Z-Wave Controllers and Adapters
Running Z-Wave on WoowTech means attaching a compatible Z-Wave radio adapter (sometimes called a controller or stick). This page covers which adapters are known to work and what to look for when picking one.
The Adapter We Recommend
WoowTech Connect ZWA-2 is an 800-series adapter that was purpose-built for WoowTech, so it's the first choice we point people toward.
Other Adapters That Work
Everything below has been verified against the Z-Wave JS driver.
If you're new to Z-Wave, two pieces of advice:
- Choose an 800-series adapter and bring its firmware up to at least 7.23.2. The 800 series gives you the longest useful life and the strongest radio performance.
- Favor a USB stick over a GPIO/module form factor — handing a module through to a Docker container is fiddly, whereas a USB device is straightforward.
800-Series USB Sticks
Before you commit to an 800-series stick, confirm its firmware and SDK build are in a healthy range. A handful of these adapters shipped with bugs that destabilize the mesh.
Firmware guidance:
- Best: SDK 7.23.x or later
- Fine: SDK 7.22.x
- Fine: SDK 7.17.2 through 7.19.x
- Steer clear: anything older than 7.17.2
- Steer clear: SDK 7.20 through 7.21.3
Tested 800-series sticks:
- WoowTech Connect ZWA-2 — our recommended pick
- HomeSeer SmartStick G8
- Zooz 800 Series Z-Wave Long Range S2 Stick (model ZST39 LR)
700-Series USB Sticks
The 700 series generally isn't where we'd send you, and you'll almost certainly need to update the firmware first.
Firmware guidance:
- Best: SDK 7.17.2–7.18.x, or 7.21.6 and newer
- Fine: SDK 7.19.x
- Steer clear: anything older than 7.17.2
- Steer clear: SDK 7.20 through 7.21.5
Tested 700-series sticks:
- Aeotec Z-Stick 7 (ZWA010)
- HomeSeer SmartStick+ G3
- HomeSeer Z-NET G3
- Silicon Labs UZB-7
- Zooz S2 Stick 700 (ZST10 700)
- Z-Wave.Me Z-Station
500-Series USB Sticks
- Aeotec Z-Stick Gen5
- Everspring USB stick (Gen 5)
- GoControl HUSBZB-1
- Sigma Designs UZB
- Vision USB stick (Gen5)
- Z-Wave.Me UZB1
- HomeSeer SmartStick+ G2
- HomeSeer Z-NET G2
Raspberry Pi HAT / Shield Adapters
- Aeotec Z-Pi 7 HAT (ZWA025, 700 series)
- Z-Wave.Me RaZberry 7 (ZME_RAZBERRY7, 700 series)
- Z-Wave.Me RaZberry 7 Pro (700 series)
- Z-Wave.Me RaZberry 2 (500 series)
- Z-Wave.Me RaZberry 1 (300 series)
Going Through a Third-Party Hub
You'll get the best results by plugging an adapter straight into WoowTech. That said, WoowTech can also talk to Z-Wave through these supported hubs:
- Vera
- Fibaro
- SmartThings
- Z-Wave.Me Z-Way
Notes on Specific Adapters
Aeotec Z-Stick
The Aeotec Z-Stick — and close relatives such as the Z-Wave.Me UZB1 — don't always play nicely with the Linux kernel because they behave in ways that aren't fully USB-compliant. Inserting a USB hub between the stick and the host can sometimes work around the glitch.
Also, don't be alarmed if a Z-Wave stick cycles through different LED colors (yellow, then blue, then red) while it's powered. That's expected behavior, not a fault.
Z-Wave Controllers and Adapters
Running Z-Wave on WoowTech means attaching a compatible Z-Wave radio adapter (sometimes called a controller or stick). This page covers which adapters are known to work and what to look for when picking one.
The Adapter We Recommend
WoowTech Connect ZWA-2 is an 800-series adapter that was purpose-built for WoowTech, so it's the first choice we point people toward.
Other Adapters That Work
Everything below has been verified against the Z-Wave JS driver.
If you're new to Z-Wave, two pieces of advice:
- Choose an 800-series adapter and bring its firmware up to at least 7.23.2. The 800 series gives you the longest useful life and the strongest radio performance.
- Favor a USB stick over a GPIO/module form factor — handing a module through to a Docker container is fiddly, whereas a USB device is straightforward.
800-Series USB Sticks
Before you commit to an 800-series stick, confirm its firmware and SDK build are in a healthy range. A handful of these adapters shipped with bugs that destabilize the mesh.
Firmware guidance:
- Best: SDK 7.23.x or later
- Fine: SDK 7.22.x
- Fine: SDK 7.17.2 through 7.19.x
- Steer clear: anything older than 7.17.2
- Steer clear: SDK 7.20 through 7.21.3
Tested 800-series sticks:
- WoowTech Connect ZWA-2 — our recommended pick
- HomeSeer SmartStick G8
- Zooz 800 Series Z-Wave Long Range S2 Stick (model ZST39 LR)
700-Series USB Sticks
The 700 series generally isn't where we'd send you, and you'll almost certainly need to update the firmware first.
Firmware guidance:
- Best: SDK 7.17.2–7.18.x, or 7.21.6 and newer
- Fine: SDK 7.19.x
- Steer clear: anything older than 7.17.2
- Steer clear: SDK 7.20 through 7.21.5
Tested 700-series sticks:
- Aeotec Z-Stick 7 (ZWA010)
- HomeSeer SmartStick+ G3
- HomeSeer Z-NET G3
- Silicon Labs UZB-7
- Zooz S2 Stick 700 (ZST10 700)
- Z-Wave.Me Z-Station
500-Series USB Sticks
- Aeotec Z-Stick Gen5
- Everspring USB stick (Gen 5)
- GoControl HUSBZB-1
- Sigma Designs UZB
- Vision USB stick (Gen5)
- Z-Wave.Me UZB1
- HomeSeer SmartStick+ G2
- HomeSeer Z-NET G2
Raspberry Pi HAT / Shield Adapters
- Aeotec Z-Pi 7 HAT (ZWA025, 700 series)
- Z-Wave.Me RaZberry 7 (ZME_RAZBERRY7, 700 series)
- Z-Wave.Me RaZberry 7 Pro (700 series)
- Z-Wave.Me RaZberry 2 (500 series)
- Z-Wave.Me RaZberry 1 (300 series)
Going Through a Third-Party Hub
You'll get the best results by plugging an adapter straight into WoowTech. That said, WoowTech can also talk to Z-Wave through these supported hubs:
- Vera
- Fibaro
- SmartThings
- Z-Wave.Me Z-Way
Notes on Specific Adapters
Aeotec Z-Stick
The Aeotec Z-Stick — and close relatives such as the Z-Wave.Me UZB1 — don't always play nicely with the Linux kernel because they behave in ways that aren't fully USB-compliant. Inserting a USB hub between the stick and the host can sometimes work around the glitch.
Also, don't be alarmed if a Z-Wave stick cycles through different LED colors (yellow, then blue, then red) while it's powered. That's expected behavior, not a fault.
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