[iakh]

Z-wave is a mesh network, so the more devices you have the better the connectivity. If you only need a single device, try locating your hub as close to the switch as possible. Otherwise, ironically, the solution may be to invest in more light switches.

[alkonaut]

Yes. I considered the distance but before spending more money on switches I don't really need, I figured I'd try with the base next to the switch. Didn't work reliably there either. So I'm not going to dare buying more nodes.

Is there any standard that isnt mesh based? Hub and spoke with lots of power like wifi seems much smarter.

Seems like complete idiocy to use a fragile low power mesh network for something that a) has to have 99.9999 reliability (like lights) and also has unlimited power (2kW+ available at each node!!) like lights.

The reason I went with zwave was because of the need to work behind an existing switch. For sockets it would have been much easier with 433-plugs.