Overview
As smart home technology expands beyond the walls of the home, homeowners and integrators are seeking secure, long-range solutions for outdoor spaces. Z-Wave Long Range (LR), powered by Silicon Labs’ industry-leading wireless SoCs and modules, delivers mile-long coverage, multi-year battery life, and proven reliability for connected outdoor applications — from smart lighting and irrigation to perimeter security and environmental monitoring.
Why Z-Wave Long Range for Outdoor IoT?
Z-Wave LR was designed to address beyond-the-home smart automation challenges, offering:
Full Property Coverage
1+ mile wireless range star topology
(4× longer than classic Z-Wave)
Low Maintenance
Up to 10-year battery life for outdoor sensors
Massive Scalability
Supports up to 4,000 nodes on a single network
Rock-Solid Reliability
Sub-GHz operation for better wall and foliage penetration
Interoperable &
Future-Proof
Full backwards. compatibility with
Z-Wave Mesh
Secure Connectivity
Z-Wave S2 encryption and SmartStart pairing
Key Applications for Connected Outdoor Living
From perimeter security to garden automation, Z-Wave LR enables manufacturers to design reliable, long-range wireless products that go beyond the walls of the home without requiring repeaters or complex infrastructure.
Key outdoor IoT applications include smart security (gate locks, motion sensors, floodlights) and automated lighting (pathway, decorative, and security lighting). These products help consumers extend protection and control across the entire property while giving manufacturers a way to tap into high-value, differentiated categories that benefit from robust, low-power wireless performance.
Environmental sensing and automation also present strong opportunities. By combining irrigation control with climate monitoring, manufacturers can deliver smarter solutions for gardens, pools, and yards—such as weather-aware sprinklers, soil moisture sensors, and air quality monitors. Z-Wave LR enables these devices to operate reliably over long distances and with minimal maintenance, opening the door to new outdoor use cases and recurring customer value.
Powering Outdoor IoT with Silicon Labs' Z-Wave Solutions
Silicon Labs’ Z-Wave LR portfolio includes industry-leading SoCs and modules to accelerate outdoor smart home device innovation:
Z-Wave Long Range SoCs
- EFR32ZG28 – High performance for more demanding outdoor applications
- EFR32ZG23 – Ultra-low power for battery sensors and long-life applications
Z-Wave Long Range Modules
- ZGM230S – Pre-certified, fast time-to-market for smart locks and outdoor applications
All Silicon Labs’ Z-Wave solutions provide end-to-end security (S2 Encryption), energy-efficient operation, and easy interoperability with leading smart home ecosystems.
Whether you’re developing next-generation outdoor security devices, smart lighting solutions, or weather-resistant automation products, Silicon Labs' Z-Wave Long Range technology provides the most reliable, power-efficient, and scalable connectivity for outdoor IoT applications. Let’s bring your smart outdoor ideas to life — with powerful Z-Wave LR technology, flexible development kits, and proven wireless leadership.
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