The new Vera firmware upgrade is here with 4 new features, 20 improvements and too many resolved bugs to count. But are they really all gone? We were especially excited to see the Aeotec recessed door window sensor (ZW089-A) on the checklist as seemingly issue-free. It would be a sign of Vera finally embracing the Gen5 and Z-Wave Plus features. So we got right to testing the Aeotec ZW089-A on both our VeraEdge and VeraLite under the UI7.0.5. The sensor didn’t work immediately but with this quick fix, you’ll be able to fully control the Aeon Labs ZW089-A with your Vera.
Pair the recessed door window sensor with your hub and follow these steps:
At this point, you’ll see the sensor under an appropriate icon on your dashboard but you still won’t be able to monitor the open/close status of the device in your browser. However, you’ll see the status just fine on your mobile app and the sensor will work in scenes with no problems.
We want to hear about other Vera 7.0.5 hacks so please share in the comments below!
You've probably heard the term Z-Wave thrown around if you've been shopping for smart home devices, especially anything related to security systems, door locks, or home automation hubs. But what actually is Z-Wave, and why do so many serious smart home setups rely on it? Here's everything you need to know to get started!
The most important thing to understand about Z-Wave is that it's completely separate from your home's Wi-Fi. Z-Wave devices communicate on their own low-power radio frequency, which means your smart home traffic isn't competing with your streaming, video calls, or anything else on your internet network.
If you’ve ever tried shopping for smart switches, you already know how quickly things can spiral. What starts as “I just want a smart dimmer for my kitchen” somehow turns into reading about 3-way wiring, traveler wires, load ratings, relay switches, neutral wires, smart bulb mode, and whether your exhaust fan will explode if you accidentally install the wrong dimmer.
And honestly, we get it. Once you open up a switch box and start Googling terms like “single pole vs multi-way” or “line and load,” things can feel overwhelming fast. Instead of forcing you to compare every switch model and decipher electrical terminology on your own, our new guide walks you through the decision process step by step so you can narrow down the right switch for your setup without second guessing yourself.
If you love a good DIY project and a touch of smart home magic, you’ll be blown away by what YouTuber DIY With Vinny pulled off. His YouTube tutorial transforms a simple closet into a fully automated, jaw-droppingly smart space, from leak detection to mood lighting and robot-friendly automation.
The best part? It’s powered by some seriously smart Zooz Z-Wave gear that makes everything run seamlessly behind the scenes. All of the Zooz devices featured here support the new Z-Wave Long Range protocol, so your smart home stays connected and responsive, even across floors, garages, or detached spaces.
Let’s take a tour of this build and peek at how you can recreate it in your own home.
Jan (The Smartest House)
November 14, 2017
Hi Steve,
It looks like you’re experiencing a communication issue here. We recommend updating neighbor nodes for the sensor and waking it up manually (click the action button) to finalize configuration. It’s hard to say at this point if the problem originates at the device or controller. The best way to find out would be to get in touch with both Vera and Aeotec support and try a few troubleshooting solutions. As far as we know, the sensor should be fully supported by Vera now and the instructions from the blog shouldn’t be necessary to get it to work.