- Published 12 Jun 2023
- Last Modified 29 Aug 2023
7 min

What is Zigbee?

Zigbee is a networking solution for secure and cost-effective connections.

The internet is a staple of the modern world, making networking and connectivity of the utmost importance. In this guide, we will explain how Zigbee is an effective solution and the wide range of Zigbee products available.

What is Zigbee Technology?

Zigbee is a form of wireless communication protocol designed to work at low power over relatively short distances. Like Bluetooth and other communication and wireless development tools, it was developed to unify communication between brands and devices so that things like smart homes can operate.

Zigbee is designed around and meets the 802.15.4 personal-area network standard, this being a standard for low-data networks and one that Zigbee has met for several years. Zigbee also functions in a mesh network, which is a network that communicates and works over a wide area, through a series of connected nodes.

Zigbee Protocol

In the world of technology and networking, the protocol is a rule or application that operates within a network. In the case of the Zigbee protocol (an example of this is called Zigbee 3.0), this is a technology that is designed to work in an industrial setting, where radio frequency is noisy.

Zigbee Range

Zigbee has a shorter range of connectivity, this being 10–30 metres, compared with Wi-Fi, which can comfortably extend 50 metres. Where Zigbee differs is how its central hub communicates with the devices it connects to. Because of Zigbee’s mesh network, each device can act as a repeater, passing a signal through those devices to a device that is out of the network range. This is the most practical way to extend the range of Zigbee. Unlike networks such as Wi-Fi, the devices connected to Zigbee don’t need to communicate directly with the hub in order to work.

Why is Zigbee Used?

Zigbee is used for a number of reasons as opposed to other technology solutions. Firstly, Zigbee frequency is low, operating at 2.4GHz. Low data use means a longer battery life, so a lot of functionality is available compared to energy usage. Plus, Zigbee’s lower data and power use means that this technology is a low-cost solution. Finally, Zigbee is also an excellent choice for security when devices are communicating, as it utilises encryption to keep data safe.

Zigbee Devices

Much like its competitors, there is a multitude of Zigbee products available for smart home purposes. Zigbee is also effective when used in industrial and commercial settings. In the industrial setting, Zigbee is used in building automation, smoke and burglar alarms and wireless sensor networks.

Zigbee Hub

A Zigbee hub is the central operation of all the devices in the network. It is the place where you can discover and connect other Zigbee devices. There are four main types of Zigbee hubs available. Multipurpose hubs will occupy a central location but also have at least one function (an example of this being a home assistant), whereas a Zigbee product that serves solely as a hub is called a Dedicated hub. There are also Security hubs, which as the name suggests, are hubs for security systems. Finally, there are also Bridge hubs, which act as the connecting point between a device and the internet.

Zigbee Light Switch

Zigbee light switches are part of smart home technology, allowing the user to operate lights remotely. There is a range of switches available depending on how much functionality you need. Some of the features available in a Zigbee light switch include the ability to set a timer, so lights can turn on and off on schedule. Motion sensor lights are also available, as well as some lights including an energy-saving setting so that the user can conserve energy and reduce costs when away from home or site.

Zigbee Gateway

A Zigbee gateway is a Zigbee product that acts as a connecting point between two networks. They primarily transfer data between the two networks and are beneficial for a number of reasons. Zigbee gateways can convert data to make them accessible to a wider range of devices. They are also beneficial for maintaining Zigbee products, and ensuring devices are transferring data correctly and securely. They also help strengthen the connectivity of devices.

Zigbee Motion Sensor

There are several different Zigbee sensors to choose from, one of these being a motion sensor. Zigbee motion sensors are designed to track movement in their installed area and use infrared sensors in order to complete this function. Zigbee motion sensors come in a range of sizes and depending on the Zigbee product can detect movement over a wide area.

Zigbee Temperature Sensor

Zigbee temperature sensors are designed to track and record the temperature and humidity of an area. These devices tend to be unobtrusive and also have a long battery life, with some devices staying charged for over a year. Some Zigbee sensors will have more functionality as they also track air pressure, whilst others are used as household devices as a way of detecting leaks.

Zigbee Button

A Zigbee button allows you to control multiple devices at the same time. Depending on how you connect a button, it can trigger a schedule in a device or can be used to turn on multiple devices at once. Like the sensors, these buttons have a long battery life, making them energy-saving and cost-effective.

Zigbee Door Sensor

Zigbee door sensors work with a hub in order to track, record and notify users about the opening and closing of doors, windows and in some cases drawers. Zigbee sensors can detect motion from 5 metres away and are designed to alert the user in real-time, making them a great security solution.

Zigbee Dimmers

Zigbee dimmers are designed to allow you to control the brightness and controls of lights. Zigbee dimmers work with dimmable LED and halogen lights, with some dimmers utilising the wiring already installed, for ease of installation.

Zigbee Smart Meters

Zigbee smart meters are designed to track and record utility usage, whether this is water, gas or electricity. Zigbee smart meters also have timer and scheduling options and that makes them the leading network solution for smart meter applications.

Z-Wave vs Zigbee

Both Zigbee and Z-Wave have a wide range of products, making them equally viable. When choosing between technologies, the first factor to consider is application. In the case of Zigbee, if they are not all operating under the same protocol, the devices will not be able to talk to each other. This differs from Z-Wave, where all their products are compatible with each other. That being said, you can connect a lot more devices to Zigbee than you can Z-Wave. Providing that everything is compatible, and you have a multitude of devices to connect, Zigbee is usually the preferred choice.

Another factor to consider is speed and power. Z-Wave operates at a much higher frequency than Zigbee (908.42 MHz) and Zigbee is twice as fast, so is a better choice when needing a speedy response from devices. The only caveat is due to its faster speeds, Zigbee uses more energy.

Wi-Fi vs Zigbee

When it comes to a choice between Zigbee and Wi-Fi, one of the differentiating factors is range. Wi-Fi has roughly double the range (about 50m), so is more effective for connectivity over larger areas. That being said, because Zigbee operates using a mesh network, if a device is out of direct range, it can still indirectly connect to a network through the signal of another device that is connected to Zigbee. So for network reliability, Zigbee may be the preferred choice.