Hi folks. I am a newbie to HA but have been watching it for a long while whilst struggling with some Smartthings Zigbee device integration. I have just installed my first instance of HA on a Zotac mini PC and now need to install a zigbee coordinator. I wavered between HA ZBT-1 and Sonoff ZZBDongle-E but eventually went for the Sonoff as it has the Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 chip which has dual protocol support. I am aware this is unsupported and I don’t intend to flash the device yet, but perhaps in the future it might be an option. However I need to decide which of ZHA or 2MQTT is best to support my devices. I have some Aurora sockets and lights dimmers and Sonoff light switches and power relays but also a number of Aqara window and door sensors. A couple of these seem to drop of my network regularly as does a Heiman smoke detector but this might be because it routes via a Sonoff relay as a router. Will ZHA play nice with the Aqara and Heiman devices? As a newbie I think ZHA might be a better starting point as its built in but I would appreciate some advice
Aqara and Sonoff will work with both ZHA and Z2M.
You can check compatibility of your other devices here: Database of Zigbee devices compatible with ZHA, Tasmota, Zigbee2MQTT, deCONZ, ZiGate and ioBroker find your device and click on it to see which systems it works with. Use your web browser’s find (ctrl + F) to speed things up, the list is long. Or use the search: https://zigbee.blakadder.com/search.html
@tom_l has the right answer.
But to the bigger question of where to start with Zigbee, I always think of ZHA as the “base” level. It’s built in to HA and works out of the box with no additional components to add (or learn, or maintain going forward.)
Z2M seems to me (as a non-user) as the more advanced option, for when ZHA can’t do what you need. So far I haven’t found that situation, but I’ve read here that some of the more complex functionality is better supported in ZTM. So it seems to me the best approach is to try ZHA and move to Z2M if it doesn’t meet your needs.
A bit pedantic, but Zigbee is the protocol and ZHA and Z2M are just integrations. Zigbee will be exactly the same whichever integration you choose.
The difference is entirely a matter of personal preference. As @CaptTom says, ZHA is built in and works out of the box. Z2M may be better if you like tinkering and may also have better support for some problem devices. They have a list - check first:
Many thanks that’s good to know you can search for supported hardware. I’ll look through the list(s)
Thats what I had sort of come to the conclusion. however support of my hardware was the deciding factor. If my Aquara and Heiman devices are supported im good to go with ZHA.
[quote=“jackjourneyman, post:4, topic:886253”]
A bit pedantic, but Zigbee is the protocol and ZHA and Z2M are just integrations.
[/quote] Thank you. you are of course correct but assumed there were differences that might make a difference, the same way hardware manufacturers adhere or not to Zigbee standards. For example I have heard anecdotally Aqara don’t closely follow the standards. Thanks for the link
I have a couple of dozen different Zigbee devices. I never looked at the compatability list, I just plugged them in and pair then using ZHA. I have yet to be disappointed. Manufacturers are adding devices almost daily so if you get something working that isn’t on the list, there is an “Add Device” button on the Black Adder website.
Generally, if the manufacturer is on the list, the odds are very good that the device will work even if the device isn’t.
I have an Aqara Roller Blind device that works perfectly with ZHA over a Sonoff Dongle-E.
I’m also using Philips Hue and Clipsal Wiser without any issues.