Home Assistant SkyConnect, a Zigbee / Thread / Matter USB Stick for Home Assistant

The Home Assistant SkyConnect is designed to be a perfect match for Home Assistant Users. The device provides an easy connection with Zigbee and will support Matter specifications in the future with a firmware update from Home Assistant.

The product supports Over-The-Wire (OTW) Firmware Update via the USB interface, which allows easy and quick firmware updates for both protocols. The device is an EFR32 Series 2 (Silicon Labs EZSP v8) adapter that will transmit at a power of +20 dBm.

The drive supports full-speed USB 2.0 when plugged into the included USB extender.  Home Assistant will provide an Addon that will contact the Ember Stacks for Zigbee and Matter. Nabu casa will provide updates to the firmware on a consistent basis that will provide the best user experience from a Zigbee/Matter Adapter.

The USB Stick will be Plug and Play, tightly integrated with the Zigbee Home Automation integration allowing for a beginner-friendly experience. 

FEATURES: ● 2.4GHz Multi-Protocol USB Transceiver ● Zigbee/Thread/Matter ● USB v2.0 full-speed ● TX power up to +20dBm ● Silabs EFR32MG21 Wireless SoC ● Over-The-Wire (OTW) update support

Runs 2 Protocols Simultaneously ● Dual-Protocol operation (Zigbee, Matter) ● Made for Home Assistant, adaptable for any case ● Futureproof Wireless Transceiver ● Low-risk bundle device for Gateway

The hardware is based on a Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 SoC (the same chip used in Sonoff's ZBDongle-E type), an IEEE 802.15.4 multi-protocol 2.4GHz radio MCU, that is capable of concurrently running both Zigbee 3.0 (EmberZNet/EZSP) and Thread (OpenThread/Spinel inc. Matter/CHIP over Thread) stacks/protocols at the same time by using firmware in RCP RCP (Radio Co-Processor) mode. Direct local serial communication will be done via an onboard USB-to-UART bridge/converter (presumably a chip in Silicon Labs CP210x series).

Home Assistant / Nabu Casa team is also working on several add-ons that will also allow both these adapers to concurrently as Zigbee Coordinator and as an OpenThread Border Router (OTBR) for Thread-based Matter/CHIP-compatible devices (communicating locally over a USB-to-serial port using OpenThread RPC Spinel interface over UART. Silabs EmberZNet EZSP interfaces for Zigbee via the zigpy libraries will also enable support to the ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) integration out-of-the-box.

Specifications: ● Support for Zigbee, Matter, and Thread ● Over-the-wire (OTW) firmware updates ● USB v2.0 full-speed

Technical Specifications: ● Supply : 5V DC / up to 150mA ● USB: v2.0 full speed (12Mbps) ● Bridge: USB to UART, Silabs CP2102N

Mechanical Specifications:

● Dimensions (LxWxH) : approx. 38.5 x 18 x 4,5mm ● Weight: 4g

RF Specifications: ● Transceiver: Silabs EFR32MG21 ● Frequency: 2.4GHz ● Antenna: PCB ● TX Power : up to +20dBm ● RX sensitivity : -104dBm (250kbps) ● Protocols: Zigbee, Matter, Thread ● Stack: EmberZNet Serial Protocol (EZSP)

Technical data sheet