Z-wave Smoke Detector repeater?

[Schmich]

I'm considering in finally laying down a bit of money on z-wave smoke detectors. We have a fairly large house where we rent a few apartment and studios so it seems pretty wise to get some connected to the system. However, the floors are made out of concrete so there's most likely no way for the controller to get past more than 1 floor.

The question I'm wondering is if the unit (SF812) also functions as a repeater? (below is part of the text from the manual)

From The photoelectric Smoke Detector is a Z-WaveTM enabled device which is fully compatible with any Z-WaveTM enabled network. Z-WaveTM enabled devices displaying the Z-WaveTM logo can also be used with it regardless of the manufacturer, and ours can also be used in other manufacturer’s Z-WaveTM enabled networks. Inclusion of this detector on other manufacturer’s Wireless Controller menu allows remote operation of connected modules when the detector is triggered. Z-Wave node in the system also acts as a repeater, so as to re-transmit the RF signal to ensure that the signal is received by its intended destination by routing the signal around obstacles and radio dead spots.

From: ftp.zwaveeurope.com/pub/man/en/EVR/EVR_SF812_in_en.pdf
It only says "Z-Wave node" so I can't say I'm certain if they mean nodes in general or this product.

[Techstyle]

my understanding is that Z-wave is a mesh network where each z-wave item acts as a node on the network and repeats the signal therefore both extending the effective range and also making the signal density higher and therefore decreasing the chance of dropped communications.

[Schmich]

Thanks, I thought that's how it was as well. However I then read this on the Z-wave wikipedia page: "Therefore, most battery-operated devices are not designed as repeater units". So I want to make sure this unit does repeat otherwise they'd be useless to me

[Marie.O]

The wiki is correct.

[Schmich]

Do you have any idea if the SF812 works a repeater? I would like to believe the sentence in the manual (quoted in first post) says so but I want to be certain before I make the order.

[Marie.O]

Get the answer in writing from your supplier. Everything else won't help you.

[hari]

battery powered devices are usually no "repeating slaves", so they do not repeat (as they are asleep most of the time).

br Hari

[Techstyle]

I talked to the owner of www.zwave4u.com and he confirmed Hari's statement that the battery powered devices will not repeat but he said that you should add a wired in device near by to act as a repeater and basically strengthen your mesh network.

[Schmich]

I got a similar info from the site I was looking at. I guess it kind of makes sense. The battery drain would be immense if they were always on. Now to find the cheapest wired device (that would have a use for me) and see if I can afford this.

Thanks for all the help.

[totallymaxed]

I'm considering in finally laying down a bit of money on z-wave smoke detectors. We have a fairly large house where we rent a few apartment and studios so it seems pretty wise to get some connected to the system. However, the floors are made out of concrete so there's most likely no way for the controller to get past more than 1 floor.

The question I'm wondering is if the unit (SF812) also functions as a repeater? (below is part of the text from the manual)
From: ftp.zwaveeurope.com/pub/man/en/EVR/EVR_SF812_in_en.pdf
It only says "Z-Wave node" so I can't say I'm certain if they mean nodes in general or this product.

The SF812 is not a 'Routing slave' as Hari says so it will not extend the ZWave mesh.

All the best


Andrew

[tkmedia]

From my understanding you do not want to bottle neck everything through one routing point  so you my want a few wired devices in that area.
So if two sections of the house is connected by a long hallway creating multiple paths with multiple devices will be more reliable.

Most Z-wave  outlets have routing and fit this application nicely.


HTH


Tim