This page provides the necessary steps to get started with Z-Stick Gen5 and form part of the larger Z-Stick Gen5 user manual.


Some software will require a single purchase fee, and others will be free. The degree of the usability will be determined by the software itself and not just the Z-Stick.


Step 1: Install Necessary Drivers

Z-Stick Gen5 drivers can be found here: https://aeotec.freshdesk.com/solution/articles/6000034892-install-z-stick-gen5-drivers-inf-on-windows


Drivers listed in that article are specifically for Windows OS. 


Linux or MacOS-based systems should already have drivers pre-installed. 


Windows 10 should already have the drivers already installed, there may be no need to install the drivers manually. It will appear as a COMx where x could be any number (ie. COM4, COM15, etc).


Method 1 (Only works on Windows 8 or 10):


Right-click on the INF file in the Z-Stick Gen5 drivers folder, and in the popup menu, click on INSTALL.


Method 2 (Can be used on any OS):


There is an alternative way to install the inf file. Please follow the steps below


1) Open up "Device Manager" in Windows.


2) Look for "Ports (COM & LPT)" where the Z-Stick will appear as a COM port device (ie. COM3).


or 


"Other Devices" (Z-Stick Gen5 will appear under Other Devices when the drivers are not installed yet)



3) Z-Stick Gen5 should appear as an "Unknown Device"


4) Right Click on "Unknown Device" then click on "Update Driver Software"


5) On the new popup window, click on "Browse my Computer for driver software"


6) Look for .inf file.


7) If Z-Stick Gen5 is installed properly, it will appear as the image below as a UZB device under "Ports (COM & LPT)"




Linux will appear as a /dev/ttyACM0 (or other numbered such as /dev/ttyACM1 ... ACMx) device, if it does not, manually install the CDC-ACM module (which should already be a part of the Linux kernel) or re-install Linux.


Input this command to double-check:

dmesg | grep tty


This will provide display all ttyACM devices connected. If it is the only Z-Stick Gen5 connected it should appear as /dev/ttyACM0. This would be used as the USB_PATH intended for the software that is used with Z-Stick Gen5.



OSX should appear as a /dev/cu.usbmodem device, if Z-Stick is having issues connecting, alternative USB ports should be used to see if another USB port works better.

  • Use OSX command line and input the command

    ls /dev/cu.usbmodem*

    This will show the USB path of the Z-Stick Gen5.

  • If using Indigo 7 (most common OSX software used), Z-Stick Gen5 can be set up in this manner.
    1. Select: Menu Interfaces -> Z-Wave -> Enable
    2. Select: Menu Interfaces -> Z-Wave -> Configure and select the bottom 2 options
      • Connection Type "Local (Physical)"
      • Serial Port "usbmodem1d11"
    3. Tick the case "Show debug logging in Event Log window" to see the correct Z-Stick enable process in green under the event log window.

      If not, debug lines will appear in red to indicate the issues.


Step 2: Determine the COM port of the Z-Stick (Z-Stick must be plugged in)

The COM port of the Z-Stick can be found under the device manager in Windows (Control Panel/Device Manager). To find the COM port for Linux and Mac is a bit different, the command lines above for their respective OS can be used to find the correct ports.


This is necessary information to know to understand which serial port can be used to connect Z-Stick Gen5 to the software that is chosen. 


(Refer to Method 2 in drivers installation.)


Step 3: Choosing a Software

These are some of the many known Z-Wave software available. 


Software with trial use

1. Homeseer (1 Month Trial) http://www.homeseer.com/

2. InControl (Control up to 10 devices for free) http://www.incontrolzwave.com/

3. Indigo (Mac Software, I believe there is a trail, but I am not 100% sure) https://www.indigodomo.com/devices/

4. Z-Way http://razberry.z-wave.me/index.php?id=24


Free Software

1. Home Assistant with Z-WaveJS: https://www.home-assistant.io/

2. HomeGenie http://www.homegenie.it/

3. Domotiga https://www.domotiga.nl/

4. Domoticz https://domoticz.com/

5. OpenHAB http://www.openhab.org/

6. Jeedom https://jeedom.fr/site/en/index.html


Step 4: Connect Z-Stick to the Software chosen

Each software has a different experience, some are easier, and some take a little more time to figure out. Each software generally will have steps on how to do so.


Step 5: Add Devices to the Z-Stick Z-Wave network or remove devices.

With Z-Stick Gen5 or S2, the button can be used to remove or add devices to its network manually without software. Typically it is preferred to use the software chosen to include or exclude devices. 


Adding devices via its button (Example).

  1. Remove the Z-Stick from your PC USB port (disconnect)
  2. Tap the Z-Stick Gen5 button, and its LED should blink blue
  3. Now go to your Switch or Z-Wave device, and tap its button quickly (most devices use a single tap, but some Z-Wave devices may have special operations to pair, please refer to your Z-Wave device's manual to pair it to Z-Stick).
  4. If successful, you'll notice that the Z-Stick Gen5s LED will blink rapidly, and if the pairing was a complete success, the LED on Z-Stick Gen5s blue LED will become solid for 2 seconds (if it failed, then a red LED will appear for 2 seconds instead) then continue to blink blue slowly
  5. You can continue to add new devices while it is blinking blue slowly (follow steps 3-4 with each device you want to add one at a time)
  6. Once you are done, tap the Z-Sticks button once and the LED should stop blinking.


Removing devices via its button (Example).

  1. Remove the Z-Stick from your PC USB port (disconnect)
  2. Press and hold the Z-Stick Gen5 button until its LED should blinks yellow rapidly, then release its button.
  3. Now go to your Switch or Z-Wave device, and tap its button quickly (most devices use a single tap, but some Z-Wave devices may have special operations to unpair, please refer to your Z-Wave devices manual to unpair it from the Z-Stick).
  4. If successful, you'll notice that the Z-Stick Gen5s LED will become solid blue for 2 seconds to indicate a successful unpair, then it will return to blinking yellow rapidly to allow you to continue removing other devices.
  5. You can continue to remove devices while it is blinking yellow rapidly (follow steps 3-4 with each device you want to remove then continue to step 6 when you are done)
  6. Once you are done, tap the Z-Sticks button once and the LED should stop blinking.


Step 6: Get to know Z-Wave common knowledge, and things to look up

1. Changing Z-Wave Parameter Settings (Advanced)

2. Setting Events/Scenes/Triggers to trigger devices in your network

3. Complications of Z-Wave Battery Sensors

4. Z-Wave Product Compatibility to Software

5. Possible Scripting in the Software that you are using