Overview
Z-Wave devices use radio frequencies to communicate with the gateway or controller. The frequency is not the same in every country. Different regions use different Z-Wave frequency bands because local radio regulations are different. This means that a Z-Wave device made for one region may not work correctly, or may not be legal to use, in another region.
Why the Z-Wave frequency is important
A Z-Wave device and a Z-Wave gateway must use the same frequency band.
If the frequency band is different:
The device may not be discovered by the gateway.
Inclusion may fail.
The device may not communicate correctly.
The device may not be legal to use in that country.
For example, a device made for the EU frequency will not work with a gateway made for the US frequency.
Important note
Always use a Z-Wave device and gateway that match the frequency band approved for your country. The frequency is hardware-based and normally cannot be changed by a setting or firmware update.
Z-Wave frequency bands
EU band
The EU band is commonly used in Europe and many other countries.
| Type | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard Z-Wave | 868.1 MHz, 868.5 MHz |
| Z-Wave Long Range | 862.1 MHz, 869.525 MHz |
The EU band is legal in many countries, including:
Armenia, Bahrain, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Macedonia, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Vatican, Egypt, French Guiana, Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Maldives, Mauritius, Nigeria, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkmenistan, UAE, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.
ANZ band
The ANZ band is commonly used in Australia, New Zealand, and some other countries.
| Type | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard Z-Wave | 916.8 MHz, 917.0 MHz |
The ANZ band is legal in:
Australia, Brasil, Chile, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam.
US band
The US band is commonly used in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and nearby regions.
| Type | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard Z-Wave | 903.9 MHz, 904.1 MHz |
| Z-Wave Long Range | 902.3 MHz, 914.9 MHz |
The US band is legal in:
Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bolivia, British Virgin Island, Canada, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tabago, Turks & Caicos Islands, and USA.
CN band
The CN band is used in China and Morocco.
| Type | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard Z-Wave | 486.3 MHz, 486.5 MHz |
The CN band is legal in:
China and Morocco.
HK band
The HK band is used in Hong Kong and Algeria.
| Type | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard Z-Wave | 923.2 MHz, 923.4 MHz |
The HK band is legal in:
Algeria and Hong Kong.
IL band
The IL band is used in Israel.
| Type | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Standard Z-Wave | 916.8 MHz, 917.0 MHz |
The IL band is legal in:
Israel.
Z-Wave Long Range frequencies
Z-Wave Long Range uses different frequencies from standard Z-Wave.
From the listed bands, Long Range is shown for:
| Band | Long Range frequencies |
|---|---|
| EU | 862.1 MHz, 869.525 MHz |
| US | 902.3 MHz, 914.9 MHz |
To use Z-Wave Long Range, the gateway - controller and the device must both support Long Range and must use the same regional frequency band.
Common mistakes
Using a device from another region
A common mistake is using a Z-Wave device from a different region.
Example:
A US Z-Wave device is used with an EU Z-Wave gateway.
The device and gateway use different frequencies.
The device cannot be added.
Mixing gateway and device regions
The gateway and device must match.
For example:
| Gateway region | Device region | Result |
|---|---|---|
| EU | EU | Works correctly |
| US | US | Works correctly |
| EU | US | Will not work correctly |
| US | EU | Will not work correctly |
Expecting frequency change by software
The Z-Wave frequency is normally fixed in the device hardware. It usually cannot be changed from the app, gateway settings, or firmware.
How to choose the correct Z-Wave device
Before buying or installing a Z-Wave device, check:
The country where the device will be used
The frequency band of the gateway
The frequency band of the Z-Wave device
Whether Long Range is needed
Whether Long Range is supported by both the gateway and device
Summary
Z-Wave uses different frequencies in different regions.
The most common bands are:
EU: 868.1 MHz and 868.5 MHz
ANZ: 916.8 MHz and 917.0 MHz
US: 903.9 MHz and 904.1 MHz
CN: 486.3 MHz and 486.5 MHz
HK: 923.2 MHz and 923.4 MHz
IL: 916.8 MHz and 917.0 MHz
For correct operation, the Z-Wave gateway and Z-Wave device must use the same regional frequency band.
Always use the frequency band that is approved for your country.