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Disappointed with Aqara - Zigbee hub, but no 3rd party? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 12 hours ago by CocaineShrimp@sh.itjust.works to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but...

Buyer Beware! Aqara hubs use the Zigbee protocol, but lock out 3rd party devices!

A few months ago, I bought an Aqara hub and went deep into their ecosystem. I saw their hub and sensors had good reviews, plus they were using the Zigbee open protocol, so I figured I'd stick with their stuff. I had no reason to try other devices until recently.

I picked up a tilt sensor for my garage door from a 3rd party. I made sure it was also using the Zigbee protocol, so I assumed it would be compatable. Unfortunately, when I tried connecting it to the hub, I was wrong and it wouldn't connect. Turns out, Aqara uses the Zigbee protocol, but locks out 3rd party devices. [source]

If anyone has a workaround to integrate a 3rd party device with an Aqara Hub (IIRC, I have the M3?), I'd love to hear about it. But until then - I'm looking for a refund. I would have never picked up their hub if I had known about their shennanigans; and consequently, I wouldn't have picked up so many of their sensors.

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[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 10 points 11 hours ago (2 children)

This is pretty normal. Philips also uses ZigBee for Hue and you can't connect non-Philips ZigBee devices to it. This is the major reason I started using Home Assistant. I use Home Assistant Yellow which has a built-in ZigBee radio but ZigBee radios can be added via USB to any setup running Home Assistant. ZBT-2 is pretty great for high performance unit. Sonoff have a cheaper dongle.

[–] MrQuallzin@pie.eyeofthestorm.place 4 points 10 hours ago

I've got the Sonoff dongle and it works pretty well. I've got lights from ThirdReality and sensors from Aqara, ThirdReality, and Sonoff. Everything works seamlessly in Home Assistant

[–] ropatrick@lemmy.world 2 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

Speaking of devices, I'm actually still using an ancient Conbee II and it's rock solid. I thought about changing it recently and ordered a ZBT-2 for a more up to date product, but then I realised I was insane and set it up as a Thread Border Router instead, so I have both now.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 1 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

I just got ZBT-2 for my first Matter/Thread device and hooked it up to my HA Yellow. This thing now does ZigBee, Thread and Z-Wave. 😆

[–] ropatrick@lemmy.world 2 points 7 hours ago

Winning at protocol mastery. I commend thee.

[–] ropatrick@lemmy.world 6 points 11 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (1 children)

Do many companies let you use their hubs to connect to devices from competitors? I always assumed of you bought X brand, you could only connect to X brand.

If you are gettng a refund, would you consider using Zigbee2MQTT with a suitable dongle from Home Assistant, Sonoff etc.? Then you can connect your Aqara stuff and pretty much any other brand you want, without any of their hubs.

Apologies if I'm missing something subtle here but it seems normal that Aqara would want to tie you into their products only.

[–] gjoel@programming.dev 4 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Even hue, on their own platform allows third party ZigBee devices without complaints.

[–] avidamoeba@lemmy.ca 1 points 11 hours ago

Really? I wasn't able to connect Ikea bulbs to my Hue hub when I still used it. 🤔

[–] JelleWho@lemmy.world 3 points 10 hours ago

I believe no company who makes there own hub allows 3rd parties? That's why I have a zigbee dongle in HA

[–] Treczoks@lemmy.world 0 points 6 hours ago

It is not per se "locking out other devices". More likely, it does only know it's own devices and how to use them.

[–] thr0w4w4y2@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 hours ago

Fortunately there are plenty of Zigbee dongles that are compatible with HA, and just as fortunately they will all support Aqara sensors using MQTT with very little effort.