A Closer Look at the New Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 Zigbee/Thread Adapter
Building a smart home isn’t just about choosing devices—it’s about making sure they work together smoothly. That’s where a smart home hub comes in, acting as the central brain for lighting, sensors, thermostats, locks, and more. With a hub, homeowners get unified control, better automation, and a simpler user experience, even when devices use different wireless protocols like Zigbee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi, Thread, or Bluetooth.
Home Assistant has long taken a unique approach by giving users the freedom to choose their own hardware and radios. Because it’s open-source and installable on everything from a Raspberry Pi to a MiniPC, users can expand their system with the exact protocols they need—something you can’t do with most off-the-shelf hubs from Amazon, Google, or SmartThings.
Now, Nabu Casa (the commercial partner of Home Assistant and the Open Home Foundation) has introduced a new tool for this flexible ecosystem: the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 Zigbee/Thread Adapter.
What the ZBT-2 Brings to the Table
The ZBT-2 is the successor to the popular SkyConnect ZBT-1, offering a major leap in performance and reliability. This compact, 7-inch-tall USB-C adapter lets Home Assistant communicate with either Zigbee or Thread devices—whichever the user chooses. Those needing both can simply plug in a second unit.
Key improvements include:
- Optimized antenna for stronger, more stable wireless connections
- 4× faster performance than the previous model
- Updated MG24 chip delivering top-tier Zigbee and Thread capability
- Plug-and-play setup, including seamless migrations for users upgrading from the ZBT-1
- Support for ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, and OpenThread Border Router
- OTA updates and broad compatibility with devices across top brands
- Hobbyist-friendly design with accessible hardware for tinkering
Paulus Schoutsen, founder of Home Assistant, emphasizes how the ZBT-2 simplifies smart home setups: “Too many people have too many smart home hubs… Connect ZBT-2 combined with Home Assistant ends this smart home hub chaos, and lets you take back control of privacy.”
A Big Step for an Open, Flexible Smart Home
For users building a smart home that doesn’t lock them into one ecosystem, the ZBT-2 is a powerful upgrade. It strengthens the reliability of Zigbee and Thread networks, expands device compatibility, and keeps control local—no extra hubs or cloud dependencies required.
The Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 is available starting November 19 for $49 MSRP, making it an affordable and impactful addition to any Home Assistant setup.
