Frédéric Dubois, aka fairecasoimeme, has recently released ZiGate-Ethernet, an home automation gateway based on Espressif Systems ESP32 wireless SoC with Ethernet, WiFi, and Bluetooth LE connectivity.
The gateway can also take an optional PiZiGate+ Zigbee module for support for a wider range of home automation gizmos, and everything is designed to fit in the official Raspberry Pi 4 enclosure.
ZiGate-Ethernet specifications:
- Wireless module – ESP32-WROOM-32E with ESP32 dual-core processor, 16MB flash, PCB antenna
- Connectivity
- 10/100M Ethernet RJ45 port implemented through LAN8720 as on several other ESP32 Ethernet boards
- 2.4GHz WiFI 4
- Bluetooth LE 4.2/5.x
- Zigbee through PiZiGate+ module with PCB antenna or optional external antenna
- USB – Micro USB port for power and programming
- Expansion – 16-pin GPIO header with up to 10x GPIO, 7x ADC, UART, 5V, 3.3V, and GND
- Misc- Reset and Flash button, ESP32/FTDI UART selection switch,
- Power Supply – 5V/500mA via micro USB port
- Dimensions – 85 × 55 × 15 mm
- Weight – 50 grams
- Temperature Range – 0°C – 60°C
An Arduino sketch setting up a web interface for configuration and access to the console can be found on Github, and you’ll get more detailed documentation to get started on Zigate website.
Many CNX Software readers may already use Tasmota software, and the good news is that it can also be installed on the platform, which should not be surprising as we’ve previously seen Tasmota support on Sonff Zigbee Bridge (ESP8266 based), aka Sonoff ZBBridge. ESPHome (for ZBBridge) should also be supported, but the installation instructions may come a little later. Either Tasmota or ESPHome firmware will enable integration with Home Assistant.
The Zigate-Ethernet board is sold for 49 Euros inc. VAT on Zigate.fr online store, with PiZiGate+ Zigbee module adding another 24 Euros, and an external antenna an extra 6 Euros.
Thanks to Hedda for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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Interesting, but pretty expensive for what it is.
In comparison to the $20 Olimex ESP32-POE (not isolated, but includes PoE, and battery charging capabilities), or $27 ESP32-POE-ISO (similar, but isolated). And equally capable of adding a Zigbee transceiver on top. https://www.olimex.com/Products/IoT/ESP32/
Also, much more compact, even if you can’t just go to your local Pi retailer and buy a case for it.
Still waiting for APR brother to release the nrf52840 (or nrf52820, or nrf52833) version of their gateway https://blog.aprbrother.com/product/ab-ble-gateway-4-0 (currently using an nrf52832, so only BLE, no Zigbee or Thread). ESP32, WiFi, Ethernet, POE, nrf52, about $40 all packaged in a clean box with external antenna, it would be perfect with Zigbee support. They should probably also add a few pins for direct access to the GPIOs of each of the two chips.
Yeah, that would be a pretty sweet combination – ESP32 + nRF52840.
Or ESP32 + EFRxxx for Zigbee, would also work well.
Since the ESP32 essentially only provide a serial-to-ip proxy server functionality this should in theory also work with other Zigbee HATs/shields for Raspberry Pi, like the Elelabs shield, RaspBee HAT by Dresden Elektronik, and ZigStar shield, or others too
Guess that it should also work with Z-Wave shields and others using GPIO serial interface
Maybe the new ESP32-H2 can be used in future releases. That already includes thread and zigbee protocol.
But no Wi-Fi and no Ethernet… You would need two ESP32s to have both.
At this rate, it would seem to be cheaper and would definitely be simpler.
(that is, to have two of them)
Espressif have only mentioned Zigbee for ESP32-H2 but there is no Zigbee SDK, code or libraries for it as or yet.
It looks like they will focus on Thread first and then we have to wait and see if they ever actually support Zigbee
Good work! Well done for getting it out there!