Hey! I recently started to use HA with my new server my question would be that I have an Ikea Dirigera Hub which is supposed to handle zigbee and matter devices at the same time according to their description. I want to setup Aqara Switch H2 downstairs where my server is sitting, but my hub is upstairs, do i need a dongle in my server to extend the network? Also what Dongle would u recommend to use and can handle both matter and zigbee network?
#Matter/Zigbee network
limpid sun
fierce aspen
Hey! I recently started to use HA with my new server my question would be that I...
so in this case when you say "matter" you are referring to "matter-over-thread"
if you add adaptor's to your server for zigbee and thread then they will be running the network which you will need to pair the devices to instead of the hub which would become not-needed
I don't know the specifics on if you can connect non-ikea stuff to the ikea hub
there is a custom integration on HACS which can connect to the hub. HOWEVER it appears to not be actively maintained... BUT there is a fork which seems to be more up to date and may be a better option to use by adding that custom repo into hacs.
boreal socket
the ikea dirigera hub works as a thread border router, so you should be able to use it to connect matter over thread devices (like the aqara switch h2 in matter mode) to home assistant without needing any extra dongles.
but if you have problems with signal due to range… the options are either to add some more repeater devices (e.g. smart bulbs or smart plugs) of the same network type (i.e. thread), or to add a radio dongle to home assistant and turn home assistant into a second thread border router.
there's lots of radio dongles available that support either thread or zigbee, but not both at the same time. If you want both, the recommended way to do that is to get two dongles, one for each protocol. The home assistant ZBT-2 works, other options include the smlight slzb-7, sonoff ZBDongle-E, etc.
limpid sun
Thanks for the help, I was trying that integration but it didn't work as I expected, so I paired the hub via HA matter server and now my STYRBAR's all button can be referenced, the integration had problems with this and always sent event with button1 although i pressed other buttons also
Now I guess I don't even need the Ikea's app to add devices in the future, i'll get the switch and i'll see if the range is a problem or not
i'm also thinking, do I need zigbee? It's a matured ecosystem and I might not find something with matter. Do you have this fear, are you all on mater/zigbee or have 2 network setup as well?
upbeat phoenix
I only have ZigBee and very happy. No plans to use Matter, I think it's immature and not necessary at the moment for me
boreal socket
If all of your zigbee devices are used via the dirigera hub (which can act as a matter bridge to share the devices with home assistant), and you're happy with the functionality that provides, there's no reason to get a zigbee dongle for ha.
with mesh networks like zigbee or thread, it usually is better to try to stick to just one network, since devices on one network can't act as mesh relays for another network.
limpid sun
Yeah i get that they are different, but for example I also want a humidity sensor but unfortunately Thread devices are way more expensive than zigbee devices, what I want to understand, if I get a zigbee dongle and a thread dongle for the server itself, both network will be extended by the dirigera hub? or only the thread?
boreal socket
zigbee networks can only have one coordinator. If you get a zigbee dongle for HA, it will be a completely separate zigbee network from the one on the dirigera (no relaying between them).
however, thread can have multiple border routers on the same network, so a HA dongle can extend the same thread network
limpid sun
so one zigbee network upstairs and one downstairs, while thread will be the same, is that a good setup?
boreal socket
i'd recommend sticking to only one zigbee network
either keep everything on the dirigera, or get a zigbee dongle for HA and move all the zigbee devices to HA
limpid sun
i'm afraid because of the range only, how strong are the dongles?
upbeat phoenix
i'm afraid because of the range only, how strong are the dongles?
Any ZigBee device connected to a main acts as a repeater
So you can expand the ZigBee net simply using some ZigBee smartplugs
limpid sun
yes but the dongle downstairs and the device upstairs is not that good i guess
upbeat phoenix
Put one in between 😅
limpid sun
The setup of the house don't really allow it 😄
boreal socket
just try to get a device as close as possible in the downstairs and it'll probably be fine, zigbee does go through walls/floors at least somewhat.
you could also consider using a device like the SLZB-06 series which lets you put the zigbee radio somewhere separate from the home assistant machine (connected over ethernet, or wifi i guess)
those aren't generally recommended for thread - some people have run into stability problems with the thread radio being connected with serial over lan
limpid sun
i'll use the dirigera as the zigbee controller for now and if i want something downstairs i'll reconsider
but i'll get a thread dongle at least i think
What do you think about the Aqara hub m100?
boreal socket
i personally wouldn't recommend the aqara hubs unless you plan to use aqara zigbee devices via the hub, since they tend to have a bunch of proprietary extensions. (but even then, ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT do support some of the aqara extensions when you connect devices directly to HA)
and where possible i prefer to use thread border routers with an ethernet connection rather than wifi :)
limpid sun
This one is a dongle not a full hub
boreal socket
m100 is a hub, not a dongle. It only uses the usb port for power.
limpid sun
I would use as thread border router btw
boreal socket
it would probably work for that, but it does it over wifi and i prefer using wired lan when possible. You might need to use the aqara app to load thread credentials onto your phone so you can commission devices, since HA won't be able to talk to the thread border router directly.