Mixing protocols can definitely get messy, especially if you’re trying to keep things seamless for clients who don’t want to deal with tech headaches.
That’s been my experience too, especially in older houses with thick plaster walls. I’ve had Zigbee devices drop off the network just because someone moved a metal shelf—not ideal when you’re trying to show off “smart” lighting. Still, I can’t help but prefer Zigbee and Z-Wave for sensors, if only for the battery life. Haven’t found a WiFi sensor that lasts as long either, and it’s a pain having to swap batteries every few months.
Curious if anyone’s tried running multiple mesh networks in the same house? I’ve heard some folks claim interference between overlapping Zigbee and Z-Wave meshes, though I haven’t noticed it myself. Maybe it depends on the size of the setup or the number of repeaters? Also, does anyone bother hardwiring their hubs anymore, or is everyone just trusting WiFi at this point? Sometimes I wonder if going “all wireless” is worth the potential trouble when something inevitably drops offline...
