Recommended Z-Wave hub?

[brittanymarshel]

Looking to get into the light control via Google home and my phone, remote and local. Do you have a recommended Z-Wave hub to use?

Like, If you buy a bunch of GE branded Z-Wave switches, such as this one https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06VYCFXT4/ (I need the small switch style)

And which one to buy Smart things or Wink Hub, like these here: https://www.geekwrapped.com/guides/best-z-wave-hubs will I need to have two android apps on my phone? (one for GE and one for Samsung)

Trying to pick the devices that will have the longest life, before their support goes end of life.

Thoughts?

[lilyoyo1]

You're posting on an ISY forum so users here will most likely say use the ISY just as they would on Homeseer, Wink, or smartthings forums. Personally, I would use the ISY hence the reason I am on this forum. I've tried many others but felt the ISY was the best overall and to this day I still feel this way. Even more now than I did when I first started.

The best advice that I can give would be to think about what you are trying to accomplish in the automation space! How much time, money, and effort you are willing to put into getting a system up and running in your home. Once you know that information, then its easier to recommend a controller to you as each has their own pros and cons. 

 

[madcodger]

I have an ISY994, a Homeseer Zee, and a Smarthings hub, across three different buildings. 

The Smarthings hub is by far the worst. Hard to include or exclude devices, and loses z-wave connection to devices easily. Would not buy another and will be replacing the one I have.

Homeseer has thus far been easiest to set up and seems to have the best z-wave radio. But it requires a reboot every few days to remain stable (so I do so each day in the wee hours of the morning, automatically).

ISY (as noted, you’re on that forum) is easily the most reliable device (never requires a reboot) but it has a rather weak z-wave radio, so devices nearby (within 15 feet) have proven essential. After the first device to act as a repeater, though, everything is comparable to Homeseer. Note that the ISY can also be more difficult to “program” and user interfaces are horribly weak/bad. But again, super reliable device.

I am currently trying to decide between Homeseer and ISY for reasons noted above (and have used both for years).  But either are solid options.