Doors Locks - Secure Repeater Required?

[io_guy]

Michel/Chris,

The UDI Wiki (Z-Wave: Configuring Range Extenders and Door Locks) states that repeaters must be in secure mode in order to work with door locks.  Can you confirm whether this is correct?

It doesn't appear to be the case.  My old GE Gen300 series plug-in switches worked fine as repeaters.  I also just added two Aeotec Gen500 repeaters (in non-secure mode) and when I go to the door lock -> Z-Wave -> Show Information -> Network Details, the repeater shows up as the last working route.

[lilyoyo1]

13 hours ago, io_guy said:

Michel/Chris,

The UDI Wiki (Z-Wave: Configuring Range Extenders and Door Locks) states that repeaters must be in secure mode in order to work with door locks.  Can you confirm whether this is correct?

It doesn't appear to be the case.  My old GE Gen300 series plug-in switches worked fine as repeaters.  I also just added two Aeotec Gen500 repeaters (in non-secure mode) and when I go to the door lock -> Z-Wave -> Show Information -> Network Details, the repeater shows up as the last working route.

This would apply to newer devices that requires encryption (and even then only the device that talks directly to the secure device needs to be secure if it did). Your particular lock may not need encryption which is why it works without it. 

I am assuming they put that there to cover their bases since some devices requires secure mode while others don't. Secure devices can talk to non secure devices but non secure cant talk to secure. Instead of confusing people, its simply easier to use secure from the start vs the alternative.

[Chris Jahn]

Hi Guys,

I am not certain, but I think you are correct that the repeater does not have to be added in secure mode or even support secure mode to repeat the message.  The information stored in the encrypted portion of the message is not used in actually sending the message across the network.