Need help regarding hardware.

[maiden thistle]

Im completely new to smart devices over all and i need some help.

I will be using Thread/Matter smart devices in the future so i was thinking i would set it up on my PC. As i understand it i need to connect a dongle or something to the pc for Matter Radio Waves. What product do i need? Or is there a better way to do it.

Thanks in advance!

[abstract hazel]

Hi, some reason for not using ZigBee? It needs a little of setup, but once done, works perfect

[maiden thistle]

Planning on using the new Google Home Gemini Speaker to control everything when it releases. It supports both matter and acts as a Thread border router. So im looking to use my PC meanwhile.

[abstract hazel]

Wait to see it working. Don't buy promises 😉

And maybe once you try Home Assistant won't go to Google ecosystem 😉

That said, I don't use Matter devices yet because ZigBee and Bluetooth and some WiFi Tasmota plugs works fine for me

IKEA is going to sell Matter devices in a few months, maybe then there's a good reason to enter that path

[maiden thistle]

Yes, im completely new and don't have any of the smart devices yet so i don't want to buy zigbee only devices that wont work with matter/thread. Planning for the future

So yes, i want to use Home Assistant for now but using Thread/Matter, mabey i will keep using it alongside the speaker when it releases depending on how good it is.

[abstract hazel]

The principal advantage of the ZigBee devices is that work locally

No brand dependencies

Matter was the promise, but as of today...

[maiden thistle]

Im not trying to argue over what is best or what is the future, im just looking for what dongle i can plug into my pc to connect with matter devices.

[abstract hazel]

I'm sorry, can't help with that

[kind oriole]

It sounds like you want something like https://sonoff.tech/en-us/products/sonoff-zigbee-thread-usb-dongle-dongle-plus-mg24 but I haven't personally used it and can't comment on its reliability