March 14, 2015 16 Comments
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!
November 13, 2017
Here we are 2 years later, and still, this is a kludge.. I had 3 of these working at one point, but now, after a software upgrade or two, and having to replace the batteries in the sensors, I cant get them to work. They bind, but I’m forever looking at “ERROR: Unable to get any information on node…” after following the instructions above. I cant believe this has to be so hard for a simple door sensor. Is this Aeon’s fault, or Vera’s?
October 09, 2016
As off UI7 (v1.7.2138), the sensors configure automatically as a Generic Z-Wave Device, but I had to add the variable in order to get the battery display.
December 07, 2015
Thanks for this instruction guide. Works great, however they do not appear in the Modes section so they cannot be armed when you put the device into Away, Vacation, etc.. mode? Any ideas? Thanks!
November 26, 2015
Hi Jan! The sensor ir now working except it won’t show on Mode dashboards to let me arm/disarm on mode changes… it this expected?
November 22, 2015
Jewel,
If you upgrade your Vera to the latest version of UI7, the sensors should integrate without issues automatically. Don’t forget to exclude the sensors first.
November 17, 2015
Thanks so much! I have two more recessed sensors, I used the same numbers and the others will not work like the first one. What should I change on the other recessed sensors.
Thanks
October 20, 2015
It appears that this device is not setup in Vera yet to program on its own. But these steps are better then it not working
October 17, 2015
Hi Ricardo and Kelly,
Thank you for the feedback. The sensor should now be fully supported once you upgrade the Vera’s firmware to the latest version. So please try updating both the controller and the app and the sensor should include and configure properly without issues.
Let me know how it goes!
October 11, 2015
I was able to get the sensors working, but they are showing as I/O device in the IOS APP. They are showing correctly in the WEB app
August 11, 2025 2 Comments
Smart home tech isn’t just for indoors anymore—it’s transforming yard care too. While we’re used to voice assistants and smart thermostats, outdoor tools like sprinkler systems are catching up. Instead of wasting water on rigid schedules, smart systems adapt to the weather, skip rainy days, and keep your lawn healthy with minimal effort.
Smart sprinkler control makes it easy to upgrade your existing irrigation system with a device like the Zooz ZEN17 Universal Relay. Compatible with SmartThings, Hubitat, Z-Box, Home Assistant, and HomeSeer, it fits into most smart home setups without locking you into one platform. This post covers the benefits of automating your sprinklers, how to set up the ZEN17, control options, and real user tips to help you get the most from your system.
June 12, 2025 2 Comments
Imagine this: it’s a stuffy summer night, and you’re already in bed when you realize the ceiling fan is off. Or maybe you’ve left the house and can’t remember if the bathroom fan is still running. What if your fan could turn on automatically when the room gets too warm—or shut off when no one’s around?
That’s the beauty of smart fan control. It’s not just about convenience (though turning your fan on with your voice or a tap on a smart remote is pretty great). It’s about making your home more energy-efficient, more responsive, and just... smarter.
November 29, 2024
Home Assistant is slowly but surely becoming the ultimate platform for comprehensive home automation. It allows users to create a truly customized and connected environment with the most integrations we've ever seen. Home Assistant has a pretty powerful automation engine too so you can program anything from simple lighting control to complex, multi-device routines. And it's open source which means we can all contribute and the basic software is free.
The secret to making your Home Assistant set-up better than ever? Add Z-Wave to it! You can instantly increase the functionality, reliability, and device compatibility of your smart home environment. Z-Wave brings a vast range of new device options that can communicate securely and consistently. They are feature rich with tons of advanced settings to choose from so you can find a good match for any use case.
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.