Short answer: Home Assistant SkyConnect is now called Home Assistant Connect ZBT-1, and it has been discontinued in favor of the current Connect ZBT-2. The adapter is an excellent official Zigbee coordinator, but it does not make every Matter device work and it should not be treated as a reliable simultaneous Zigbee-and-Thread radio. In current Home Assistant guidance, ZBT-2 is dedicated to either Zigbee or Thread.
For most new Home Assistant installations, use ZBT-2 for Zigbee unless you specifically need a dedicated Thread border router. Existing SkyConnect/ZBT-1 owners can generally keep using the adapter, particularly if their Zigbee network is stable.
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What happened to Home Assistant SkyConnect?
Home Assistant launched SkyConnect in late 2022 as its official USB radio adapter for Zigbee and future Thread use. On June 13, 2024, Home Assistant renamed the product Connect ZBT-1. The renamed product is the same hardware with the same capabilities; the name change did not create a new generation. See Home Assistant’s ZBT-1 announcement.
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Connect ZBT-1 is now discontinued and has been replaced by Connect ZBT-2, which launched in November 2025 with a recommended MSRP of $49 or €45. The dollar price excludes taxes, while euro pricing includes applicable taxes, and retailers may charge different prices.
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- Powerful EFR32MG24 chip. Powered by the advanced EFR32MG24 chip, offering richer resources and higher performance to deliver faster automation processing and stable sub-device control.
- Enhanced Antenna Gain. Default 3dBi antenna gain, optimized up to 4.5dBi for stronger signal strength and wider coverage, ensures a reliable device connection.
- Wide platform compatibility. Zigbee Dongle works with Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, openHAB and supports Zigbee 3.0 devices such as Philips Hue, Aqara, IKEA Tradfri and SONOFF.
- Flexible firmware flashing. Firmware can be easily flashed via the SONOFF dongle flasher or Add-on to switch between Zigbee coordinator, router or Thread RCP mode.
- Compact design with USB extension cable. Smaller enclosure with USB extension cable allows flexible placement and reduces electromagnetic interference for stable communication.
The original description that promised “soon Thread support” is also outdated. Thread border-router support became available experimentally as early as Home Assistant 2023.2. The practical limitation today is more important: the adapter is not a simple one-device replacement for both a Zigbee coordinator and a Thread border router.
Zigbee, Thread and Matter are different layers
Product descriptions often blur these technologies together. They serve different roles:
| Technology | What it is | What the adapter does |
|---|---|---|
| Zigbee | A low-power wireless mesh protocol | Acts as a Zigbee coordinator for ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT |
| Thread | A low-power IPv6 mesh network | Provides the radio component of a Thread border-router setup |
| Matter | An application and device-control standard | Provides Thread connectivity only for Matter-over-Thread devices |
Thread does not control lights, sensors or switches by itself. Matter, or another application protocol, runs above Thread. The relevant chain for a Thread-based Matter device is:
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A Matter-over-Wi-Fi device does not need SkyConnect, ZBT-1 or ZBT-2. It needs a working local IP network and Home Assistant’s Matter integration. A Matter-over-Thread device needs access to a Thread border router. Also, a product carrying a Thread logo is not automatically a Matter device; Thread can transport other application protocols. Home Assistant explains these distinctions in its Matter documentation and Thread documentation.
How plug-and-play is SkyConnect or ZBT-2?
Zigbee: close to plug-and-play
The easiest use is Zigbee with Home Assistant OS:
- Connect the adapter to Home Assistant, preferably through a USB extension cable.
- Open Settings > Devices & services.
- Add or configure the Zigbee Home Automation integration.
- Pair compatible Zigbee devices and build your mesh with mains-powered routers.
“Plug-and-play” does not mean that every Zigbee device is guaranteed to expose every feature automatically. Device compatibility, firmware, pairing mode, channel selection and radio placement still matter.
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- Reliable EFR32MG21 chip. Built with the proven EFR32MG21 chipset, this USB dongle offers low-latency communication and excellent compatibility with Zigbee 3.0 devices—ideal for building a dependable smart-home network.
- Compact & Easy to Install. The lightweight, compact design fits conveniently in crowded USB ports on PCs, mini-servers, or Raspberry Pi, making it suitable for any smart-home setup.
- Wide platform compatibility. Fully compatible with Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT, openHAB, and more. Supports a wide range of Zigbee 3.0 brands, including Philips Hue, Aqara, IKEA Tradfri, and SONOFF, enabling flexible device integration.
- Flexible firmware flashing. Switch easily between Zigbee Coordinator, Router mode, or Thread RCP by flashing firmware through the SONOFF Dongle Flasher or official Add-on tools.
- Includes USB extension cable. Comes with a USB extension cable to help position the dongle away from USB 3.0 interference sources, improving signal strength and ensuring more stable Zigbee and Thread network performance.
You can also use the adapter with Zigbee2MQTT. ZHA is integrated into Home Assistant and is usually the simpler choice for beginners. Zigbee2MQTT offers a separate application with extensive device support and more configuration flexibility. Do not allow both applications to control the same adapter, and remember that Zigbee2MQTT uses one coordinator per installation.
Thread: more setup is required
ZBT-1, ZBT-2 and Home Assistant Yellow run Zigbee by default, not Thread. Using one as a Thread border-router radio requires the appropriate firmware and the OpenThread Border Router app. Matter devices must then be commissioned through Home Assistant’s Matter integration, normally with a compatible phone and the current Home Assistant Companion app.
Home Assistant OS is the supported installation for the official Matter app. Thread and Matter commissioning also depend on IPv6, mDNS and local multicast working correctly. VLAN isolation, multicast filtering, restrictive firewalls and some IGMP-snooping configurations can cause pairing failures or make devices disappear later.
Can one adapter run Zigbee and Thread simultaneously?
Do not plan on this with ZBT-2. Home Assistant’s current guidance is to dedicate the adapter to either Zigbee or Thread. Simultaneous multiprotocol or MultiPAN operation is theoretically possible, but Home Assistant found it inconsistent on ZBT-1 and does not plan to implement it for ZBT-2. The relevant background is covered in Home Assistant’s Matter and Thread guidance.
ZBT-1 had experimental multiprotocol firmware, but it did not provide the reliability or simplicity of two dedicated radios. The practical choices are:
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- Mostly Zigbee: use ZBT-1 or ZBT-2 as the Zigbee coordinator and use an existing Apple, Google or other Thread border router if required.
- Mostly Matter-over-Thread: dedicate the adapter to Thread and use a separate Zigbee coordinator.
- Heavy use of both: use two dedicated adapters rather than relying on multiprotocol mode.
What switching from Zigbee to Thread involves
Important: Changing the adapter to Thread removes its ability to control the Zigbee network. If it is your only Zigbee coordinator, migrate that network first.
Rank #3
- Pre-flashed with Z-Stack 3.x.0 coordinator firmware
- Can use ZHA in Home Assistant or use Zigbee2MQTT
- Base on TI CC2652P + CP2102N
- +20dBm output gain
- SMA interface external antenna,Aluminum housing effectively reduces signal interference from peripherals
Switching firmware can interrupt Zigbee operation. Depending on the controller and adapter, migration may preserve devices and network information, but it is not always seamless. Zigbee2MQTT documents backup and restoration limitations, and some migrations can require devices to be paired again. Deleting and recreating an integration can also remove entity customizations, names or automation references.
For current ZBT-2 firmware, Home Assistant’s support procedure is:
- Open Settings > Devices & services.
- Select the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 integration card.
- Select the cogwheel beside the adapter.
- Choose Use as Thread adapter.
- Select Finish when prompted.
- Allow Home Assistant to install the OpenThread Border Router app.
- Open the Thread integration and verify the Home Assistant Thread network.
- Add Matter-over-Thread devices through the Matter integration.
These labels and steps were current in the Nabu Casa support guide updated February 9, 2026. Follow the official switching guide if the interface changes.
Do you need SkyConnect for Matter?
No. Matter-over-Wi-Fi devices can be controlled without an additional radio. You need a Thread border router only when the Matter device uses Thread.
Many households already have suitable border-router hardware, including some:
- Google Nest Hub (second generation)
- Google Nest Hub Max
- Google Nest Wifi Pro
- Google TV Streamer
- Apple HomePod mini
- Apple HomePod
- Some Apple TV 4K models
Third-party border routers can work with Home Assistant, although a Home Assistant OpenThread setup provides more direct control and troubleshooting visibility. Multiple ecosystems can also create separate Thread networks with different credentials. Discovering an Apple or Google border router does not necessarily give Home Assistant the credentials needed to manage its Thread network, and devices cannot automatically roam between separate Thread networks.
Rank #4
- Pre-flashed with Zigbee coordinator firmware based on EZNet 6.10.3 out of box
- Support smart home platforms like Home Assistant, openHAB, Zigbee2MQTT and so on
- Based on EFR32MG21
- +20dBm output gain
- Aluminum housing effectively reduces signal interference from peripherals
ZBT-1 versus ZBT-2
| Specification | SkyConnect / ZBT-1 | ZBT-2 |
|---|---|---|
| Radio | Silicon Labs MG21 | Silicon Labs MG24 |
| USB/serial component | Silicon Labs CP2102N | ESP32-S3 |
| Baud rate | 115200 | 460800 |
| Simultaneous Zigbee and Thread | Experimental; not recommended | Not supported or planned |
| Status | Discontinued, still useful for existing owners | Current model |
Home Assistant describes ZBT-2 as supporting Zigbee 3.0 and Thread, with a USB-C connection, omnidirectional antenna and a supplied 1.5-meter USB cable. Its published physical and radio specifications apply to ZBT-2 only, not the older SkyConnect/ZBT-1. The higher 460800 baud rate is an adapter communication-speed comparison, not a guarantee that a wireless mesh will be four times faster.
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Common problems and practical fixes
Pairing times out or devices vanish
Check that IPv6 is enabled, Home Assistant and relevant Wi-Fi devices can communicate locally, and mDNS/multicast is not blocked. Review VLAN rules, firewall policies, mesh Wi-Fi multicast settings and IGMP snooping.
The radio is unreliable
Keep the adapter away from the host computer, USB 3 equipment, Wi-Fi access points and metal enclosures. Use the included or another USB extension cable to move it into open air. Zigbee and Thread both use 2.4 GHz, which overlaps with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Home Assistant notes that Thread channel 26 may be less likely to overlap with common 2.4-GHz Wi-Fi configurations, but channel changes should be planned carefully because they can affect existing devices.
Matter pairing works inconsistently
Confirm that the device is Matter-over-Thread rather than Matter-over-Wi-Fi, that a Thread border router is active, and that the phone used for commissioning has a current Home Assistant Companion app. Matter support also varies by device type and implementation; the dongle alone cannot guarantee support for every advanced Matter feature.
Who should buy, keep or avoid it?
- New Home Assistant beginner with Zigbee devices: choose ZBT-2 as a dedicated Zigbee coordinator, generally with ZHA for the simplest setup.
- Matter-over-Wi-Fi buyer: do not buy the adapter solely for Matter. Concentrate on local networking and Home Assistant’s Matter integration.
- Matter-over-Thread buyer without a border router: ZBT-2 can be dedicated to Thread, but you will need a separate Zigbee coordinator if you also use Zigbee.
- Existing SkyConnect/ZBT-1 owner: keep it if it reliably runs your Zigbee network. Its discontinued status does not make a working installation useless.
- Advanced Zigbee2MQTT user: ZBT-2 is compatible, but follow the migration documentation and do not use one coordinator with multiple Zigbee applications.
- User needing Zigbee and Thread concurrently: use two dedicated adapters, or keep Zigbee on the adapter and use an existing compatible Apple or Google border router.
A remaining ZBT-1 is worth considering only if it is substantially cheaper than ZBT-2 and you understand that it is first-generation hardware. A third-party adapter such as the SONOFF Dongle Max may appeal to users prioritizing price or experimentation, but official Home Assistant hardware offers the more integrated onboarding, firmware and migration path.
Neither ZBT-1 nor ZBT-2 is a standalone smart-home controller. Home Assistant is required for the documented Thread-border-router workflow, and network design still matters even when the devices are intended to operate locally without cloud access.
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