Recommendation for Z-Wave Repeater for Kwikset 910 Z-wave Lock

[JDRoberts]

All about zwave locks and beaming.

FAQ: Zwave lock (any brands) locks and unlocks, but the hub doesn't know the status

This is typically a failure of the status message to get through. Or it can be a defective lock. But more commonly a range issue. Zwave locks use a special kind of repeating message. Because the manufacturers don’t want there to be any delay while the person is standing there waiting for the door to unlock, but they also want the batteries in the lock to last as long as possible, the repeater which is closest to the door lock is supposed to keep sending the message until the lock wakes up and hears it. This is a different kind of repeating than anything else in a zwave network. But it will only happen if the neighbor which is closest to the lock supports beaming. Not all repeaters do. So the first thing is to determine if you have a mains-powered device which supports beaming within …

As for specific devices, you can check any device’s “conformance statement” on the Z wave alliance product site to see if it support beaming. Match model numbers exactly. Beaming is an optional feature so sometimes it is not present in one model then added into the next model then removed again.

http://www.z-wave.com/find_products/lighting

I usually use a plug-in module that supports beaming. I have one from Schlage that cost me about $20 on sale. These days I would pay more and get a zwave plus one, though, for the extra range.

The Dragontech PA 100 is zwave plus, supports beaming and Z wave network security, and costs about $35 new at zwave products. That’s probably the one I get today.

They typically also offer it in a bundle with a minimote for about $8 more, which is a good deal if you can use another minimote.

http://www.zwaveproducts.com/Zwave-Lighting/Zwave-Plugin-Modules/Dragon-Tech-PA-100-Z-Wave-Plus-Plug-in-On-Off-Switch.html

But different people do have different preferences. The DragonTech is intended to be inexpensive, and it doesn’t have the extra nonnetworked passthrough that a lot of these switches do. I’d rather have the Z Way plus, though.

The even cheaper PD 100 is a dimmer model from DragonTech that does support beaming and has zwave plus, but it only supports incandescents and doesn’t have the grounding plug, so personally I prefer the “appliance module” the PA 100, Because I would get more use out of it. But your use cases might be different.

I think DragonTech may just be a new house brand for zwaveproducts.com. At the time of this writing the DragonTech wall switches were made by Jasco (who also make the GE switches), but the plug-in module was made by Domitech. Both well-known value brands.