It’s the Z-Wave Alliance Summit & Unplug Fest this week, and Xthings has a new announcement to go along with the events in the reveal of the ULTRALOQ Bolt Z-Wave.
Core Features of the Bolt Z-Wave
When looking at it from a strictly security perspective, the lock has a few key features, one of the main ones being an anti-peep keypad, which, according to Xthings allows the entry of randomized digits before or after the access code to add an extra bit of privacy.
Additionally, those managing the lock can produce temporary digital keys for neighbors, guests, contractors or cleaning crews. There’s also the option for keyless entry in general with users being able to set up individual access codes on the lock.
Integrations with Z-Wave Ecosystem Partners
As with prior ULTRALOQ Z-Wave products, the new Bolt is compatible with a variety of control platforms on the Z-Wave ecosystem including Home Assistant, Google Home and Samsung SmartThings. However, new to the Bolt is full integration with the Alarm.com ecosystem, allowing for unified control and monitoring of the device while connected.
According to Xthings, part of the expanded integrations were to provide more options for connectivity with the Bolt, however, the company also states it wanted to expand the set of use cases for the lock as well, making it more compatible with systems commonly used in multifamily properties.
Owing to that scalability, the devices also feature SmartSmart for setup, meaning users can pair the device with a compatible Z-Wave hub by scanning a QR code.
However, at the heart of the new model is the new Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) specification.
ZWLR Specification
Released back in 2020, the ZWLR specification is meant to dramatically extend signal range and improve responsiveness. Though, another aspect of the specification is increased penetration of wireless signals, which is something that wireless exterior locks have long struggled with when attempting to integrate into interior control systems.
Looking at it from an exclusively interior perspective, however, the enhanced range also allows locks to be placed farther throughout the home with signal drop off with the hub, making it useful in larger homes or as previously mentioned, in multifamily units.
Some Platforms Won’t Support Full Functionality Though
One thing of note here is that despite interoperability between the different platforms mentioned, the Bolt Z-Wave will experience some limitations on certain platforms. In particular, SmartThings only supports core Z-Wave functions at the moment with ZWLR being unsupported at the current time.
Cost and Availability of the Bolt Z-Wave
At $179.99 MSRP, the Bolt Z-Wave is currently available via most mass-market retailers including Amazon and Best Buy, though it can also be purchased directly through ULTRALOQ via its website.
