esphome News - Page 2 of 8 - CNX Software

January 16, 2026January 15, 2026 by Debashis Das - 7 Comments

ESP32-S3 multi-radio Smart Home gateway features Ethernet, Zigbee, Thread, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, BLE, and optional 4G LTE connectivity

SLZB Ultima multi radio smart home gateway with ESP32 S3 Zigbee Z Wave, Matter or Thread

SMLIGHT SLZB-Ultima is an ESP32-S3-based, multi-radio smart-home gateway with dual Zigbee/Thread radios, optional Z-Wave 800, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth LE, Ethernet with PoE, USB host expansion, and optional 4G LTE connectivity designed for advanced Home Assistant and DIY applications. The device also integrates an IR receiver and transmitter for controlling legacy appliances, GPIO and I²C for hardware expansion, a buzzer, physical buttons, service LEDs, and 12 on-board WS2812B RGB LEDs on the front for status indication. These features make it suitable for an all-in-one smart-home and IoT gateway rather than a simple coordinator. SMLIGHT SLZB-Ultima specifications: Main SoC – ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core LX7 microprocessor @ up to 240 MHz with Vector extension for machine learning Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 5 with LE/Mesh Audio – Built-in buzzer and optional microphone for ESPHome Voice Assist Networking Wireless Dual Zigbee / Thread radios (Texas Instruments CC2674P10 + Silicon Labs EFR32MG24) Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n […]

January 9, 2026 by Debashis Das - 8 Comments

Home Assistant-compatible Makerfabs ESP32-S3-based energy meter features BL0942 energy metering IC

The Energy Meter for Home Assistant is an ESP32-S3-based single-phase energy monitoring and control module designed to work with Home Assistant via ESPHome. It measures real-time power and energy consumption and also has a remote on/off control. The device is built around the BL0942 calibration-free energy metering IC, which supports voltage, current, power, and energy measurements with less than 1% error. It operates directly from AC 100–240V, includes an onboard 15A relay for switching loads, and provides electrical isolation for safety. Connectivity is done through USB and Wi-Fi using ESPHome for easy firmware flashing, API encryption, and automatic discovery in Home Assistant. These features make it suitable for smart homes, DIY energy monitoring, smart sockets, home energy dashboards, and automation projects. Energy Meter for Home Assistant specifications: Core module – Espressif Systems ESP32-S3-WROOM-1 SoC – ESP32-S3 CPU – Dual-core Tensilica LX7 up to 240 MHz with vector extension for AI/ML workloads […]

December 21, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 10 Comments

XIAO Soil Moisture Sensor review with Home Assistant

Seeed Studio sent us a review sample of the XIAO Soil Moisture Sensor powered by the XIAO ESP32C6 wireless module and running on a single AA battery. Designed for ultra-low power consumption, it’s supposed to offer long-lasting operation with dynamic adjustment of monitoring intervals. It’s preloaded with ESPHome firmware and is fully compatible with Home Assistant. It’s ideal for indoor plants monitoring, but it can’t be used outdoors since the 3D printed enclosure is not weatherproof. In this review, we’ll start with an unboxing, do a quick teardown, and test it with Home Assistant to receive a notification on our smartphone when the soil is dry. XIAO Soil Moisture Sensor specifications Wireless module – XIAO ESP32C6 Wireless MCU – Espressif Systems ESP32-C6 CPU 32-bit RISC-V core up to 160 MHz Low-power RISC-V core up to 20 MHz Memory – 512 KB SRAM, 16KB low-power SRAM Storage – 320 KB ROM, 4MB […]

December 15, 2025December 14, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 1 Comment

reTerminal E1001/E1002 Review – B&W and color ePaper displays tested with SenseCraft HMI and Home Assistant

Seeed Studio reTerminal E1001 E002 ePaper Display review

Seeed Studio sent us samples of the reTerminal E1001 (monochrome) and E1002 (color) ePaper displays for review. They are powered by an ESP32-S3 microcontroller providing WiFi and Bluetooth LE wireless connectivity, and are designed for low-power information display applications, consuming power only when updating the screen content. This makes them ideal for tasks requiring long battery life (average of 3 months per charge, depending on how often they are updated) and always-on display capabilities. In this review, we will unbox the devices, go through a teardown, and test them with Seeed Studio’s SenseCraft no-code HMI platform, as well as ESPHome firmware for Home Assistant integration. reTerminal E1001/E1002 unboxing We received two cardboard packages that look identical and are labeled “Seeed Studio reTerminal ePaper Display”. But the sticker on the bottom side of the boxes provides clarity… Inside each box, we’ll find the ePaper display, a USB Type-C cable, a display […]

December 11, 2025 by Debashis Das - 7 Comments

IoT HDMI switch – An ESP32-C3-powered 2-source HDMI switch automated with Home Assistant

Designed by Guimpt in Spain, the IoT HDMI Switch is an ESP32-C3-based open-source HDMI switch that integrates with Home Assistant and ESPHome to automate up to two HDMI inputs for TVs, monitors, or projectors. It targets smart home setups that need seamless source switching without manually handling cables. It includes a 3D-printed enclosure for a compact install behind media equipment. The device also offers open hardware and firmware for easy upgrade, and it lets users switch inputs via phone, voice assistant, or a button. It also supports automations such as automatically selecting a game console or media player. It works with common HDMI devices like Chromecast, Raspberry Pi, PCs, and consoles, making it ideal for smart home enthusiasts, DIY tinkerers, and anyone who wants a hands-free media setup. IoT HDMI Switch specifications: SoC – Espressif Systems ESP32-C3FH4 Single-core 32-bit RISC-V microcontroller @ up to 160 MHz Memory – 400 KB […]

December 3, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - No Comments

Silicognition ManT1S ESP32 board supports T1S single-pair Ethernet for robotics and automation (Crowdfunding)

Silicognition ManT1S is an ESP32 board with a 4-pole terminal block for T1S single-pair Ethernet (SPE) communication and daisy-chaining, as well as unpopulated headers for GPIOs and programming, and a Qwicc connector for I2C expansion. The IEEE 802.3cg 10BASE-T1S networking standard enables engineers and users to easily network and distribute power to up to eight T1S nodes over a single pair of wires, which makes it suitable for robotics, industrial/home automation, and other projects that benefit from a reduction in the number of cables and associated weight. The company also designed the ManT1S Bridge to interface a standard Ethernet RJ45 to a single-pair T1S mixing segment. ManT1S specifications: System-in-Package – ESP32-PICO-V3-O2 SoC – ESP32 CPU – Xtensa dual-core 32-bit LX6 microprocessor up to 240 MHz Memory – 520B SRAM Storage – 448 KB ROM Wireless – WiFi 4 and Bluetooth 4.2/5.x Memory – 2 MB PSRAM Storage – 8 MB […]

December 2, 2025December 3, 2025 by Jean-Luc Aufranc (CNXSoft) - 8 Comments

XIAO ePaper DIY Kit features ESP32-S3 or nRF52840 SoC, supports 1.54-inch to 7.5-inch displays

Seeed Studio has launched two new ePaper display DIY Kits: the XIAO ePaper DIY Kit-EN04 and XIAO ePaper DIY Kit-EE04, respectively powered by a Nordic Semi nRF52840 or Espressif ESP32-S3 wireless SoC. Both kits support 24-pin and 50-pin ePaper displays, and the company offers 1.54-inch to 7.5-inch displays as options. The XIAO ePaper DIY kits also feature a battery connector with a power switch, a built-in charging IC, and come with one reset and three user buttons. They target low-power ePaper projects such as digital signage, electronic labels, and portable information boards. XIAO ePart DIY kit specifications: Wireless board Kit-EN04 – XIAO nRF52840 Plus Wireless MCU – Nordic nRF52840 Arm Cortex-M4F microcontroller @ up to 64 MHz with 1 MB flash, 256 KB SRAM, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, 802.15.4 connectivity Storage – 2 MB onboard Flash Wireless Connectivity – Bluetooth 5.0 (BLE), 802.15.4, and NFC Antenna – Ceramic antenna USB – USB […]

September 13, 2025September 15, 2025 by Paisit Wongsongsarn - 11 Comments

XIAO Smart IR Mate Review – A compact smart infrared remote control hub for Home Assistant

SeeedStudio XIAO IR Test3 AirCon Mitsubishi Slim

SeeedStudio sent us a tiny Smart IR Remote hub for review: XIAO Smart IR Mate, or XIAO IR Mate for short. At first glance, it looks like any other WiFi IR blasters, but what makes it interesting is that the device is built on an open architecture using the XIAO ESP32C3 module and runs on ESPHome, working natively with the Home Assistant open-source home automation platform. As usual, SeeedStudio gives access to the source code, so it’s super convenient if you want to tweak the functions yourself to fit various needs. For those who are new to Smart IR, it’s a device that acts as an infrared (IR) control hub. The idea is to let you control legacy IR-based devices (old TVs, air conditioners, stereos, etc.) via a Smart Home system. We did several tests with several devices we had lying around, namely a Hatari oscillating fan, a Dyson blade-less […]