But, I think it's actually because wifi is easier for the average person to get working. With Zigbee, you need a Zigbee hub, but sometimes you need a brand specific Zigbee hub, sometimes you don't (even though it's advertised that you do), and sometimes the Zigbee compliance is so bad that adding a device from another vendor break your whole Zigbee network (looking at you Aquara). Zwave throws more incompatible hubs to the mix. And, even within these, it's rare to have devices work with each other in a way that makes sense.
Hopefully matter saves us, so I don't have to install 5 integrations in Home Assistant to remind me that my car isn't plugged in at night or my back window is open, while the heater is on, and then another to make any of it accessible to HomeKit.
I must be lucky then because I have lot of Zigbee and Zwave devices all running Transmitting to Nortek GoControl USB stick attached to a rPI running Home Assistant.
I have several vendors of both Zwave and Zigbee Sensors, HVAC thermostat, Bulbs, Switches, etc.. All of them play nice with each other, and FAR FAR simpler to setup than WiFi which often requires the use of some weird mobile app, and play hopsotch with the networks..
Zigbee I just pair them to the GoControl and it is done
hell I even bought some no name used Door Sensors off ebay that were Zigbee, I mainly use them for Temp monitoring in various places.. They had no problem connecting to my network either
Yes, but you are not the average consumer, who is making Wi-Fi popular.
> all running Transmitting to Nortek GoControl USB stick attached to a rPI running Home Assistant
> and FAR FAR simpler to setup than WiFi
These two sentences are absolutely silly, for that average consumer. An average consumer can install a proprietary app in a few minutes and is totally uninterested in installing operating systems on little computers.
> Before I moved to HA, I was in the smart-things Ecosystem. That was also very easy out of the box, far easier than WiFi Device
No offense, but I think you've already proved that your perspective is a bit skewed towards the technical. I don't understand how buying and installing a hub, then installing an app to connect with that hub, and then using that app to pair is somehow easier than installing and app, and then using that app to pair.
> It has nothing to do with ease of access...
Looking at Amazon, I'm seeing many times the reviews for WiFi smart switches. This would make it appear that people are purchasing them. Why? Are they already locked in? My theory is that people see the product description, see WiFi, and say "I have that!". People see Zigbee or "hub" and say "I don't have that, it's $50 more!". If we could do a word count for "incompatible" between the two, I'm sure it would be many times lower for WiFi devices. I know I see that word often when I look through Z-Wave and Zigbee reviews.
But, I think it's actually because wifi is easier for the average person to get working. With Zigbee, you need a Zigbee hub, but sometimes you need a brand specific Zigbee hub, sometimes you don't (even though it's advertised that you do), and sometimes the Zigbee compliance is so bad that adding a device from another vendor break your whole Zigbee network (looking at you Aquara). Zwave throws more incompatible hubs to the mix. And, even within these, it's rare to have devices work with each other in a way that makes sense.
Hopefully matter saves us, so I don't have to install 5 integrations in Home Assistant to remind me that my car isn't plugged in at night or my back window is open, while the heater is on, and then another to make any of it accessible to HomeKit.