Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 is a new Z-Wave USB adapter with Long Range support, which follows the launch of the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1 (SkyConnect) Zigbee 3.0, Thread, and Matter USB dongle in 2022.
Home Assistant explains that Z-Wave operates in the sub-GHz (865-926 MHz) frequency band, where waves can more easily go through thick walls and reach across large households, and do not need to compete in the crowded 2.4 GHz airspace used by wireless protocols such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Thread.
Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 specifications:
- SoCs
- Silicon Labs ZG23 Cortex-M33 Z-Wave microcontroller @ 78 MHz
- ESP32-S3 wireless MCU used as USB-to-serial bridge (WiFi and Bluetooth present, but not used by the firmware)
- Wireless
- Z-Wave, Z-Wave Long Range
- Z-Wave series 800
- Range – Tested up to 1.5km (line of sight) by Nabu Casa
- Antenna
- Frequency range: 860-930 MHz
- The frequency used by end devices depends on the region
- US: 908.42/916MHz (mesh), 912/920MHz (LR)
- EU: 868.4/869.85 MHz (mesh), 864.0/866.0 MHz (LR)
- AU: 919.8/921.4 MHz
- Peak gain – 3.38 dBi
- Radiation pattern – Omnidirectional
- Host interface – USB-C port
- Misc – Z-Wave button
- Power Supply – 5V/1A via USB-C port
- Dimensions – 315 x 125 x 125 mm (Polycarbonate plastic enclosure)
- Weight – 350 grams
- Temperature Range – 0°C to 65°C (Indoor use)
- Humidity – non-condensing (Keep in a dry, not excessively dusty environment)
The Connect ZWA-2 ships with an antenna and base, a 1.5m USB cable, a quickstart guide, and warranty and safety Information. It’s automatically detected and configured for your region when you plug in Connect ZWA-2 to a Home Assistant system.
While the Connect ZB-1 is a small USB stick, the Connect ZWA-2 is a massive 32 cm tall Z-Wave USB adapter, but that’s on purpose. Nabu Casa explains why:
To be the most performant, we knew we had to ditch the “stick” form factor. It was never ideal, as USB ports can output a lot of interference. We even shipped a USB extender with Connect ZBT-1, and urged people to use it, as it kept the device away from any noisy components. Instead of building a stick we built an adapter, which includes an optimized standalone antenna and base that connects to your Home Assistant system with a USB cable.
The company has made the Connect ZWA-2 easy to open with no glue or clips. Just pop out the rubber feet and remove the four Phillips screws, and you can access the board with the Silabs ZG23 microcontroller and an ESP32-S3 (not running ESPHome). There’s a SWD interface for the ZG23 and a 10-pin GPIO header for the ESP32-S3. We can also see a “Wi-Fi antenna” and a 3-axis sensor, but those are not used by default. Open-source firmware files, unlocked bootloader, 3D files for the enclosure (soon), and documentation can be found on the Nabu Casa website.
The Home Assistant Connect ZWA-2 Z-Wave USB adapter can be purchased on Seeed Studio for $69, and it’s also available on various distributors listed on the product page.
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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Zwave is dead! Long live the King!
Zwave is not dead, but more and more a zombie:
-Zigbee is less expensive & also meshed, even if device selection is more important as no certification process to enforce interoperability there.
-Integration in DIY stuff became a nightmare after Open-Zwave being abandoned… and certification did not prevented many buggy devices being sold & FW upgrade possible only in theory (manufacturers keeping the feature for their own gateways).
In fact, as the home management goes MQTT, the ideal adapter especially being this big should be network with better location options vs home management host & “talking” MQTT directly, completely hiding the radio/protocol (and using silabs stack for this, that should deliver all features) and freeing the user from labyrinthine stuff like ZwaveJS!
So whatever you have, being zwave/zibgee/…, no matter (haha) for user, this would all be MQTT from his POV.
Wondering why they did not run a ESPHome based firmware on the ESP32 for the USB to Serial (UART) bridge?