Possible solution for HA Yellow Users: enabling Thread support

Configuration Matter/Thread
1

Like many of you, I have struggled with getting devices to connect to Matter. I was originally on the docker version, but I moved to HA Yellow recently. I expected to immediately have the Matter connection issues fixed, but I kept having issues. I read every article and blog post and watched every YouTube video I could.

Then, deep in a forum post, I came upon a suggestion to configure the Yellow for thread (Enabling Thread). Since I use Zigbee2MQTT, I was not concerned about losing Zigbee connectivity to the Yellow. I followed the instructions, and Thread was enabled.

I then went back to add a Matter device (the Aqara U200), and it added in about 5 seconds. It had been timing out, failing to add device, etc., for at least a month. I tried Aqara to HA, Aqara to HomeKit then to HA, etc. I was only able to get as far as Aqara to HomeKit, but I could never connect the device to HA.

The solution was not obvious to me, so I am passing it along to anyone who may find it helpful. Best of luck!

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2

Many thanks ! I don’t have a Matter device yet but good to know.
What will happen to my Zigbee devices if I delete ZHA ?

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If you are using ZHA, you won’t be able to access the Zigbee devices. You need to use Zigbee2MQTT in its place. Apparently the developers tried to include both thread and Zigbee on the same chip, but it was unstable so you have to choose.

I have used both ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT, and I have found the latter to be more stable end to pick up devices that ZHA can’t seem to join.

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You can also use ZHA with an external Zigbee dongle like the Connect ZBT-1.

However, if you are using the Yellow’s internal radio for ZHA already, I would go the other way around and add a second radio (again, like the Connect ZBT-1) and configure that one for Thread (see this guide).

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Yes, excellent point on the external zigbee dongle. Can you tell me why you’d go the other way around as you noted? (Curious, not criticizing)