home assistant News - CNX Software - Embedded Systems News

January 6, 2025January 6, 2025 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

ZigEasy GEX is a series of ZigBee 3 & DigiMesh coordinators powered by the XBee 3 and XBee SX 868 modules

ZigEasy GEX Zigbee DigiMesh coordinators

The ZigEasy GEX series is a lineup of Zigbee / DigiMesh coordinators and Ethernet gateways based on Digi International’s XBee 3 and XBee SX 868 modules. These devices connect a ZigBee or DigiMesh network to a local Ethernet network or the internet. This makes it easier to create a robust Zigbee/DigiMesh network that can send and receive data from servers. The GEX2400 and GEX2400S devices integrate the Digi XBee3 module which supports Zigbee, 802.15.4, DigiMesh, and BLE and is configured directly with the XCTU software (USB or TCP/IP). The Digi SX 868 module on the GEX868 and GEX868S coordinators only supports DigiMesh. The “S” models include TLS 1.2 and AES-256 encryption for secure internet communication and are ideal for use cases that require internet access. These ZigEasy GEX Zigbee / DigiMesh coordinators can be used in mesh networks for smart homes, monitoring weather conditions, and tracking agricultural data. They can […]

December 31, 2024January 2, 2025 by Debashis Das - 1 Comment

GGBEE RMW002 WiFi AC smart switch supports Alexa, Google Assistant, and Cozy Life app

The GGBEE RMW002 is a mini WiFi AC smart switch designed to make your appliances smarter. It supports a voltage range of 100-240V AC and a maximum current of 16A/20A. With built-in WiFi, the switch connects to the Cozy Life app for easy remote control of your appliances. It also supports voice commands through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant allowing for hands-free operation. Additional features include group control, countdown timers, and dual-control wiring options. The device has very similar from-factor and features to that of a SONOFF ZBMINIR2 or SONOFF MINI Extreme (MINIR4M) but there are significant price differences if you are comparing the RMW002 to any SONOFF devices since the GGBEE switch is quite cheaper. GGBEE RMW002 specifications: SoC – Boufallo Lab BL602 32-bit RISC-V wireless SoC Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi 4 via BL602 Input Voltage range – 100-240V AC (50/60Hz) Max Current: 16A or 20A depending on […]

December 20, 2024December 19, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

$59 Voice “Preview Edition” adds an offline smart speaker to your Home Assistant server

Nabu Casa has just launched the Home Assistant Voice Preview Edition, a little ESP32 device with an XMOS XU316 audio processor, a dual-microphone array, an internal speaker, and a 3.5mm audio jack, that adds offline smart speaker functions to your Home Assistant server through WiFi. If your Home Assistant server is powerful enough, voice processing will be done directly on your local hardware using Home Assistant Voice software, but with lower-end hardware like a Raspberry Pi 4, audio processing can be done via a privacy-focused cloud instead. The solution also supports expansion thanks to a Grove connector on the bottom of the device. Voice Preview Edition specifications: SoC – Espressif ESP32-S3 dual-core Xtensa LX7 @ up to 240 MHz with vector extension for ML acceleration, 2.4 GHz WiFi & Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity Memory- 8 MB octal PSRAM Storage – 16 MB flash Audio DSP/Processor – XMOS XU316 with 16 […]

December 18, 2024December 17, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 3 Comments

LG opens the ThinQ API for Smart Home devices

LG Electronics (LG) has fully opened its ThingQ API for its Smart Home platform to enable developers to integrate their solutions with compatible LG appliances. The release covers both the API for individual users and corporate users. The ThinQ API for individual users supports the control and monitoring of AI appliances registered in the LG ThinQ app. It allows users to create customized Smart Home applications, for example, the popular Home Assistant home automation framework can already connect and control 26 types of LG AI appliances including refrigerators, water heaters, and washing machines. I can see the community has been working on LG ThinQ integration well before the release of the full release of the API, but maybe LG saw this and completly released the API to ease the work of developers. There are four main ThingQ APIs for individuals: Device API – Used to request ThinQ device information and […]

December 17, 2024December 16, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

Hornet Nest Alarm Panel – An Home Assistant-compatible, ESP32 home security automation platform with PoE and 42-zone support (Crowdfunding)

Hornet Nest home security panel in operation

The Hornet Nest Alarm Panel is a customizable, ESP32-based alarm control system designed and produced by US-based Technology Automation Consulting for home security automation. The device is powered by the wESP32 Ethernet board with PoE support and is compatible with Home Assistant through the ESPHome firmware. It features up to forty-two optoisolated zones, six MOSFET-controlled outputs, and six additional trigger outputs for 3.3V devices. It integrates a piezo buzzer and supports add-ons like a Wiegand keypad and water leak sensors. The Hornet Nest Alarm ESP32-based home security platform “aims to bridge the gap between traditional wired security systems and the flexibility of modern smart home automation.” Christopher Greenless of Technology Automation Consulting says the project was born from his need for a robust and smart security system to integrate with his Home Assistant setup. Proprietary solutions were inadequate and limited while DIY options were inefficient and often unreliable. He created […]

December 16, 2024December 16, 2024 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 2 Comments

Pico W5 is a Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W alternative with RP2350 MCU, dual-band WiFi 4, 8MB flash

The Pico W5 is a Raspberry Pi RP2350 development board providing an alternative to the official Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W with dual-band (2.4GHz/5GHz) WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity through a B&T BW16 wireless module. Besides dual-band WiFi, there are a few other small changes compared to the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W, including a USB Type-C connector, a larger 8MB flash, and a Reset button. As far as I know, it’s the first RP2350 board with 5GHz WiFi, as other RP2350 boards with WiFi, such as the Challenger+ RP2350 WiFi6/BLE5 and Pimoroni Pico Plus 2 W, only support 2.4GHz WiFi. Pico W5 specifications: SoC – Raspberry Pi RP2350 CPU Dual-core Arm Cortex-M33 @ 150 MHz with Arm Trustzone, Secure boot and Dual-core RISC-V Hazard3 @ 150 MHz Only two cores can be used at any given time Memory – 520 KB on-chip SRAM Security 8KB of anti-fuse OTP […]

December 12, 2024December 17, 2024 by Debashis Das - 5 Comments

ESP32-C3-based 2-channel Wi-Fi AC relay support energy monitoring with Home Assistant

Seed Studio 2 Channel Wi Fi AC Relay Module

Seeed Studio has recently launched a 2-channel Wi-Fi AC relay built around the XIAO ESP32C3 WiFI and Bluetooth module. The device is a simple WiFi relay module that can control two independent 100-240V AC appliances and is designed to be compatible with both Home Assistant with ESPHome firmware flashed by default. The device also features a built-in BL0942 power meter with a maximum load capacity of 2400W at 240V for real-time and historical energy consumption monitoring. These features make this device suitable for applications such as energy tracking and remote control of appliances. Seeed Studio 2-channel Wi-Fi AC relay specifications: MCU – XIAO ESP32-C3 with ESP32-C3 WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5.x RISC-V microcontroller, USB-C port (unused here) Wireless connectivity – 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Relay channels – 2 independent channels Power Input terminals – Neutral (N), Live (L) Input voltage – 100-240V AC, 50/60Hz Output terminals Channel 1: N1 (Neutral), L1 (Live) […]

December 4, 2024December 28, 2024 by Paisit Wongsongsarn - 1 Comment

SONOFF CAM Slim Gen2 Review – A tiny indoor security camera tested with eWeLink and Home Assistant

We have received the latest tiny indoor security camera from SONOFF: the second generation of the CAM Slim series known as the CAM Slim Gen2 (or CAM S2 for shorts). Some of you might remember the first-generation CAM Slim model reviewed by Jean-Luc about two years ago. The Gen2 version keeps the same 1080p resolution but comes with several upgraded features, including AI algorithms to distinguish living beings, customizable detection zones, customizable privacy zones, sleep mode, enhanced low-light image quality, and flexible storage management. Although it’s packed with several enhancements, its price is lower than the Gen1. Let’s delve into the details! SONOFF CAM Slim Gen2 unboxing Inside the box, you’ll find a compact manual, a USB-C cable, a mounting kit, and a sticker template acting as a drilling guide. The camera is smaller than your palm and comes mounted on a versatile, rotatable base, making installation in various positions […]