Climate control is central to any smart home system. If you favor the Z-Wave protocol over Wi-Fi, Zigbee or Bluetooth then your options on smart thermostat are a little limited. We review the Honeywell Z-Wave Thermostat to see how it can help automate your home heating and cooling.
What makes Z-Wave a unique wireless technology is its uniquely low-frequency operation which allows you to control your smart home without any signal interruptions. In addition, with its mesh network, Z-Wave devices can interconnect with each other to repeat and extend the network range.
So, let’s find out just how the Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat can improve your home.
The T6 Pro Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat doesn’t only reduce energy consumption but offers a cost-effective method to do so too.
7-day, 5-1-1, and 5-2 day programmable scheduling
Remote temperature control
AA battery operated
The T6 Pro Z-Wave Thermostat is built with a large, touchscreen display that measures 7 inches to make it easier to optimize your smart home controls. You can choose to manually program the thermostat or use an integrated Z-Wave system to automatically or digitally program it. It’s hard-wired with a battery backup which means that you don’t have to worry about sudden power blackouts.
The key selling point of the Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat is it is optimized for smart home integration using Z-Wave technology. Its Z-Wave design means that you don’t have to worry about unnecessary hubs to connect it to your other smart home devices of the same system.
Due to the mesh network nature of Z-Wave, the thermostat can have a remarkable range which makes it ideal for any home size – be it a small apartment or a large home. Furthermore, this Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat is compatible with the brand’s Honeywell Home App. Using the Home app, you can control the thermostat from anywhere you are.
The Honeywell Home app allows you to track heating/cooling control, improve geofencing, or any other functions related to the integral smart home system. Yet, beyond the smart home integration design, the T6 Pro Z-Wave thermostat is well-rated for its precision temperature control.
Tech Specs
| Dimensions (LxWxH): | 4.06” x 1.09” x 4.06” |
| Screen size: | 7-inch |
| Power source: | 3 x AAA batteries |
- Large and touch screen display makes it easy to see and operate
- Offers multiple programming options
- Battery operated so you don’t have to worry about sudden power blackouts
- Displays interior humidity levels
- The thermostat alerts you when your HVAC system is not working properly
- Limited functionality compared to wi-fi operated smart thermostats however possibilities are endless when connected to a Z-Wave hub!
How To Connect Your Z-Wave Thermostat To Your Z-Wave Network?
Connecting your Z-Wave thermostat to your Z-Wave network is quite straight forward.
In this example, we use Samsung SmartThings as the example Z-Wave network.
Connecting your Z-Wave requires a remote command and a physical confirmation from the thermostat itself. The thermostat confirmation is made by simply pressing a button on it. You will require the same confirmation when resetting or excluding the thermostat from the network.
Of course, you will need to be in the range of the SmartThings hub or another Z-Wave device in the mesh network to correctly connect.
- Go to the SmartThings mobile app and on the home screen select the Plus (+) icon and select ADD DEVICE
- Then, select the thermostat’s manufacturers or choose OTHER than, GENERIC Z-WAVE DEVICE AND press START
- Choose a room for the device and the hub should begin to search
- When the hub is searching, select the device and follow the Honeywell thermostat’s manufacturer’s instruction to complete the connection. To confirm that the thermostat is connected to the Z-Wave network, look at the upper right corner of its screen and you should see the wireless sign with full bars.
Should I buy the Honeywell Z-Wave Thermostat
What is a Z-Wave Thermostat?
A Z-Wave thermostat is designed to communicate wirelessly using the Z-Wave wireless protocol. A Z-Wave thermostat can be integrated into your smart home system and integrated with other home devices through a controller or hub.
Benefits of a Z-Wave Thermostat
Integrate Into your Z-Wave Smart Hub
Integrating your Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat to the Z-Wave network comes with numerous benefits. Amongst them are the elimination of WIFI use (you don’t need to connect to a Wifi network to use the Z-Wave protocol).
Furthermore, the Z-Wave technology integrates with up to 1700 different smart devices and offers centralized control – allowing you to virtually control all your smart devices at home from a single base and app.
Less Interference & Greater Reliability
A Wifi network operates on either a frequency of 2.4 GHz or 5GHz. The Z-Wave network on the other end operates on a lower frequency of only 800 to 900 MHZ.
This means that you will enjoy the network with less interference and more precision and accuracy. Furthermore, a Z-Wave network operates on a relatively lower power and will never interrupt your Wifi signals in case you have a connection issue in your home.
Greater Distance thanks to the Mesh Network
Unlike a traditional hub-and-spoke network, the Z-Wave protocol operates on a mesh network. The mesh network combines the devices together by sending signals over low energy radio waves on a dedicated frequency.
This means that unlike the hub-and-spoke network, Z-Wave devices can communicate with one another rather than only communicating with the central hub, also known as the access point. Furthermore, the devices can also communicate with the central hub.
Remote Control via Smart Hub
With the Z-Wave network, you will be able to control your thermostat using a remote control via the Smart hub. The remote control process can be done via various mobile devices.
This means that you don’t have to manually control and set the thermostat to the desired parameters. The best part about this functionality is that it can be done through a wide selection of smart hubs that are compatible with Z-Wave.
Set Routines in Smart Hub
Once you connect your Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat to your smart home system, the possibilities are endless. You can choose to integrate any routine.
You set up your temperature programming according to time periods, dim your lights at a certain time, and even notify family members when it’s time to watch a movie. As long as you have the smart hub set up, your life will be much easier and more automated with a Z-Wave network.
Common Questions
Do I Need A Z-Wave Hub?
Yes, you need a Z-Wave hub for this device to function fully.
You can find a wide selection of the best hubs that are compatible with Z-Wave here. However, the top best ones are SmartThings, Hubitat, Vera, HomeSeer, and Aeotec.
The Verdict
Investing in a Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat is an excellent way to enhance convenience in your home. The Z-Wave network helps to automate your home, making small tasks easy to execute – so you can focus on more important things.
The T6 Pro Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat doesn’t only reduce energy consumption but offers a cost-effective method to do so too.
7-day, 5-1-1, and 5-2 day programmable scheduling
Remote temperature control
AA battery operated
2 Comments
Aman
Hi,
We need TH6320ZW2003 T6-Pro series Z-wave 868.4mhz Thermostat for our project. Please get back to me as soon as possible..
Thank You.
Daniel Walsh
Hi Aman,
I haven’t seen an 868.4Mhz / European Z-Wave version of the T6-Pro – I’m not sure do they produce it.
Probably best to get in touch with a registered Honeywell installer or Honeywell / Resideo directly.
Hope this helps
Daniel