Updated spec should mean a more seamless smart home
Back in January at CES, the Thread Group announced that it was making some changes that should see our Matter smart homes singing and dancing more harmoniously in 2024.
The good news is that the changes are now official, with the Thread 1.4 specification now ready for implementation.
The bad(ish) news is that it will probably be a few months until users see the benefits of the upgrade, as it will take some time for manufacturers to get their ducks in order.
Once Thread 1.4 is updated it should, in theory, make our Matter smart homes a little less clunky than they currently are.
That’s because, regardless of the brand or smart home ecosystem, when you add an updated device or a new Thread border router to the mix, it will join your existing Thread network.
The first wave of Matter-over-Thread devices have stumbled and stuttered, as individual brands haven’t allowed for the seamless cross-brand-party we’d all hoped for.
For example, if you had some Nanoleaf panels in your house, along with an Eero mesh system, an Amazon Echo and an Apple TV – all devices that act as Thread border routers – you’d most likely end up with multiple Thread networks in your house, depending on what border router the device initially paired to.
That’s because those border routers haven’t been sharing their credentials, but that’s all set to change with Thread 1.4.
This solution aims to reduce latency, eliminate points of failure, and even enhance battery life of Thread devices.
Additionally, Thread 1.4 focuses on enhancing interoperability, reliability, and flexibility.
The Thread group is providing greater visibility into Thread networks with 1.4, facilitating troubleshooting for users experiencing issues with multiple Thread devices.
The introduction of a standardized path to the Internet for Thread devices and the incorporation of Wi-Fi and Ethernet as additional paths in the Thread network are also part of the 1.4 update, which also aims to expand the range of the mesh network, and address connectivity issues.
