Thread is the Next Big Thing in the Smart Home, but We Talk Less About It

by Zaveria K October 1, 2022

thread

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If you’ve been researching smart home gadgets lately, you’ve probably noticed the Thread brand more often. But it’s entirely possible that you haven’t understood what Thread is or why you should care. Thread is very important to know about the characteristics of this brand new technology here.

New networking technologies have the potential to make your smart home even better. Each computer on the network serves as an access point or node when Thread is used. These nodes extend the Thread network’s coverage area and strengthen its signal. Thread builds a separate, secure mesh network, not connected to your primary wireless network, to achieve these properties. While it’s tempting to think that the components of your smart home system are all connected through magic and wonder, the truth is that its strict wireless protocols do the magic, and Thread is particularly important to know about.

what is thread

The components of your smart home will communicate with each other more effectively thanks to the work of the Thread Group. Thread’s software enables a wide range of Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets such as: B. Home electronics, including appliances, thermostats, lighting and security systems.

One of the key technologies of the CHIP (Connected Home over IP) project is the thread. If you don’t know, the CHIP project is a project that major tech companies and The Zigbee Alliance created to make it easier for customers to use smart home devices.

While it may not be a household name yet, Thread is slowly picking up steam thanks to organizations like Apple, Google, Nanoleaf, and Eve. It’s also likely an important factor in the development of Matter, the latest interoperability standard in the industry, as we’ll see below.

Why is thread a big deal?

The potential of Z-Wave, a standard comparable to Zigbee, has been limited by the need for specialized hubs. People may be reluctant to spend the extra money on it, or they may lack the technical skills needed to install one and pair accessories. Brand-specific hubs are sometimes required for the accessory to work, at least with its full functionality. Hue lights can be paired with independent Zigbee hubs, but don’t expect the same level of control.

Due to the circumstances, many accessories continue to use separate WiFi connections with all the limitations that this entails. In addition to power concerns, using Wi-Fi requires each device to be connected directly to your router, the hub of your wireless network. Dropouts occur when the point is too far away or oversaturated.

Wi-Fi accessories often rely on cloud services for automation. This automation will not work if there is a local internet outage. If you depend on them to keep you safe and comfortable, this could be a big problem.

Thread not only fixes these issues, it also responds faster. Thread responds to commands almost instantly, unlike Wi-Fi accessories that can take a second or two to do so. It eliminates annoying lag, especially with things like motion-triggered automation, and is even faster than Zigbee or Bluetooth.

How Does Thread Affect Your Smart Home?

Thread has many potential advantages over other wireless network protocols.

In essence, it should be able to provide your smart home with faster responses, increased reliability, and more security—all while using less energy.

With Thread, you can control your devices even if one of them isn’t responding because there’s no central hub connected to a network.

As a result, your traditional smart home controller, often controlled by Alexa or Google Assistant, no longer has complete authority when setting up routines. Through the direct connection with your smart lighting, for example, your smart doorbell can continue to function.

Are there any disadvantages?

The main limitation of the technique is bandwidth. It’s unable to handle tasks like streaming audio and video as it carries far less data than Wi-Fi. Thread’s inclusion in some smart speakers, displays, and media streamers is for connecting to other peripherals, not for playing music or viewing your doorbell cam. Things like lights, sensors, locks, plugs, thermostats, and small appliances are better suited to the thread.

The main limitation of the technique is bandwidth. It’s unable to handle tasks like streaming audio and video as it carries far less data than Wi-Fi. Thread’s inclusion in some smart speakers, displays, and media streamers is for connecting to other peripherals, not for playing music or viewing your doorbell cam. Things like lights, sensors, locks, plugs, thermostats, and small appliances are better suited to the thread.

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