The Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 dongle is the latest USB radio adapter that aims to simplify your smart-home setup by replacing a bunch of different hubs. The idea is that too many people have too many apps and too many boxes. This dongle plugs into your Home Assistant system and gives you Zigbee or Thread connectivity from one device.
Under the hood, it’s a serious upgrade from the older ZBT-1 model. It is based on the Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 (Series 2) multi-protocol wireless system on chip, which the manufacturer claims has four times the internal speed of the earlier model. It is also equipped with an Espressif ESP32-S3, i.e. it can run custom code, or be capable of running on-board processing should you desire to go even deeper.
As a user, it is rather straightforward. All one has to do is connect it to a free USB port on your Home Assistant server and use the configuration wizard to build a new Zigbee network or a Thread network. It is compatible with ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) or Zigbee2MQTT, or Open Thread Border Router. The makers also say it can stand in for hubs from big brands like Philips, IKEA, Aqara, Sonoff, etc.
One important caveat: you can’t use both Zigbee and Thread at the same time with this dongle. Although the hardware might technically be capable, Home Assistant tested multi-protocol and found it led to stability issues, so they recommend one dongle per protocol.
Previously, we explored several products, including the XIAO Wi-Fi AC Energy Meter, the Waveshare MK10 macro keyboard, and the M5Stack Cardputer ADV, all of which integrate seamlessly with Home Assistant.
Currently, the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 dongle is available for about $49. You can find it through global retailers like Seeed Studio, Apollo Automation, and Ameridroid. Shoppers in India might have to place global orders, since there are few locally available, and are likely to incur the added cost of conducting business by shipping and importation. For more information, you can check out the official product page.
Sayantan Nandy