I have a robust Z-Wave network, but now I need to add a device that doesn’t exist in Z-Wave form: A canopy ceiling fan controller.
I don’t want to add Zigbee to my setup, and Matter seems to be the future, so I’ve set my sights on this Inovelli device.
So help me, HA gurus: What is the minimum hardware I need to add to my setup for this? It seems like I need a Thread hub, but I don’t want any cloud-based device from Google or Apple. I’m fine with running it over IPv6 wi-fi.
Is there a local-only solution that will work with HA?
It’s Matter over Thread, and needs a Thread border router to function.
If you want to put on a tinfoil hat, you can buy the HA Zigbee dongle and configure it for Thread/Matter instead to keep everything 100% under your control.
Personally, since I’m already sporting an iPhone and Apple TV, I just bought a $99 HomePod mini that I tucked into a corner and don’t even use as a speaker. The Thread/Matter gateway stuff is 100% local on Apple devices, so it doesn’t need a cloud connection once configured.
Those in the Android or Amazon ecosystems will find similar functionality in some of those products, but I have never used them and won’t comment on the privacy.
FWIW, my pre-ordered original Inovelli Thread/Matter switch has been running 100% flawlessly with this setup since launch day…
I also use Apple TV + HomePods mini for TBRs because I already had them, and they work well. While these need cloud access for some functions (e.g. voice control, streaming), they don’t require it for Thread routing.
There are other, cheaper options for TBRs. You can get the GL.iNet GL-S20 for under $50 right now, which has PoE, or the (wifi-only) barebones board it uses for around $20, both of which are standalone OTBR devices. Popular dongles like ZBT-1 and SZLB-xxx go for around $30-45 but require the OTBR container/add-on software running on a server (e.g. HAOS). As a “bare minimum” I got a esp32-h2 dev board for $5 and flashed it with “Thread RCP” firmware, which functions the same as a dongle.
Since TBRs are just network routers, there is very little for HA to participate in their configuration or control, so basically any vendor “works” with HA, while OTBR-based routers with a REST API endpoint can be lightly configured by a HA integration.
For all routers you need to either (a) commission new devices to the native (Apple/Google/Amazon) Matter fabric first, then share it to HA, or (b) sync the credentials to the HA mobile companion app (iCloud keychain / Google Play Service) on your phone to commission devices directly to the HA Matter fabric. The end result is the same. There is an option for server-only commissioning for advanced users.
I think you are confusing Matter and Thread. Matter is a protocol and it can be sent over either WiFi or Thread networks. Thread networks are very much like Zigbee networks in that they are a mesh. WiFi uses Access Points.
So what is the minimum to get into Matter? A working HA with Matter and a WiFi router and a Matter over WiFi device.
But if you want Matter over Thread, then you need a “border router" that bridges Thread to IP. Apple makes one and I think you can buy a dual protocol Zigbee/Thread dongle here: Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 - Home Assistant
After reading that (and further investigation), my conclusion is that Matter-over-Thread is bullshit: Add and maintain a third mesh network to my house, this one fighting for the same frequencies as wi-fi? No thanks!
Straight-up Matter products that can use my exising wi-fi network are interesting, but seem fairly thin on the ground ATM…
You can do it but it just might make no difference
If your matter devices are connected to ha (matter server) it will deligate the device attestation from the cloud to “your” device. So you might disable internet for HA - but then you are probably not able to commission any new matter device (which requires to connect to the “mother ship” DCL to allow using “your” device).
You might modify the the matter server/controller (probably loosing certification - whatever difference it makes) like described in this thread
