Jeroen Postma 🇪🇺Feb 24

Fucking hell, trying to set up a #Matter device with #HomeAssistant is a nightmare.

> The OpenThread Border Router add-on can only be installed with Home Assistant OS. If you would like to use the Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 as a Thread border router, please manually set up OpenThread Border Router to communicate with it.

🤨 I just want to connect my fucking lamp...

#OpenThread #HomeAutomation

Show threadJeroen Postma 🇪🇺Feb 24
Oh ffs... 🧵
Show threadJeroen Postma 🇪🇺Feb 24
So first of all, you get to set-up some additional containers when you're not running Home Assistant OS. Which is fine I guess. I understand why this would need some extra steps if you're isolating network stuff in container abstractions. So be it.
Show threadJeroen Postma 🇪🇺
Those containers then need CAP_NET_ADMIN, privileged mode, /dev/net/tun mapping, host networking, apparmor exclusions, the host needs sysctl modifications to allow forwarding 🤨 mind you, this is all because I want to control a fucking lamp through Home Assistant.
Feb 24 at 11:23pmWeb
Show threadJeroen Postma 🇪🇺Feb 24

Then you need to jump through a thousand hoops, use Google Play services to connect with the Thread network, don't forget to disable automatic syncing of secrets with the cloud. Because off fucking course it's not fully selfhost-managed.

Fuck something up and find out you need to delete `.storage/thread.datasets` from Home Assistant and reboot in order to actually reset (because a delete of the integration doesn't get rid of this).

Besides feeling wonky and insecure it still doesn't work...

Show threadJeroen Postma 🇪🇺Feb 24

Until you find out through some random Reddit post that YES, the fucking #KAJPLATS smart bulbs from #IKEA do support #Zigbee 😡 You just need to flick the lamp off/on 12 times.

It supports Zigbee, and it is NOWHERE on the fucking box.

Show threadJeroen Postma 🇪🇺Feb 24

Speaking about IKEA, great smart stuff really. Their communication on packaging just sucks.

Want to have a BILRESA?

WTF is that?

Idk! Good luck I guess!

(it's a smart switch/dimmer but they don't tell you that)

Show threadJeroen Postma 🇪🇺Feb 24

So anyway, after wasting many hours getting frustrated and finding out their new Matter stuff does also work with Zigbee I decided to rip out all Matter/Thread related stuff and use my new ZBT-2 to migrate my Zigbee network off the SkyConnect.

If I knew that Zigbee was supported I wouldn't have bought a ZBT-2.

But then you'd also lose out on this rant.

Oh well... /🧵

Show threadTormodFeb 25

@jpostma

To my understanding, every IKEA "smart home” device has ZigBee support. Of course, it wouldn’t kill them to add that little logo to the packaging :)

I have a huge number of IKEA devices. They work flawlessly and have done for many years. I do prefer controlling devices via the IKEA app though.

Their Dirigera hub also supports Matter, but I have not tested to add any non-IKEA devices to it yet.

Show threadJeroen Postma 🇪🇺Feb 25

@airwhale yes apparently they do. I have quite some devices from their previous lineup as well. Though they now have a new product range for which they made Matter the first class citizen.

All good now that I know, but it was a quite frustrating journey. 😉