UEI's Z-Wave LR Garage Door Controller Due Soon at Ecolink Dealers

Universal Electronics Inc. bowed the first certified Z-Wave Long Range (LR) Controller (see 2203150068) available for consumers under its Ecolink brand, at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC West). The 700 Series garage door controller has a maximum range of 2,200 feet from a paired Z-Wave security panel or hub, the company said Wednesday. Z-Wave compatibility brings increased coverage and scalability, better battery life, interoperability and backward compatibility, it said. Before Z-Wave LR, multiple signal repeaters were required in a mesh network to achieve transmission distances beyond the boundaries of the home, UEI said. Z-Wave LR eliminates the need for repeaters and allows homeowners remote monitoring and control of their garage doors using a smartphone or the security panel or hub, which it said gives “an extra layer of protection against intrusion.” The controller is compatible with any certified Z-Wave-enabled hub or security panel and will be available this month through North American Ecolink security dealers; it will be available “eventually” direct to consumers on platforms such as Amazon.com, UEI said.