Update on multiprotocol
Multiprotocol will remain an experimental feature and is not recommended for use.
When we launched Home Assistant Yellow, we announced our intent to release firmware supporting multiprotocol, which allows the device's Silicon Labs chip to connect to both Zigbee and Thread networks with one radio.
This experimental firmware has been available since December 2022. Through extensive testing, we have found that although it works in some circ*mstances, it has technical limitations that lead to a worse user experience. We now do not recommend using this firmware, and it will be experimental for the foreseeable future. Instead, we will focus on making sure the dedicated Zigbee and Thread firmware for Home Assistant Yellow delivers the best experience to users.
If you currently have the multiprotocol firmware installed but don't actively use it to connect to Thread devices, we recommend that you disable multiprotocol. Nothing changes for current users of the multiprotocol firmware who are happy with their experience. The experimental multiprotocol firmware will remain available, but we will not recommend it to new users.
Introduction
Home Assistant Yellow's integrated wireless chip supports Zigbee by default.By using the experimental (and not recommended) firmware, the wireless chip can be used in a multiprotocolsetup supporting Zigbee and Thread at the same time. There are two majorlimitations: The two networks have to be on the same channel and share thebandwidth. This page explains the background.
About channels
Both Zigbee and Thread are low-rate wireless personal area networks(LR-WPAN, IEEE 802.15.4). The standard specifies 16 channels in the 2.4GHzspectrum (channel number 11-25). The standard supports multiple networks onthe same channel. Each network is identified by a PAN-ID (personal area networkidentifier).
The wireless chip in Home Assistant Yellow supports all 16 channels. However,it can only communicate on one single channel at a time. Due to this limitation, it is crucial that Zigbee and Thread run on the same channel for reliable operation!Thanks to the PAN-ID, the Zigbee and Thread networks are still separated andtherefore won't interfere with each other.
The illustration below shows on which frequency range each channel operates. It also shows on which channels a specific protocol operates.
- Grey sections mark the channels used by Wi-Fi.
- Blue sections mark the channels used by Bluetooth Low Energy.
- Orange sections mark the channels used both by Zigbee and Thread.
Zigbee/Thread channels 15, 20, and 25 are less likely to be affected by Wi-Fi interference since they are in between the most commonly Wi-Fi channels 1, 6 and 11.
Illustration by Radhakrishnan & Zand, Pouria & Nabi, Majid. (2016). Analysis of coexistence between IEEE 802.15.4, BLE and IEEE 802.11 in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. 6025-6032. 10.1109/IECON.2016.7793984.
About bandwidth
IEEE 802.15.4 (so both Zigbee and Thread) support a transfer rate of up to250kbit/s. For typical Zigbee and Thread networks this is sufficient.However, in the multiprotocol setup Zigbee and Thread networks need to sharethe same channel, and therefore share the 250kbit/s transfer rate. Furthermore,if Wi-Fi or other 2.4GHz networks are running in a similar frequency range,transfer rate might be further limited.
For large networks it is advisable to add a second wireless chip. This allowsto run Zigbee and Thread each on a dedicated wireless chip and on separatechannels.
Resolve channel conflict
You may get a notification stating that the OTBR and ZHA share the same radio, but use different channels. This mode of operation may cause an unreliable network connection. To resolve this issue, you can try one of the following methods:
- Option 1: Make sure Zigbee and Thread are on the same channel.
- Select the Thread integration. Then, select Configure. On the home-assistant network, select the info button.
- Take note of the number listed under Channel
- Select the Zigbee integration. Then, select Configure.
- If the Channel number is not same as for Thread, change the channel.
- Option 2: Reset the Thread network. This will make sure Thread uses the same channel as ZHA.
- To reset the Thread network, select the Reset border router button.
- Re-pair your Thread devices.
- Option 3: Use two separate wireless chips, one for each network. For example by adding a Home Assistant SkyConnect as a second wireless chip.
- On your Home Assistant Yellow, disablemultiprotocol support and restore the Zigbee network.
- Plug in a SkyConnect.
- Go to Add-ons and install the experimental OpenThread Border Routeradd-on.
- Select the Configuration tab and pick the serial port with SkyConnect.
- Select Save.
- Start the add-on. Your Home Assistant SkyConnect is now set up to work exclusively with Thread.You can now start adding your Thread devices.
- Disablemultiprotocol support
- Aboutfirmware options
- Zigbee Home Automation integration documentation
- Thread integration documentation
FAQs
The standard supports multiple networks on the same channel. Each network is identified by a PAN-ID (personal area network identifier). The wireless chip in Home Assistant Yellow supports all 16 channels. However, it can only communicate on one single channel at a time.
What is the difference between Home Assistant blue and yellow? ›
Two popular hardware options are Home Assistant Blue and Home Assistant Yellow. Home Assistant Blue is essentially an Odroid-N2+ with Home Assistant pre-installed. It's robust, reliable, and comes in a sleek blue case. Home Assistant Yellow is similar, but it's designed for users requiring less power.
What is Home Assistant Yellow? ›
Home Assistant Yellow includes the latest and greatest Zigbee radio chip from Silicon Labs to communicate with smart devices in your home. The chip is forward-compatible with the upcoming Matter smart home connectivity standard, in which Silicon Labs is heavily involved.
Which compute module for Home Assistant Yellow? ›
If you bought the Home Assistant Yellow Kit, you need to bring your own Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. We recommend purchasing a Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 with the following characteristics: Min. 2 GB of RAM. Min. 16 GB of eMMC flash space.
Does Home Assistant Yellow have Bluetooth? ›
It's important to note that Home Assistant Yellow does not have integrated Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities. However, you can install a variant of the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 that includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Which is better Home Assistant Green or yellow? ›
Home Assistant Green offers an affordable and user-friendly entry point, while Yellow provides enhanced performance and future-proofing for more advanced users.
What is the difference between blue and yellow? ›
Yellow is lighter as compared to blue . Blue is perceived darker than yellow by the human eye, because of biological principles within the eye . Wavelength of light are measured in nanometers (nm) . Some are visible to the human eye, such as the colours red, orange ,yellow, green ,blue and violet.
Do you need SSD for Home Assistant Yellow? ›
Min. 16 GB of eMMC flash space. If you opt for the CM4 Lite: as it does not have an eMMC module, you must use an NVMe SSD hard drive.
Does Home Assistant need Wi-Fi? ›
Home Assistant doesn't work without a local network that connects everything together. You do not need internet access after Home Assistant is installed, but you do need a local network.
How do I turn off Home Assistant Yellow? ›
Go to Settings > System > Hardware and select Configure > Configure hardware settings. In the dialog, select the toggles to disable or enable the LEDs and submit the changes.
2 SSD at this stage too if you want the extra storage. After that, it's just installing the OS via a USB stick (set up with Raspberry Pi Imager), and then doing the usual network setup. The longest part of setting up this way is just letting all the software install – in about 30 minutes we were all ready to go.
Which programming language is best for Home Assistant? ›
Learning Python would be required if you want to develop your own integrations. If you are going down the Node-RED route which I greatly recommend, you will find a good knowledge of JavaScript very helpful. With the NR function node you can attempt far more complex automations in js than with yaml in ha.
What OS does Home Assistant use? ›
Home Assistant Operating System (formerly HassOS) is a Linux based operating system optimized to host Home Assistant and its Add-ons.
What are the benefits of Home Assistant Yellow? ›
Home Assistant Green enhances the user interface and device integration for improved performance, while Home Assistant Yellow introduces specialized features like energy management, security enhancements, and machine learning integration, offering a more intelligent and sustainable smart home experience.
Does Home Assistant Yellow have Thread? ›
Introduction. Home Assistant Yellow's integrated wireless chip supports Zigbee by default. By using the experimental (and not recommended) firmware, the wireless chip can be used in a multiprotocol setup supporting Zigbee and Thread at the same time.
What equipment do I need for a Home Assistant? ›
TOOLS REQUIRED
- Raspberry Pi 3, 4 or 5 with power supply.
- MicroSD card.
- Ethernet connection.
Yellow base undertones produce yellow, peachy pink skin tones. Hands will be yellow or golden with peach-pink knuckles. Darker skin will have a definite gold tone. Blue base undertones produce rosy pink skin tones.
What is the difference between blue light and yellow light? ›
Blue light therapy helps kill bacteria that causes acne. Red light therapy helps reduce wrinkles, fine lines and sun damage. Yellow light therapy helps with the overall health of the skin. Infrared light helps reduce inflammation, increase collagen production and stimulate healing of damaged tissues.
What is the difference between blue and green filters? ›
A blue filter only transmits blue light. It absorbs red light and green light. A green filter only transmits green light. It absorbs red light and blue light.
What is the difference between purple and blue VS code? ›
The blue icon is Visual Studio Code and the purple icon is Visual Studio the ide. You can use either one, but Visual Studio code is an editor and very light weight compared to Visual Studio the ide. Visual Studio the ide is a full blown ide with lots of features.
