If you already have one of these devices, you just need to make sure it is connected to Alexa, and you’re good to go. Let’s look at a few of the Z-Wave hubs that you can use to control your Z-Wave devices directly or to give Alexa access to your Z-Wave network. Alexa-Compatible Z-Wave Hubs and Controllers You’ll just need to use a third-party Z-Wave hub like SmartThings or Hubitat to bridge the connection. Some recent Alexa speakers (like the 4th-gen Echo) have Zigbee controllers, but they still don’t have Z-Wave.Įven though Alexa doesn’t have native support for Z-Wave, you can still add Z-Wave devices to your Alexa routines.

Echo devices control most smart home tech using Wi-Fi instead. None of the current Amazon Alexa smart speakers have the ability to connect using Z-Wave. Devices connected via Z-Wave also use much less power than Wi-Fi devices, which makes Z-Wave ideal for battery-operated smart home tech.

Z-Wave operates at a lower frequency than Wi-Fi or Zigbee, which means it doesn’t experience interference from cordless phones, microwaves, baby monitors, and other household devices like Wi-Fi does. That means each new device increases the range of the network and makes it stronger.Ĭompared to Bluetooth, Z-Wave device-to-device connections have a much longer range, about 100 meters. Where each Wi-Fi device has to connect to a central hub (your router), Z-Wave devices form a mesh network. Z-Wave is a wireless protocol, like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee.

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