You could potentially find a Z-Wave module that you could wire in to a Spark Core to be able to control Z-Wave products. Alternately, you could find an internet-connected Z-Wave gateway that you could control cloud-to-cloud or cloud-to-hub. SmartThings is an example of this; once we deliver we’ll be working in compatibility with SmartThings via cloud-to-cloud communications, which would let you control Z-Wave things that work with their SmartThings hub.
@Rockvole, there may be another downside you should consider…that the SmartThings hub only allows control of ither Z-wave devices connected to it by using their cloud API. Somebody may prove me wrong, but I believe you have to talk to those devices across the internet and using the API they provide which may not provide a completely transparent interface.
I also wonder about latency in such a situation.
I would also be interested in contributing to a project that created a gateway between a wifi network using the sparkfun and zigbee and/or zwave devices similar to the smartthings hub or other gateways but without the imposed access methods.
If you add an arduino or raspberry pi, beaglebone etc. Then a RESTful interface could be offered.
Aside from having a large investment in Z-Wave devices why not just move communication between all home automation devices over the wifi? I am starting to look at possible ways to setup outlets and switches using the spark for wifi communications to communicate with a RPi home auto server.
Also as posted in another thread if mesh networking is an option this could work well for antenna on chip devices (depending on mesh latency I would suppose).
I was thinking the same thing Michael. But I’m wondering how it would all fit into an existing wall socket though
I was thinking about starting out with a pushbutton, solid state relay and small power supply to do some tests.
I have these right now:
tracopower TMPM 04105 power supply
crydom CX240D5 relay
I was thinking of possibly using the spark and other components to prototype the unit, then try to use other tools to build it all into 1 board, 1 appropriately sized form factor.
@shocku992 SmartThings integration is on our back-log; we’ll get to it in the near future, but top priority right now is making sure the core features are in place and everything’s working reliably.
At first glance, it doesn’t look like that RF module provides the Z-Wave protocol; I’m not familiar with the details of the protocol and how to implement it on an RF module, but it’s probably not a walk in the park.
Another option you might want to consider is the Staples Connected Home hub. I’ve beel looking very closely at it because it looks like it’s a z-wave gateway for $99 and doesn’t require a monthly fee to use the app. I haven’t been able to find any info regarding the cloud services that might be available for integration.
juano2310, I really like your smartthings LED demo. I would like to have the Spark send data to the smartthings cloud but I am too new at this and their “documentation” is clear as mud for me. I looked at the NEST connection code and just more confused. Any chance you could put a little demo together or point me in the right direction?
Thanks for the reply juano2310. The tutorial you pointed me to is for smartapps. My goal is to get a smartthings Spark device to interact with the Spark Cloud directly. I have been looking at the Nest thermostat example and I am getting some ideas. If (and that’s a big if) I have any success, I will post what I’ve got.