Side By Side Comparison

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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, anybody is able to correct them.

NOTE: 27 July 2009 micasaverde: We just had a discussion with Schlage and they have said they will update this page this week to ensure the comparison between Vera and the Schlage LiNK is accurate. We have purchased our own LiNK and are working with Schlage to verify the current feature set of the LiNK to ensure this page has current, accurate information. We ran into some questions about how to do certain tasks which we were told the LiNK supports. We have posted these questions on the discussion page (click the discussion tab above). We also 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.

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 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.
Not dependent on manufacturer Check.png partial X.png Meaning if the manufacturer stopped supporting the product, would it still function. 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 but other functions would continue. 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 will be disabled.
Z-Wave Device Compatibility
Guaranteed compatible with all Z-Wave devices Check.png X.png X.png 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.
Light Switches/Appliance Modules Check.png Check.png Check.png
Thermostats Check.png Check.png Check.png
Door/Window/Motion Sensor Check.png Check.png X.png Meaning Z-Wave door, window and motion sensors can trigger scenes, fire events, and you can be notified on your mobile phone
Combo-sensors Check.png X.png X.png Such as the 3-in-1 light, temperature, motion sensor
Handheld remotes Check.png X.png Check.png Meaning 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.
Door locks Check.png X.png Check.png
Scene controllers Check.png X.png X.png Same as handheld remotes
Supports European Z-Wave Check.png X.png X.png You must order the Euro version of Vera to support European Z-Wave
Insteon/X10 Device Compatibility
Insteon/X10 Check.png X.png X.png
A/V Device Compatibility
Infrared control Check.png X.png X.png Control TV's, stereo's, etc., with infrared emitters
RS232 control Check.png X.png X.png For those models of A/V devices that have serial control ports provides direct control without infrared
Universal remote control Check.png X.png X.png Use your mobile phone as a universal remote control
Alarm System Compatibility
RS232 alarm panels Check.png X.png X.png Sensors from your traditional home alarm system can trigger scenes, notifications, etc., and you can remotely manage your home alarm
USB alarm panels Check.png X.png X.png Same
Ethernet alarm panels Check.png X.png X.png Same
IP Devices Compatibility
Generic IP Cameras Check.png X.png X.png Vera works with any IP camera that can return a JPEG file, such as Panasonic and most IP cameras.
Proprietary IP Cameras n/a Check.png Check.png Schlage offers their own brand of IP cameras that are not accessible with a normal web browser and cannot be used without the LiNK subscription. Hawking also has a proprietary camera.
Pan/Tilt/Zoom Check.png X.png X.png Ability to move camera and adjust it remotely
Z-Wave features
Works as a primary controller Check.png Check.png Check.png
Works as a secondary controller Check.png Check.png X.png
Can be added to an existing Z-Wave network Check.png Check.png X.png
Supports controller shift Check.png Check.png X.png
Door lock specific
Secure remote locking/unlocking of doors Check.png X.png Check.png
Secure remote setting of user codes Check.png X.png Check.png
Control of doors from handheld remotes and scene controllers Check.png X.png X.png Meaning 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 only allows controller through the Schlage interface.
Door locks trigger events Check.png X.png X.png For example, when you unlock the door the porch light comes on automatically.
PIN codes trigger events Check.png X.png Check.png 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 all door locks Check.png X.png X.png Vera will also support the Black & Decker door locks when they are on the market.
Automation
Scenes Check.png Check.png Check.png
Timers Check.png Check.png Check.png
Events Check.png Check.png Check.png For example, turn on a light when a motion sensor is tripped.
Relative to sunset/sunrise Check.png Meaning trigger a scene 1 hour before the sun rises, etc.
Remote access
Direct access over IP Check.png X.png X.png Meaning you can directly control the device over the internet or local network without going through a remote server
Works when your internet is down Check.png X.png X.png Meaning you can still control and configure the system from within the home if your internet connection is down
Secure remote access through a gateway Check.png Check.png Check.png 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 Check.png X.png X.png Meaning it supports the Z-Wave classes for reporting current Watts, accumulated KwH, etc.
Reports historical energy usage Check.png X.png X.png Vera shows past energy usage by room, type of device, etc.
Responds to energy alerts Check.png X.png X.png Vera allows automatic energy reduction when the utility company reports the power grid is overloaded. See Energy
Networking
Built-in router/gateway Check.png X.png X.png Hawking and Schlage require you to purchase these separately
Built-in wi-fi Check.png X.png X.png Hawking and Schlage require you to purchase these separately
Remote Control
Custom remotes with your own skins/buttons Check.png X.png X.png 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 Check.png X.png X.png Direct access by http://[your bridge's IP address]
Web interface for secure remote access over the internet Check.png Check.png Check.png Access going through a remote server via https
Access from any cell phone Check.png X.png X.png 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 Check.png Check.png Check.png 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.) Check.png Check.png Check.png
Native Windows Mobile Check.png Check.png Check.png Vera's new version is due in August '09, which also has a universal remote control. Schlage and Hawking use the Crayon/Moshi application.
Wi-fi access (iPod Touch, PDA's, etc.) Check.png X.png X.png Meaning PDA's, iPhone's, and other wi-fi enabled devices can directly control the bridge using your home network
Handheld remotes Check.png X.png X.png Meaning a button on a handheld remote, such as a the popular Intermatic Z-Wave remotes, can trigger a scene in the bridge, such as making the bridge lock a door or adjust the thermostat.
Scene controllers Check.png X.png X.png Same as handheld remotes above
Online services
Archive of surveillance camera images Check.png X.png X.png All these online services are part of the Find_Vera_Service service
Archive of energy usage Check.png X.png X.png
Archive of events Check.png X.png X.png
Open-ness / geek-friendly
Direct login allowed Check.png X.png X.png Meaning you can login to the system with telnet/ssh to inspect the software, verify the strength of the encryption, etc.
Allows custom scripts Check.png X.png X.png You can write your own scripts to automate tasks, which scripts run in the bridge.
Published API's for custom add-ons and UI's Check.png X.png X.png See: Luup_Intro
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