Z-Wave Alliance announces release of 2024A Spec and new ZRAD

BEAVERTON, Ore. — The Z-Wave Alliance is announcing the release of its 2024A Z-Wave Specification Package, which includes new User Credential Command Class features, as well as new User Credential Control Specifications.

Additionally, the Alliance has also published a new Z-Wave Reference Application Design (ZRAD), a publicly available repository of data including detailed schematics and reference designs to help developers create Z-Wave products with enhanced range capabilities using Z-Wave Long Range.

The 2024A Z-Wave Specification Package includes several documents that have undergone an Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) review as well as clarifications and fixes to the User Credential Command Class (CC) and the User Credential Control Specification, as well as minor clarifications in the Association v4 and MAC v5 Command Classes.

The Z-Wave User Credential Command Class (CC) is a specification within the Z-Wave protocol that defines how user credentials, such as passwords or PIN codes, are managed and communicated between devices in a Z-Wave network. Key aspects include credential management, security, interoperability, user control, and automation integration.

The ZRAD (Z-Wave Reference Application Design), created by Z-Wave wireless IoT expert Eric Ryherd (AKA Dr. Z-Wave), is an open-source reference design of an RF range device. ZRAD aims to accelerate time-to-market for Z-Wave products by providing a simple-to-follow application design example complete with detailed step-by-step instructions for implementing Z-Wave technology and the latest available features, such as Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR).

The ZRAD design features a USB controller with an RF range that achieved over 2 miles of successful transmission in line of sight (LoS) testing and yielded exceptional performance in noisy urban environments with over 1 mile of successful transmission. The design can be implemented as both a controller connected to a computer or as an end device with battery power, enabling the development of versatile applications.

The 2024A Z-Wave Specification Package is available to all Z-Wave Members through the Z-Wave Causeway with a certification update slated to be completed by August 2024. The 2023B Z-Wave Specification Package is available on the Z-Wave Alliance website.

ZRAD is now publicly available on GitHub and open to anyone interested in developing Z-Wave products.