# 433Mhz, infrared, BLE or Z-wave **URL:** \ **Category:** Devices\ **Created:** [November 12, 2022, 12:46pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080 "2022-11-12T12:46:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tirrazo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/tirrazo/32/55444_2.png) [@Tirrazo](https://community.homey.app/u/Tirrazo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 12:46pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/1 "2022-11-12T12:46:11Z")
Hi, I have expanded my Zigbee network as much as it can handle. Athom wrote an article about how many devices you could have before problems starts to appear. The way I see it, I am on the edge now. So would it be smart to find other devices using the protocols I’ve never used? I have 23 Zigbee devices (powered and battery) 4 Z-wave devices (powered) 0 433Mhz 0 Infrared 1 Bluetooth LE Some WiFi devices through apps, but these doesn’t show up under the developer tools. If I need to expand with more motion sensors, dimmers or temperature, what shall I look for? ---
**Author:** ![Dijker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dijker](https://community.homey.app/u/Dijker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:07pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/2 "2022-11-12T13:07:57Z")
Zigbee, then Z-Wave if you also plan on expanding the Z-Wave mesh with Routers … Maybe also a good one for Zigbee, do you have enough Routers? ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/3 "2022-11-12T13:16:23Z")
> [@Tirrazo](#): > > The way I see it, I am on the edge now. Because why? How do you notice it? Athom recommends using no more than 30-40 Zigbee devices ([source](https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/360019239879)). However, there are users who have no problems even with 60 ZigBee devices. I myself have 36 ZigBee devices and no problems. The most important points with ZigBee are: – check if ZigBee and WiFi channel do not interfere with each other ([link](http://ostgardh.se/wifi_zigbee/)) – first connect the powered devices, ideally 15 of them – use enough powered devices, because they work as repeaters and forward signals (mesh) With Z-Wave is it near the same. Enough repeaters are needed to create a stable network/mesh. However, it is not absolutely necessary to pair the powered devices first, but it is definitely recommended. The maximum number of devices is 231 ([source](https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/4409762628114-Using-Z-Wave-devices-with-Homey)). ---
**Author:** ![Tirrazo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/tirrazo/32/55444_2.png) [@Tirrazo](https://community.homey.app/u/Tirrazo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:16pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/4 "2022-11-12T13:16:56Z")
I have only the Homey as a router 😃 Until now, it works fine. But I expect it to be slower when adding new devices. I had hoped that there wasn’t any need for extra routers as the powered devices create their own network? ---
**Author:** ![Dijker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dijker](https://community.homey.app/u/Dijker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:19pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/5 "2022-11-12T13:19:51Z")
> [@Tirrazo](#): > > I have only the Homey as a router I guess not… Homey is a Coordinator. > **[Creating a stable Zigbee network with Homey Pro](https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/360019239879-Creating-a-stable-Zigbee-network-with-Homey-Pro)** > > (This article only applies to Homey Pro (2016-2019)). > Zigbee is one of the wireless technologies in Homey and is used by popular brands like IKEA, Philips Hue, Xiaomi Aqara, and others to control d... ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:21pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/6 "2022-11-12T13:21:04Z")
> [@Tirrazo](#): > > I have only the Homey as a router 😃 But you wrote: > [@Tirrazo](#): > > I have 23 Zigbee devices (powered and battery) And I guess it’s not possible to add more than 15 battery powered devices without adding repeater (powered devices) first. And of course, every powered device acts like/is a repeater. So there is normally no need to buy so called “Repeater”. ---
**Author:** ![Dijker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Dijker](https://community.homey.app/u/Dijker)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:30pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/7 "2022-11-12T13:30:05Z")
> [@DirkG](#): > > And of course, every powered device acts like a repeater. akaik Zigbee self and also in that way in the Athom support article they only speaks about Coordinators, Routers, and End Devices. > **[Zigbee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zigbee#Device_types_and_operating_modes)** > > Zigbee is an IEEE 802.15.4-based specification for a suite of high-level communication protocols used to create personal area networks with small, low-power digital radios, such as for home automation, medical device data collection, and other low-power low-bandwidth needs, designed for small scale projects which need wireless connection. Hence, Zigbee is a low-power, low-data-rate, and close proximity (i.e., personal area) wireless ad hoc network. > The technology defined by the Zigbee specific... Le’ts say: Repeater =\> Error Undefined… ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/8 "2022-11-12T13:40:32Z")
I have specified my statement a little more precisely. I hope at least. But what I actually meant was that if you use enough wall plugs, light switches, lamps, there is actually no need to use repeaters/range extender without function, such as this one from Aeotec: [https://aeotec.com/products/aeotec-range-extender-zi/](https://aeotec.com/products/aeotec-range-extender-zi/) ---
**Author:** ![Tirrazo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/tirrazo/32/55444_2.png) [@Tirrazo](https://community.homey.app/u/Tirrazo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/9 "2022-11-12T13:48:27Z")
Thank you for this! It was about that article (30-40 devices) I thought the end was near. But maybe there is still a lot of room to add more devices without anything slowing down or not working. ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 1:52pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/10 "2022-11-12T13:52:24Z")
Yes, I think so too. But it is important that the mentioned important points are taken into account. ---
**Author:** ![Tirrazo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/tirrazo/32/55444_2.png) [@Tirrazo](https://community.homey.app/u/Tirrazo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/11 "2022-11-12T14:23:38Z")
If I have added device with battery first. Do I have to reinstall all my device in the house and start over to get the powered one in the list first? ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/12 "2022-11-12T14:43:23Z")
It’s not possible to give a general answer to this question. I myself have 4 battery-powered devices of the maximum 15 direct connection points to Homey, and I have no problems. How many battery-powered devices have you connected within the first 15 IDs? The problem is that a maximum of approx. only 15 devices can be connected directly to Homey. Other devices are then connected to Homey via routers. And if you now already have many battery-powered devices among the first 15 devices, then only a few repeaters can be connected to Homey. The number of devices that can be connected via a repeater with Homey is also limited. Maybe @Dijker knows the maximum number? I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Tirrazo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/tirrazo/32/55444_2.png) [@Tirrazo](https://community.homey.app/u/Tirrazo)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/13 "2022-11-12T16:11:32Z")
These are my first 15 🙂 It is calling the powered devices for routers. ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/e/4/e486efccd19c1a93caa89a2184ee1f2eac9fa6df.png) ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 5:47am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/14 "2022-11-13T05:47:15Z")
In my opinion the only thing what you can do is to test it, if Zigbee will be stable enough, if you add more devices. And if it’s possible to add more devices at all. ---
**Author:** ![Tirrazo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/tirrazo/32/55444_2.png) [@Tirrazo](https://community.homey.app/u/Tirrazo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2022, 6:29pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/433mhz-infrared-ble-or-z-wave/72080/15 "2022-11-13T18:29:50Z")
Yes, will do it and see if it’s possible to add more devices.