the CSA announced a new ZigBee version, 4.0, that brings many of the improvements that Matter (over Thread) had in comparison to ZigBee (such as more robustness, security, and unified networks across brands). Quite surprising move if you ask me, I would have thought that the CSA would focus on Matter and push it further, such that there wouldn’t be any major ZigBee revisions to come.
Additionally, the CSA announced Suzi, a new Sub-GHz (800/900 MHz) radio protocoll variant of ZigBee. So comparable to Z-Wave in terms of frequencies and their (dis)advantages. This was long overdue in my opinion. I’m really curious how this will affect the market and the prices of Z-Wave devices.
What are your thoughts on it? Did you expect something like this? Does it change any of your plans in your HA setup?
A bit “funny”. Whatever they have written down for 4.0 is not magically going to fix that various brands use their own flavor of Zigbee. Adding one flavor more just adds to it. And then adding a whole new frequency…While I applaud they move aways from crouwded wifi bands, is going to worsen compatibility with older hubs and confuse users even more. It requires another antenna. How are those new frequency devices going to mesh with older stuff?
So they will likely do opposite of what is promised.
I wish they had chosen the other frequency band for Thread back in the day instead…
Tapo hubs also operate in the sub 1GHz band. I would be wary of adopting Suzi if you are using Tapo hubs in your network, though I’m sure time will tell if there are problems. Good to see Zigbee improved, but I won’t be rushing to adopt it until it has bedded -in.
