My experience with a new 5......
akimball wrote:
1) Given the size of my home (about 65' x 65' x 3-floors) will the Aeon Labs Z-Stick be able to cover my starting devices?
2) Related to my first question, I'm assuming that Z-wave is a 'mesh network' and so the more devices I have the stronger the network?
3) I'm interested in the Fibaro FGMS-001 Z-wave sensors to start; do these work with Z-Stick and Indigo?
,
1) the stick itself is unlikely to cover the whole house. Mine failed to connect to the only device plugged in 10m (30') away through 2 brick walls. I didn't expect it too, tbh, but am in the processes of setting up a new system, so tested for you. I'll run maximum tests for you at some point this week, but the range will be dependent on the local environment - wall construction, etc etc
2) The mesh network will be your key. Its not the strength of the signal that increase, rather the range, with most zwave devices acting as notes to the mesh network, thus increasing your network range. The approach I would take would be to replace or add new devices closest to the stick, then working away. Repeaters are available, but I've had no experience with them, and do not know if they are supported by indigo.
3) not checked.
Hope that helps.
Mat