Side By Side Comparison

Revision as of 12:12, 23 December 2011

This is meant to be an informative, objective comparison of Vera and the other Z-Wave gateways, not a 1-sided sales pitch. If other Z-Wave gateways have features we have not listed, you can add those features. You can also add other gateways that are not on the list, and correct any mistakes and add notes. This document is a wiki, editable by the public.

Note that this document, being a wiki, contains data provided by the public and our customers as well as those of our competitors. The list of features supported by the Schlage and Hawking products comes from customers who use those products and Mi Casa Verde has not independently verified all the features of our competitors products. If there are any inaccuracies, anyone is able to correct them.

NOTE: 27 July 2009 micasaverde: Has updated the page with the new features in our Luup release, which is now in beta, including the new cell phone apps which are in beta and will be released in about 2 weeks.

NOTE: 29 July 2009 Schlage: Has updated the page to accurately reflect the features associated with the Schlage LiNK system. Schlage is continuously improving the Schlage LiNK application to provide more features to the end user.

	Vera	Hawking HRPG1	Schlage LiNK Bridge	Notes
Price
Retail Price	$299	$179	Not sold separately	The Schlage Bridge is available only as part of a bundled kit. The Schlage locks are available without the Schlage Bridge for $199 MSRP.
Monthly charge	Optional	$9.99	$12.99	Schlage requires a monthly subscription or else you cannot use the LiNK or control Z-Wave devices. You can still manually operate the door lock without the subscription. Hawking requires a monthly subscription of $9.99 for all services including cell phone access. Vera's provides secure remote access, cell phone control, and email notifications for free. SMS texting and video archiving are $29/year.
Functionality dependent on manufacturer		partial		Will the product still function if the manufacturer stops supporting it? With Vera, only the optional hosted online services depend on Mi Casa Verde, all local functions are independent, and Vera will run without an internet connection. In Hawking's case, cell phone access would stop and limited other functions would continue. User will need to know how to hack the units back door. In Schlage's case, the product will not function at all if you don't pay the monthly bill or if Schlage discontinues support for the product. However the Lock itself will still function as a keypad lock. The remote capabilities and programming will be disabled. If internet connection is lost all timers/events will cease to occur during that time. The Schlage LiNK is just a bridge no internal triggers seem to be stored in the bridge.
Z-Wave Device Compatibility
Guaranteed compatible with all Z-Wave devices				Vera is free if it doesn't work with all your Z-Wave devices as explained here. Note: Z-Wave devices must be certified by Zensys/the Z-Wave alliance to be called Z-Wave and to qualify. The Schlage LiNK Application will operate all certified Z-Wave Devices within any device class that is supported in the Schlage LiNK Application.
Light Switches/Appliance Modules
Thermostats				Note: Schlage web portal only supports Notifications/Alerts and email functions for Schlage/Trane branded thermostats.
Door/Window/Motion Sensor				Z-Wave door, window and motion sensors can trigger scenes, fire events, and you can be notified on your mobile phone.
Combo-sensors				Such as the 3-in-1 light, temperature, motion sensor.
Handheld remotes				Handheld remotes can activate scenes in the gateway and be programed within the gateway. Handheld remotes can be secondary controllers in conjunction with the Schlage LiNK Bridge and Hawking. Schlage or Hawking cannot program the remote from the bridge. Schlage cannot give a remote the role of "secondary inclusionary".
Door locks
Scene controllers				Same as handheld remotes.
Supports European Z-Wave				You must order the Euro version of Vera to support European Z-Wave.
Insteon/X10 Device Compatibility
Insteon/X10
A/V Device Compatibility
Infrared control				Control TV's, stereo's, etc., with infrared emitters.
RS232 control				For those models of A/V devices that have serial control ports provides direct control without infrared.
Universal remote control				Use your mobile phone as a universal remote control.
Alarm System Compatibility
RS232 alarm panels				Sensors from your traditional home alarm system can trigger scenes, notifications, etc., and you can remotely manage your home alarm.
USB alarm panels				Sensors from your traditional home alarm system can trigger scenes, notifications, etc., and you can remotely manage your home alarm.
Ethernet alarm panels				Sensors from your traditional home alarm system can trigger scenes, notifications, etc., and you can remotely manage your home alarm.
IP Devices Compatibility
Generic IP Cameras				Vera works with any IP camera that can return a JPEG file, such as Panasonic and most IP cameras.
Proprietary IP Cameras	N/A			Schlage cameras use proprietary firmware to ensure secure plug and play conectivity with the Schlage LiNK Apllication. Hawking also has a proprietary camera.
Pan/Tilt/Zoom				Ability to move camera and adjust it remotely
Z-Wave features
Works as a primary controller				Schlage LiNK Bridge does not seem to support SUC/SIS. This means you cannot add a controller as a secondary inclusion conroller. A secondary inclusion controller can be used to include devices without removing a dongle or diconnecting the bridge. This setup aids in network setup as issues are immediately shown during installation.
Works as a secondary controller
Can be added to an existing Z-Wave network
Supports controller shift
Door lock specific
Secure remote locking/unlocking of doors
Secure remote setting of user codes
Control of doors from handheld remotes and scene controllers				A button on a Z-Wave handheld remote or scene controller can be programmed, for example, to turn off the lights and lock the doors. Schlage allows lock control through the Schlage Application and any secondary controller supporting the required device classes.
Door locks trigger events				For example, when you unlock the door, the porch light comes on automatically. With the Schlage application, entering a valid 4 digit code at the lock enables any pre-programmed scene within the application.
PIN codes trigger events				For example, you give the pool cleaner a PIN code and are notified by SMS when he unlocks the door with his PIN code.
Support Vacation Mode of Schlage LiNK lock				Schlage LiNK Bridge can remotely enable Vacation mode that disables keypad on the lock. Great if you don't want anyone to use their code to enter. At any time you can restore access to the keypad though Schlage LiNK web or phone app. [Manual Vacation Mode]
Support all door locks				Vera will also support the Black & Decker door locks when they are on the market.
Automation
Scenes
Timers				Schlage LiNK only sets time based events on a 7-day week. Schlage is not able to set a time or date in the future.
Events				For example, turn on a light when a motion sensor is tripped.
Relative to sunset/sunrise				Trigger a scene 1 hour before the sun rises, etc.
Remote access
Direct access over IP				You can directly control the device over the internet or local network without going through a remote server.
Works when your internet is down				Remote access can not be provided when the internet is not available. With Vera you can still connect through your Local Area Net (LAN) to do everything else, including operating and configuring Vera.
Secure remote access through a gateway				Both Vera and Schlage use a secure server similar to that for online banking. Vera offers this for free. Schlage offers it for a $13/month subscription.
Energy monitoring
Tracks actual energy usage				Supports the Z-Wave classes for reporting current Watts, accumulated kWh, etc.
Reports historical energy usage				Vera shows past energy usage by room, type of device, etc.
Responds to energy alerts				Vera allows automatic energy reduction when the utility company reports the power grid is overloaded. See Energy.
Networking
Built-in router/gateway				Hawking and Schlage require connection to a standard residential router.
Built-in Wi-Fi				Hawking and Schlage require you to purchase these separately.
Remote Control
Custom remotes with your own skins/buttons				For example, put an iPod touch on the wall which your own wallpaper and pictures and icons that trigger scenes or control devices.
Web interface on local home network				Direct access by http://[your bridge's IP address]
Web interface for secure remote access over the internet				Access going through a remote server via https
Access from any cell phone				Vera is compatible with any cell phone that has an internet connection. So you can control it from new phones, like the T-Mobile Sidekick, as well as older, basic phones.
Native iPhone/iPod touch app				Vera's new version is due in August '09, which also has a universal remote control. Schlage and Hawking use the Crayon/Moshi application.
Native Java app (Blackberry, etc.)
Native Windows Mobile				Schlage and Hawking use the Crayon/Moshi application.
Wi-Fi access (iPod Touch, PDA's, etc.)				PDA's, iPhone's, and other Wi-Fi enabled devices can control the bridge using your home network.
Handheld remotes				A button on a handheld remote can trigger a device.
Scene controllers
Online services
Archive of surveillance camera images				Available through the Find Vera Service.
Archive of energy usage				Available through the Find Vera Service.
Archive of events				Available through the Find Vera Service.
Open-ness / geek-friendly
Direct login allowed				Log in to the system with Telnet/SSH to inspect the software, verify the strength of the encryption, etc.
Allows custom scripts				Write your own scripts to automate tasks; scripts run in the bridge.
Published API's for custom add-ons and UI's				See: Luup Intro.