Yellow + Sky connect = ZigBee + Matter?

Configuration Zigbee
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Hello smart guys,
I just bought my 3rd matter compatible device. I am looking for solution to have matter border server. The issue is I have ZHA on my ha yellow installed. We all know you can really use both of the protocols on one device without issues.

Q: if I’ll buy Sky connect and set it to matter, will it work together with ZigBee installed on my Yellow?

Thank you,
Michal, Slovakia

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Hi Michal,

  • Yellow includes the same Silicon Labs radio chipset that a a Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 contains, but multi-protocol (Thread + Zigbee) support hit hardware issues so is unreliable attemppting both (Thread + Zigbee), and worse, a manufacturing partner hit a bad batch of voltage regulators (so you can’t currently buy one).

  • You could use the internal Yellow Sil Labs radio for Zigbee (via ZHA), and a USB ZBT-1 for Thread, but it’s probably better to buy any other Thread Border Router (router between Thread radio and IPv6) like a Google Nest Hub, several Amazon Alexa devices or some Apple devices. Thread and Matter support many Thread Border Routers, and HA can speak to them all (either via Matter or via a hardware Thread radio as a TBR).

Q: if I’ll buy Sky connect and set it to matter, will it work together with ZigBee installed on my Yellow?
A: Zigbee and Thread are different protocols. HA will work with Zigbee (internal radio set to Zigbee), Thread (USB ZHA-1 set to Thread) and Matter (Ethernet), but I’d suggest it is more cost effective to buy any other device(s) that act as Thread Border Routers, and get HA to use them to connect to Thread.

If this helps, :heart: this post!

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Thanks for your quick reply.
I was thinking to buy Aqara M3, but it costs 110€.

I want to reduce the number of the gateways in my home, but it will be hard probably. (Using Xiaomi GW, Ikea GW). Is it a good idea to move all the ZB devices to HA?

M

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Is it a good idea to move all the ZB devices to HA?

If things are working for you with an external GW, then that’s fine.

I use the internal Sil Labs radio in a Yellow for Zigbee + ZHA (Zigbee → Yellow → HA), and several Google Nest Hub devices as TBRs to give Thread coverage across the home (Thread → Nest Hub → Matter IPv6 → Yellow → HA) . That also works.

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Okay,
My wife dont like the devices which are listening (Yes, I know, phones :smiley: ).
Setup idea:

  • ZigBee on the stick - Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 (which I already have) with ZHA
  • Thread on Yellow
  • Bluetooth on RPi CM4 module
    Will there be no problems with the frequencies?

Thanks,
Michal

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Hi,
The Nest hub devices with screens have hardware switches to turn the mic + camera OFF, and they work well with HA media chromecasting - e.g. show a whole HA dashboard on the screen, with full touch control.

Can’t comment on regional frequency differences, but I’ve almost got the reverse - cheap USB BT stick, Zigbee on Yellow, but Z-Wave on the other USB port.

Oh, and for a coordinator on a USB extension cable is good…

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So I will buy SLZB-07p7 and will flash it to Thread. I will be using it on the cable, to have less interferences.
Hopefully it will work asi I want.
Thank you,
Michal

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