USB ZIGBEE ZI-STICK CONTROLLER - AEOTEC
By Aeotec
Your gateway to create your own Zigbee home automation box.
Aeotec finally releases its Zigbee controller
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Sommary
Ah Finally Aeotec releases its Zigbee 3.0 compatible dongle, this manufacturer of quality modules has decided to market a zigbee usb adapter zi-stick ZGA008 to the Silabs protocol with a Chipset almost similar to Skyconnect or Zbdongle-e. But it has the distinction of being the smallest efficient dongle on the market. You are of course even smaller than the Skyconnect provided by Home Assistant.
Unboxing
Nothing could be simpler: a beautiful blue box in the colors of the Aeotec brand** contains this micro zigbee dongle, it is carefully protected in a white box. Inside you will find instructions and a safety sheet.
nothing more, nothing less.
The zi-stick ZGA008 is currently the smallest zigbee dongle on the market, even smaller than the skyconnect, it has a white envelope with a flat face and a rounded back, very good quality manufacturing.
And a little photo of the back of the adapter zi-stick ZGA008
Integration into Zigbee2mqtt
the integration of the Aeotec dongle zi-stick ZGA008 was done without any problems in zigbee2mqtt, but there is still an error, z2m creates 2 bridges of the dongle in the app, which is strange but not redundant.
let me explain:
- the first bridge raises the connection sensor with v12 firmware
- the second shows all the operating functions of the dongle and a firmware different from the previous bridge.
View of bridge 1 created
Weird.
View of bridge 2 created
However, the integration of the modules is done without problems, so it is usable.
This error comes from zigbee2mqtt but I think it could come directly from the firmware injected into the key, an error is possible.
Integration into ZHA
Integration in ZHA poses no problem you simply need to select the destination of the /dev/ttyUSB0 key and the rest is done automatically.
Integrating a module is done without any difficulty the Aeotec key zi-stick ZGA008 and ZHA do the job.
You will be able to see by viewing the animated gif that the integration of the key in ZHA does not pose any resistance.
Technical characteristics zi-stick ZGA008
| Name | Zi-Stick |
| Model Number | ZGA008 |
| Chipset | EFR32MG21A020 |
| Product Weight | 3.5 g |
| Total Package Weight | 21.5 g |
| Product Dimensions | 37 x 17 x 8.5 mm |
| Package Dimensions | 50 x 65 x 20 mm |
| Zigbee Chip | EFR32MG21 |
| Zigbee Version | Zigbee 3.0 |
| Zigbee Frequency | 2.4 GHz |
| Other protocols | Can be updated to a Thread Stick through Firmware Update to control Thread Matter-based devices. |
| Power Supply | USB DC 4.75V to 5.25V |
| Sensitivity of the RF receiver TX Power | +20 dBm |
| RX sensitivity | -99 dBm |
| Recommended host current | 50mA |
| Known compatibilities | Tested to be compatible with Raspberry Pi / Orange Pi / BeagleBone Tested to be compatible with Windows 10/11 OS Tested to be compatible with Linux OS Tested to be compatible with OSX OS |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C / 40°F to 104°F |
| Storage Temperature | -20 C to 70 C / -4°F to 158°F |
| Operating Distance | 200m max distance (open air) |
product advantages zi-stick ZGA008
- the price less than €30
- zigbee 3.0 compatible
- Z2M compatible
- ZHA home assistant compatible
- openhab compatible
- the size
the - of the product zi-stick ZGA008
- No information regarding firmware update
- perfectible integration in Zigbee2mqtt
- limited compatibility
Conclusion
Here is a dongle that looks great, Aeotec stands out for the quality of its products and the zi-stick ZGA008 adapter is one of them. The firmware update is not yet available but there is no doubt that it will be the case in the coming weeks and I will keep you informed. If the size criterion is important to you then this dongle will hold a place of first choice.
Or you prefer to donate money to the nabu casa foundation by investing in Home assistant’s skyconnect which has similar characteristics for a similar price.
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