The first step in getting started with home automation is choosing a networking protocol—one that is wired, wireless or a combination of both. Popular technologies for home automation include UPB,Z-Wave, Zigbee, and a few other dependable protocols. The one you select determines the direction of your future home automation system, as each new device must be compatible with the others. Your decision as to which home automation technology is best for you may be influenced by the smart home devices you already own or by your desire to access them from a distance via the cloud. X10 was the original wired home automation protocol. However, it's showing its age. Many enthusiasts believe X10 technology has become obsolete, replaced by the newer and more versatile wired or wireless technologies.

UPB

Universal Powerline Bus (UPB) uses the home’s built-in wiring to transmit home automation control signals. Developed to overcome many of the shortcomings that X10 experiences, UPB is a superior power line technology to X10. UPB is not X10 compatible. If you already have X10-compatible products and you want your UPB and X10 compatible products to work together, you need a controller that talks to both.

Z-Wave

The original technology, Z-Wave set standards for wireless home automation. It extends the usable range of home automation by making all devices double as repeaters. It increased network reliability to enabled commercial applications. Z-Wave devices are designed for ease of setup and use and come about as close to turnkey as the home automation industry allows, which is especially helpful for beginning enthusiasts.

Zigbee

Similar to Z-Wave, ZigBee is strictly a wireless home automation technology. It's been slow to gain acceptance with home automation enthusiasts largely because Zigbee devices frequently have difficulty communicating with those made by different manufacturers. Zigbee isn't recommended for people new to home automation unless they intend to use only devices made by the same manufacturer.

Wi-Fi

Manufacturers have begun designing smart home devices to work with existing Wi-Fi networks in the home. Connecting with a home network usually just requires the password. The disadvantage of taking this path is bandwidth. If you already have several devices that access your Wi-Fi signal frequently, your smart home devices might be slow to respond. Also, because Wi-Fi is power-hungry, it drains the batteries of battery-operated networked devices quicker than other protocols.

Bluetooth

Manufacturers have embraced Bluetooth wireless technology for relatively short-distance communications. This wireless technology is already in use for smart door locks and light bulbs, for example. It's easily understood and simple to work with. Bluetooth is a secure encrypted technology and is expected to see a faster growth rate than any other wireless technology for the next few years.

Thread

Thread is the new kid on the block for wireless smart household devices. You can connect 250 smart devices using the Thread protocol, and it requires little power. Most of the devices that are compatible with Thread are battery operated. Like Zigbee, the Thread protocol uses radio chips to form a secure low-power network. Expert Tested: The 7 Best Smart Hubs in 2022 Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire What's the Point of Apple's iPad Smart Home Docking Accessory? How to Get Started With Home Automation RF Interference With Wireless Home Automation Devices Wireless Home Automation Basics X10 Home Automation Systems and Software Is X-10 Protocol an Obsolete Technology? How to Lock Your Home From Your Smartphone An Overview of Wireless Networking Technologies Expert Tested: The 7 Best Smart Hubs in 2022 The 7 Best Smart Locks of 2022 Your Quick Guide to Smart Light Bulbs Which Wireless Audio Technology Is Right for You? IP Motion Sensors in Home Automation Systems Google Home vs. Alexa: Which Smart Speaker Is Best For You? Schlage LiNK—Wireless Home Security How to Build and Maintain the Best Home Network Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies