Connecting Zigbee Devices to Home Assistant: My Gateway Recommendation

Connecting Zigbee Devices to Home Assistant: My Gateway Recommendation

When it comes to integrating Zigbee devices with Home Assistant, having a reliable gateway is crucial. Unlike Wi-Fi devices that can connect directly to your home network, Zigbee devices require a dedicated hub to communicate with your Home Assistant setup. This is non-negotiable – without a Zigbee hub, you won’t be able to control your Zigbee devices.

There are generally two types of Zigbee hubs. The first kind is typically manufactured by companies like Tuya, which produce a wide range of other affordable smart home devices. These hubs are usually paired with an app like the Smart Life app and they connect to your Wi-Fi network. Once paired, you use the app to add and manage any Zigbee devices, such as sensors or buttons (For readers who want to dig deeper here – The Tuya hub securely—hopefully—communicates with Tuya’s own servers over the cloud, and with your mobile app, you connect to those same servers. You send and receive commands to the hub through that connection, while the hub relays everything needed to and from the Zigbee smart devices in your home). While this setup works fine within the Smart Life ecosystem, it’s not recommended for Home Assistant users. The main issue with this type of hub is that Home Assistant won’t be able to control the Zigbee devices connected to it.

What you really want is the second type of Zigbee hub: one that connects directly to your Home Assistant machine, typically via USB. These hubs plug into your Home Assistant computer or Raspberry Pi and are recognized directly by the Zigbee Home Assistant integration (ZHA). With this setup, you can manage all your Zigbee devices directly within Home Assistant, bypassing third-party apps like Smart Life. To my knowledge, no solution exists that allows Zigbee devices to appear in both the Smart Life app and Home Assistant, so it’s important to choose the right type of hub.

With that in mind, I’ve had experience with several Zigbee hubs, and my personal favorite is the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1, originally called SkyConnect before its name change. This tiny dongle connects directly to your Home Assistant machine and works flawlessly with both PC and Raspberry Pi (I’ve tried both setups).

Why I Use Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1

The Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 is a compact and efficient solution for connecting Zigbee devices to Home Assistant. Here are some reasons why I prefer it:

  1. Ease of Use: Setting it up is a breeze. Simply plug it into your Home Assistant machine, and you’re ready to start pairing your Zigbee devices.
  2. Compatibility: It works seamlessly with both PCs and Raspberry Pi, making it a versatile option regardless of your Home Assistant setup.
  3. Reliability: I’ve found it to be incredibly reliable, with stable connections and minimal drop-offs. This is essential for maintaining a smooth smart home experience.
  4. Manufactured by Nabu Casa: The Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 is made by Nabu Casa, the founders of Home Assistant. This means the same company is responsible for both the hardware and software, ensuring ideal compatibility. In the Zigbee world, where devices often come from various manufacturers with varying adherence to standards, this is a significant advantage.

Important Tip: Use the USB Extension Cable

One crucial tip that is often mentioned but worth repeating: do not plug the dongle directly into the USB port. Instead, use the USB extension cable that comes with the package. This helps to minimize digital noise from the USB port, ensuring better performance and reliability. I’ve followed this advice, and it has made a noticeable difference in the stability of my Zigbee network.

Personal Experience

When I first set up my Home Assistant system, I was using a Raspberry Pi, and the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 (SkyConnect) performed admirably. Pairing Zigbee devices was straightforward, and the range was impressive. I later upgraded to a PC-based setup, and the transition was seamless. The dongle continued to deliver excellent performance, proving its versatility across different hardware.

One of the standout features for me is the consistent and reliable connection it provides. Whether it’s my motion sensors, door sensors, or vibration sensors, they all connect smoothly and maintain a stable connection. This reliability is critical for automations, especially for security-related tasks.

Overall, the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 has been a game-changer for my smart home setup. Before using Home Assistant I had my Zigbee devices connected through a Tuya gateway and switching to Home Assistant made a huge difference. It offers a hassle-free way to integrate Zigbee devices with Home Assistant, ensuring a smooth and efficient smart home experience.


If you’re looking to purchase the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1, you can find it on Aliexpress here.

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7 Comments

  1. Idan Givati

    Does the ZBT-1 work as a transmitter/receiver for the devices? If so – I guess it should be located at a central location in the house? Can you please elaborate about locations, distances and reception for both zigby and wifi?
    Thank you!

    1
    • Dr.Mor

      Sure thing! Yes, the ZBT-1 is the zigbee equivalent to your wifi router, that’s the device that’s going to communicate with your zigbee devices. If possible, depending on your home layout, placing it (and therefore your Home Assistant computer) in a central location could be a good idea. However, and I explain this in a later post, Zigbee network works as a mesh, where each mains connected device (wall switches, plugs, bulbs) serve as repeaters, similar to mesh units in Wifi. Over time your network will have so many of these “routers” that the location of the first one won’t matter that much. In addition to that, you could also add dedicated zigbee “repeaters” that extend the network even more. So bottom line, you can start with a central location, but after a while it won’t matter much.

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