Zigbee and Zwave usb dongles for HA on a mini PC | Home Assistant | Page 1

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 3:56 PM

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My SmartThings hub dies and now it's time to move to HA. Rather than going with HA Green, I'm going to load up HA on something link a Beelink 12 PRO mini PC. I understand I have to buy specific dongles for both my Zigbee and Zwave devices. Does the fact that it is a mini PC and not an HA Green matter when choosing the dongle?

I'm looking at the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 for Zigbee and the for the Zwave I was looking at the Zooz (whether 700 or 800 is necessary, I'm not sure). Looking at the integrations page on HA, the Zwave seems very confusing with all the lines of code. Is it actually pretty easy to implement if I want basic use (let me know when a sensor is actrivated or has been open for 5 minutes, etc?

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 3:57 PM

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What country are you in?

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 3:57 PM

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US

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 3:57 PM

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Z-Wave on HAOS is easy, no "code"

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Even not on HAOS it's easy

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Does the fact that it is a mini PC and not an HA Green matter when choosing the dongle?
No

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 3:58 PM

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Ok, maybe it is just providing the code on the page for more detailed events and stuff

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 3:58 PM

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The page covers a lot of things

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 3:59 PM

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Yeah

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You mentioned SMLight or Tube for zigbee recommendations

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https://www.amazon.com/SMLIGHT-SLZB-06p7-Ethernet-Zigbee2MQTT-Assistant/dp/B0D1C9BGGJ?th=1

SMLIGHT SLZB-06p7 – A Zigbee 3.0 to Ethernet, USB, and WiFi Adapter...

SMLIGHT SLZB-06p7 – A Zigbee 3.0 to Ethernet, USB, and WiFi Adapter with PoE Support, Works with Zigbee2MQTT, Home Assistant, ZHA

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 4:01 PM

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See #zigbee-archived and the pinned message there, but yes, that's one option

quartz aurora Sep 23, 2024, 4:03 PM

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Most Z-Wave functionality is supported by the standard HA concepts, so it's no different than any other integration. It does provide a lot more advanced functionality if you need it.

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:05 PM

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What makes the SMLIGHT better than the ZBT-1? The antenna?

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I can't find anything about the Tube, I looked in the sticky and all it mentioned was that we want the SMLight or Tube coordinators

quartz aurora Sep 23, 2024, 4:06 PM

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https://tubeszb.com/

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They support POE so you can locate them remote from your HA server.

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:07 PM

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I won't need that as my router is in my office

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So is that the same with SMLIGHT vs ZBT-1?

quartz aurora Sep 23, 2024, 4:08 PM

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It's more about where the controller is in relation to the devices.

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:08 PM

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It's going exactly where my SmartThings hub was positioned before. I didn't have any issues then

quartz aurora Sep 23, 2024, 4:09 PM

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Ok, then you probably don't need POE. I can't speak to any of the other ZIgbee differences.

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:12 PM

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@main vessel will the SMLIGHT just give me more range because of the external antenna? The ZBT-1 doesn't even appear to have an antenna with it's size (though it seems like that is what HA recommends on their website)...

dry drum Sep 23, 2024, 4:16 PM

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I have a zigbee+zwave* (*bring your own gpio radio) device coming.

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:16 PM

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https://www.amazon.com/LOAMLIN-SMLIGHT-SLZB-07-Zigbee-Coordinator/dp/B0CNVBCCR3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1LIVJJ44ETVPK&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hm3P5_VriMQwU6JblQmzsgVbHyYTRP9uXbSdGlE-6_x_-e-qVMBdIHVZ5nAVVPVFZe6cd4_s9Rd4S5oUFOLGAQ.Tc301qsg0npGN_4iFu_NJtA752WZkyJKDizX6bF730s&dib_tag=se&keywords=smlight%2Bslzb-07&qid=1727108114&sprefix=SMLIGHT%2BSLZB-07%2Caps%2C112&sr=8-1&th=1

SMLIGHT SLZB-07 Zigbee 3.0 USB Coordinator - Pre-Flashed and Ready-...

SMLIGHT SLZB-07 Zigbee 3.0 USB Coordinator - Pre-Flashed and Ready-to-Use Zigbee Adapter for ZHA Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT

dry drum Sep 23, 2024, 4:17 PM

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(or thread + zwave ) as I have this one now configured...

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signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:17 PM

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I think I was looking at the wrong SMLIGHT device. This newer SLZB-07 is much smaller and affordable. Compared to the 06 model I linked earlier

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Can someone tell me what the difference in the 2 options are for the SMLIGHT 07 I just linked?

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Nevermind, I see the white one has EFR32MG21

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That's what is recommended

dry drum Sep 23, 2024, 4:19 PM

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one uses the CC2652P7 radio, and the other EFR32MG21

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:19 PM

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Thx 🙂

dry drum Sep 23, 2024, 4:19 PM

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both work with ZHA

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techincally with Z2M too, but would lean toward the CC2652P7 if going with z2m

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:20 PM

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I'm going based off HA's recommendations

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What is Z2M?

dry drum Sep 23, 2024, 4:21 PM

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Zigbee2MQTT

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:21 PM

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I think I just plan on loading up HAOS

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 4:21 PM

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signal bridge <@332579266623438848> will the SMLIGHT just give me more range because of the ex...

I mean... yes, but practically speaking mostly no

dry drum Sep 23, 2024, 4:21 PM

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the EFR32MG21 is the same radio used in the HA Connect ZBT-1

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:21 PM

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ok, and it is available for Amazon shipping tomorrow

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Lastly, the Zwave controller

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I see 700 and 800 recommended. Is 800 just better range?

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I see there are some firmware to be aware of that isn't working well

green sparrow Sep 23, 2024, 4:25 PM

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signal bridge I see 700 and 800 recommended. Is 800 just better range?

800 is just strictly better than 700 in most cases. Make sure to use the latest available firmware version, as recent SDKs haven't exactly been the best

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:26 PM

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Thinking I'll go with the Zooz 800.

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https://www.support.getzooz.com/kb/article/1276-how-to-perform-an-otw-firmware-update-on-your-zst39-800-long-range-z-wave-stick/

The Smartest House

How to Perform an OTW Firmware Update on Your ZST39 800 Long Range ...

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I just need to follow this it seems?

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Lastly, it is recommended to hook these up to the HA Green using short 3" USB extentions, right?

Since I am doing a mini PC, is it still best to have 2 small extensions for them to get away from eachother and the PC itself?

quartz aurora Sep 23, 2024, 4:30 PM

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Always extension

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:30 PM

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Not a hub? I've read both

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 4:30 PM

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More than 3" too

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:31 PM

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https://www.amazon.com/C2G-52119-USB-Extension-Cable/dp/B00CJG2ZYM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1UW1NFLQ1T151&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9._DGVcu-3uCBRdhLDy2CE0rlzT-aO0IckKu54SXcS5ieuKFF2sXEJGySZTHkHAo6FaR9DArX-mIDMH9VtIkAAgiQtVyN2sM4IRMfuI3BCN2YVre1fcKQ7Tmhxa7K7vndqiBkNbAPZCq6ReQ0pxz3wCuRmkw1_mz5pP4CVwt7-2czJQLQZbwq6n-WZwrUaSNDZEZ73Fm1c5C74RsJizObJOLzQnpzRlKDs6Oi7vHgM5KU.-y_bFO5RgYFSWqmZn_1nq8e8kSxejxG74mU3Qp1mYy0&dib_tag=se&keywords=usb%2Bshort%2Bextension%2Bcable&qid=1727108946&sprefix=usb%2Bshort%2Bextension%2Bcable%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-3&th=1

C2G Legrand USB Cable, USB A to A Cable, Short Extension USB Cable ...

The 6 inch USB 2.0 A Male to A Female Extension Cable is perfect for applications where a USB device with a fixed USB output, such as a USB Flip Cam, is connected to the USB port of a computer. In many of these applications the USB port of the computer cannot be easily lined up with the USB conne...

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6" here

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 4:31 PM

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USB 2.0 hub would be ok

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3.0 not

green sparrow Sep 23, 2024, 4:31 PM

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signal bridge Not a hub? I've read both

Hub is ti work around a hardware bug in older Aeotec sticks

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:32 PM

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The mini PC has only 3.2USB ports

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either way, this double pack of 6" extentions is the way to go then?

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 4:33 PM

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You may want more than a mere 6", but that may be enough

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See the video pinned in #zigbee-archived

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:34 PM

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I'll watch it. Thx

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Interesting

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The extentions can be USB 3.0 though, right?

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 4:37 PM

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Yes

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I have a 3.0 cable in a 3.0 port and have no problems... so far anyway

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:39 PM

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Should these devices be mounted away from ALL electronics (router/MyQ garage controller), or just the mini PC? It may be hard getting enough room

main vessel Sep 23, 2024, 4:40 PM

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Away from USB 3.0, Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz WiFi, etc

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https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/advanced/zigbee/02_improve_network_range_and_stability.html

signal bridge Sep 23, 2024, 4:41 PM

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They are super sensitive...

#Zigbee and Zwave usb dongles for HA on a mini PC