Conceived by Australia’s foremost alarm technician, Gabriel Daher,
Interlogix ZeroWire is a powerful wireless security and automation
solution that’s as attractive for end users as it is for installers.
WHEN an engineering version of the ZeroWire wireless security and
automation system was displayed at Security 2013 in Sydney there was no
doubt it was a powerful piece of technology. An all-in-one security and
automation system that could handle 128 sensors, the real power of this
system lay in its embrace of open wireless comms.
The system hustled cellular, WiFi and Ethernet connectivity, as well
as offering Z-Wave communications for agnostic control of any Z-Wave
automation devices. Along with being open at the device level, ZeroWire
functionality and reporting was open to customers, too, thanks to a
built-in web server offering browser, Android and Apple iOS capability.
That all seems so obvious today, but when the system was dreamed up, it
was bleeding edge.
Now Interlogix, which purchased ZeroWire when it bought Australian
communications manufacturer UHS from Hills Ltd in September 2014, is
leaning in with ZeroWire. The solution, re-sized to 64-zones, was
recently unveiled at Consumer Electronics in Las Vegas and looking at
the specifications it becomes even clearer just how keen Gabriel Daher’s
vision was when he conceived ZeroWire as a wireless everything
solution.
Something that’s new with ZeroWire since Daher showed me the system
in July 2013 is video capability. ZeroWire now natively supports IP
cameras and can facilitate both viewing of live video and replay of
video recordings, either to confirm intrusion or for general monitoring.
Adding video really is the icing on a scrumptious cake.
But to my mind the greatest strength of ZeroWire is retaining Sigma
Design’s Z-Wave capability. Z-Wave technology is duplex, low power draw,
fast thanks to a 100kbitps rate and has extremely low latency of .05 of
a second. It also operates in the comparative peace and quiet of the
900Mhz band.
“ZeroWire is an ideal choice for today’s homeowner looking for a
complete, cost-effective solution that provides security and interactive
home control through personal technology devices”
It’s a credit to Interlogix that Z-Wave is still available. There are
plenty of electronic security manufacturers which would not be prepared
to leave a huge part of their new solution open to third party devices.
That’s because Z-Wave is a broadly open comms standard with devices
made by 250 or more manufacturers.
Z-Wave technology is licensed by Sigma and while proprietary in terms
of product badging, under the hood there’s uniformity of wireless
comms. That means Z-Wave devices can intercommunicate between
manufacturers’ controllers. Incorporating Z-Wave means Interlogix is
offering something wonderful to installers and end users that’s rarely
seen in systems of this size and accessibility - a measure of open-ness.
Integrated Z-Wave comms means homeowners can manage the whole
spectrum of Z-Wave lights, security, smoke detection, carbon monoxide
detection, flood sensors, air conditioning controls, energy management
controls, medical monitoring alarms, locking devices and heaps more, now
and in the future. In fact, there are around 1000 Z-Wave home
automation devices currently available.
Something else to bear in mind with all the talk of Z-Wave is that
ZeroWire also offers integrated Wi-Fi. Now, Wi-Fi is an open wireless
standard but it seems Interlogix will be employing it carefully. Rather
than porting ZeroWire to whatever is the nearest WiFi router, the
current thinking seems to be that this comms path be used to integrate
ZeroWire with UTC products, including Carrier air conditioners and Kidde
fire systems.
In terms of outright specifications, the ZeroWire system supports up
to 64 zones and can accept more than 250 users. It has context-sensitive
keys and voice-guided menu for simple installation and operation and
supports door/window, glass break and environmental sensors; motion,
smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. The system can also handle up to 20
key fobs that can be used locally for arming/disarming the panel,
turning on or off a Z-Wave-enabled light, or activating the panic
feature from a compact, remote device.
There’s a dual-path reporting over broadband and cellular networks
for increased levels of security. Something that’s interesting is the
fact Interlogix is highlighting the fact ZeroWire’s teeny footprint and
low-profile allow it to be wall-mounted or table-mounted. Whenever I
read the words ‘table-mount’ my mind always spins an image of cloud.
“With its advanced cloud features and user-friendly operation, the
ZeroWire system is an ideal choice for today’s homeowner looking for a
complete, cost-effective solution that provides security and interactive
home control through personal technology devices,” according to Paul
Van der Zanden, general manager, global intrusion and alarm monitoring
solutions, Interlogix.
Those cloud features work both ways. As well as giving users remote
and mobile access to functionality and reporting, ZeroWire is the
consummate SaaS (security as a service) module, offering enterprising
alarm installers an IP business model with a long line of sales hooks.
source: http://www.securityelectronicsandnetworks.com/articles/2015/04/24/interlogix-zerowire-%E2%80%93-security-and-home-automation
