#What Zigbee USB Dongle to buy? Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 vs SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

unkempt haven
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Hello all, I want to extend my smart home installation with Zigbee products. They are less pricey than Homematic and less fiddly than self flashed Tasmota devices.

From the Zigbee Integration website I found the two recommended devices https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/zha/

  • Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1
  • SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus
    and was wondering which one is best to buy.

I think the SONOFF device has an antenna and therefore better reception for the first Zigbee Device, whereas the ZBT-1 has no antenna and the size of a small USB Stick. So I may need a Zigbee Device close by to "bridge" for more reach.

The ZBT-1 has Thread and Matter support as a plus - but there arent many cheap devices so far - so Zigbee may still be the best choice here.

Are both equally Stable SW wise? Or is anyone of them known for issues?

I am running Homeassistant on a N100 Mini-PC in Proxmox. So in both cases I have to figure out how to route the USB through to the virtual maschine. Are both equally in compatability for this usecase?

Best regards

Home Assistant
Zigbee Home Automation

Instructions on how to integrate your Zigbee Home Automation (ZHA) devices within Home Assistant.

sour panther
forest dome
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I recommend an ethernet coordinator as it's much more flexible. Something like a SLZB-06 or SLZB-06M perhaps.

delicate juniper
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Don't buy the Plus v1, it has problems. Do see my recommendations pinned in #zigbee-archived

unkempt haven
unkempt haven
forest dome
# unkempt haven Interesting - never saw that before

I bought it because I have a cluster of virtual machine nodes and wanted to be able to access it from any other host.
It also has the benefit of being able to be powered via PoE, hence only needing a single network cable and I can theoretically mount it wherever I want.

forest dome
unkempt haven
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Big advantage of the LAN device is that I do not need to break my mind by routing USB hub into the VM, right?

forest dome
unkempt haven
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just place the thing next the the router or so and thats it

forest dome
unkempt haven
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well I am pretty new to all that VM stuff

forest dome
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Are you virtualizing on a dedicated PC or on your laptop/own PC?

unkempt haven
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I was annoyed of running 4 Pis in parallel 😄 so all of them were consumed by one Mini PC

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I am running a Mini PC with Proxmox

forest dome
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Ah, perfect. Proxmox VE is my recommendation and what I use to cluster. Passing through USB is extremely simple and reliable so that's not really a factor here.

unkempt haven
forest dome
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I picked the SLZB-06 because I use Zigbee2MQTT and didn't trust its EZSP/Ember driver. Nowadays both chips should work well with both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT but apparently the chip of the ZBT-1/E/M is more powerful.

unkempt haven
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That is confusing too - it seems that there are multiple options to use zigbee in Home Assistant

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I am using MQTT (self made stuff + Tasmota) and Homematic devices so far

forest dome
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Zigbee2MQTT is a separate software. ZHA is integrated into HA.

unkempt haven
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Ok- I usually want to keep complexity low in regards to my future self 😄 So going with ZHA seems the way to go, right?

forest dome
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I used Zigbee2mMQTT together with Node RED for quite a while before I even used HA and didn't see a point to switch.
A benefit is that it runs as separate software so it will not go down if you restart HA. Can't tell you much more as I don't use ZHA.

unkempt haven
forest dome
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The SLZBs can be used via USB too. It's probably more of a price or preference question.

unkempt haven
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Ooooh ok, the SLZB-06 is approx 3x the price

forest dome
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😮

unkempt haven
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nevermind, its the same - just difficult to find a reseller

forest dome
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I bought mine on aliexpress for 35.

unkempt haven
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with or without "m"?

forest dome
unkempt haven
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well then it would be SONOFF EFR32MG21 for approx. 25€, ZBT-1 for 46€ incl. shipping, or SLZB-06 for around 35€

forest dome
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You have to decide if the features are worth it to you. Being able to easily update the firmware from the web interface and having the ethernet functionality is enough for me.

unkempt haven
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I would see there an advantage of the ones with antenna cause I would reach the first Zigbee Device from a higher distance. Right? In case of the ZBT I may need to bridge with zigbee socket earlier. Right?

unkempt haven
forest dome
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I have conflicting thoughts about the usefulness of bigger antennas or higher power output.
For a proper mesh you should have ample routers and not rely on the coordinator being able to reach all your devices directly.

unkempt haven
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Holy smokes that slzb is really stunning 😄

forest dome
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I'm not a fan of the design to be honest.

unkempt haven
forest dome
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Doesn't matter though. It hangs at the ceiling mostly out of view in the worst place imaginable 😄

unkempt haven
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3D printed case could be a solution there

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but I would just slap it into the media chamber next to the router. There is an emty LAN socket

forest dome
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Note that if you don't use PoE you need more cables than with the ZBT-1. Pros and cons.

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Best to keep coordinators away from other devices and USB ports to avoid interference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHqZhNcFEvA
An elevated spot is a good choice.

YouTube
Home Assistant
Demo: Zigbee interference caused by USB 3.0

USB 3.0 can cause your Zigbee devices to fully stop functioning. In this video we show this by moving a Zigbee device and Zigbee adapter next to USB 3.0 port and cable.

The demo is done with a Home Assistant SkyConnect and IKEA Tradfri remote but this affects all Zigbee sticks and devices.

To avoid interference, use a shielded USB 2.0 extensio...

▶ Play video
unkempt haven
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ah and there are versions without POE

forest dome
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Yeah but for just 2$ dollar less it's a bad value. Having the PoE functionality makes it future proof and gives it flexibility. I'd absolutely recommend it.

unkempt haven
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thats the one with POE

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so I could just get the +m version and be good to go with matter if this is ready

forest dome
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Can't tell you much about matter as I don't use it yet.

unkempt haven
forest dome
unkempt haven
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ah and that is valid for the little USB device too

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my Mini Pc sits directly next to 2 NAS and a USB Backup harddrive

forest dome
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Yep. Your router can also interfere. I think ZHA is smart enough to suggest a channel which has the least interference though.

unkempt haven
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Also be sure not to position the adapter too close to any other radio transmitting devices (e.g. a Wi-Fi router)

😄

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well that is a big advantage of Homematic running on 868 Mhz - almost no intereferences to take care of

forest dome
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Z-Wave is similar in that aspect.

unkempt haven
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Its insanely cheap and there couldnt go much wrong 😄

forest dome
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No objections here.