The Z-Wave Alliance has announced a new Z-Wave Long Range specification (Z-Wave LR) which offers four-times the wireless range, ten-times node scalability for larger network support and a ten-year coin cell battery life. It also maintains Z-Wave backwards compatibility and interoperability.

Engineered to significantly extend wireless range and support robust networks, the Z-Wave LR extends Z-Wave connectivity beyond the interior boundaries of the home and improves wireless transmission range of peripheral devices like door locks, garage door sensors, gate access solutions and more.

Developed and managed by the new Z-Wave Alliance Technical & Certifications workgroup, Z-Wave LR aims to ushers in a new era of Z-Wave connectivity and brings expanded options for the smart home, multi-dwelling units and hospitality use cases.

One of the benefits is an increased coverage across a home or building, expanding the Z-Wave network and eliminating the need for a repeater within the network. This can unlock the potential of networks with users being able to deploy smart home or IoT devices in a backyard or beyond for enhanced functionality.

With the average number of installed smart home devices set to increase, so does the strain on the network. The Z-Wave LR supports this trend with over 2,000 nodes, a ten-times increase from the standard Z-Wave.

The Z-Wave LR specification will be managed and certified under the Z-Wave Plus V2 certification program, which currently mandates the inclusion of the enhanced S2 security framework as well as SmartStart, a setup feature that enables true plug and play for the consumer smart home.

“The Z-Wave LR specification is the first of many technical developments to come from within the new Alliance standards development organizational structure,” Z-Wave Alliance executive director Mitchell Klein says.

“As smart home networks continue to grow, mature, and add more complex devices, there is a need for more robust technology to support them. With Z-Wave LR, we are building upon Z-Wave’s legacy of strong networks by supporting more devices in a home or building with increased node counts and greater range. It’s more important than ever that IoT devices live on strong, reliable networks and we’re excited to support this with the latest Z-Wave specification.”