pic

Technology Comparison

  • INSTEON: Moderately priced, highly reliable Dual-mesh RF & Powerline technology
  • UPB: Expensive single-band technology
  • X10: Inexpensive but lacks the robustness, flexibility and reliability required by home-control applications
  • ZigBee & Z-Wave: Single-band (RF-only) wireless networks that require a network controller
For a detailed comparison, download the white paper comparison.
  INSTEON Zwave X10 UPB Wifi Zigbee
Price            
Reliability 1:10,000 1:100 1:10 1:100 1:100 1:100
Max Network (theory) Unlimited 232 256 250    
Ease            
Product breadth Huge Huge Large Medium Small Small
Setup without Central Controller Yes   Yes      
Compatibility Complete Partial Complete Complete Partial Partial
Virtual multi-way circuits Yes          
Legacy X10 compatible Yes          
Repeating Dual-Mesh Single Mesh Once Once   Some
Number of specifications (non interop) 1 1 1 1 ? 2
Number of feature sets (>1=non-interopt) 1 1 1 1 ? 1
Number of profiles (non-interopt) 1 2 1 1   7
RF Frequency   908.42 MHz        
Keypads w/built-in dImmer            
Units in field Million’s Million’s Million’s 100,000’s 100,000’s 10,000’s
Setup without assigning IDs Yes     NNNNNNN    
Power consumption in sleep mode   2.5 uA        
Device classes Peers Controllers, Slaves Peers      
Polite (listen before talk) Yes   Some     Yes