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Updated July 2, 2008 0600am EST

I want to extend the range of my Z-Wave network outside my cottage. Does anyone sell a mesh repeater node suitable for outdoors? I can mount it in a watertight plastic housing but it would be subjected to temperatures as low as -30 degrees F.

No one makes a repeater only product as every line-powered Z-Wave device acts as a repeater node. In theory you can put any node such as an in-wall or plug-in switch, dimmer or receptacle out on the pole and it will do the work of a repeater. The problem I see is the -30 degree temperature, where I come from electrons stop moving at -30 degrees.  I don’t know of any Z-Wave products that are rated to -30. Your best bet would be to try an Outdoor Module from Intermatic or GE but I’m sure they are not rated to -30.

Is there an RS-232 interface or IR for Z-Wave?

ACT and Leviton both have RS-232 to Z-Wave interfaces. There are several products that will receive IR and then send Z-Wave, however, they tend to be large, expensive embedded home controllers. The one I like best is the Control Box from Superna.

I just discovered that when my Intermatic HA06 In-wall dimmer switches on, my DSL modem loses sync. This turns out to be an intermittent problem. But once it starts happening it will continue for weeks and then stop without everything else changing. How can I either somehow shelter the modem or prevent the dimmer from interfering with it?

This sounds like a problem where the HA06 is putting nose on the power line that is somehow affecting your DSL modem — very strange and should not be happening if your home’s wiring is properly installed. I would try plugging the modem into a high quality surge protector — one that claims to have high frequency filtering. You could also just try plugging it into a different circuit in the house. The nose could also be getting in through the phone line that the modem is connected to, again try plugging in the phone line at a different location. You could experiment with a long extension cord both for power and phone to see if relocating the source for either one helps. If you are really sure the HA06 is the offender and you can’t relocate the power or phone source for the modem, you could try a dimmer from a different manufacturer.

I just got my Harmony 890 and would like to use a Z-Wave setup in my home to control lights along with my home theater (which is already setup and working). In the basement I have a series of florescent fixtures in the ceiling that are presently controlled by standard 110V wall switches. When I look through the products available as replacement wall switches they all seem to come back as W/dimmer, which I think will not be a good thing for my florescent fixtures. Do you know of any (reasonably priced) replacement wall switches that do not have the dimmer functionality or at least can be used in my application?

In-wall Z-Wave controlled light switches, not dimmers, that can be used for florescent lighting are available from Cooper Wiring Devices, Leviton, Intermatic, Wayne Dalton, Monster and ACT.  

 

Mark Walters, our resident Z-Wave expert, is vice president of the Z-Wave Alliance.