Aeotec Zi-Stick - Zigbee USB to Create Your Own Zigbee Hub to Control Zigbee Smart Home Devices

Great little stick, got it set up with openhab in probably 5 minutes. Worked with all the devices I planned to use it for, and so far has maintained a quick and a stable connection. Only good things to say about this product, well worth the $35.

works way better than sonoff, not sure why people complain about it being plastic.

Works well with in an home assistant setup using ODROID N2+ now able to detect garage door is open. Using Aeotec multi switch on door. One of Chamberlains lost 20,000 people whom lost MYq so automation of garage door open wasn’t possible using MYq.

It took some tickering but the zi-stick finally added zigbee functionality to my home-assistant server. Note it did not work with my smartthing contacts with home assistant virtualized through docker. I needed to virtualized home assistant through proxmox and then used ZHA.

I have this hanging off my Home Assistant host in the basement. I have several door sensors across the house. The device communication is effective and responsive in a 4000sq ft house.

This stick is as plug-and-play as it gets. Using it with a dozen zigbee sensors in HA and everything just works.

This thing is all plastic. Typically, the part that slides into the USB slot is metal. This isn't... it's cheap, flimsy plastic. How much money do you suppose they've saved by taking away the metal and using plastic? You don't want to use this device in any USB port where things fit snug. As you can see by my picture, unlike any other USB plug I've ever seen, these things snap.

I'm not sure what differentiates this product, or why it exists. It is essentially the same as a Skyconnect, SLZB 07, or Sonoff dongle. All using the same chip. The only really difference is that this device is 1) harder to flash (no simple web flash utility); 2) was last to add thread firmware support; 3) does not have a firmware to flash as a Zigbee router (i.e. can ONLY be used as a coordinator at the time of this review). Does it work as a coordinator? Yes. I had no problem setting this up with Zigbee2Mqtt in both an Unraid docker, and directly into a Home Assistant virtual machine for both ZHA and Zigbee2Mqtt. Pros: - Small form factor if you need that - Seems to work the same as any other EFR32MG chip dongle - Nice clean white look if you like that Cons: - Firmware updates, mode changes, etc. are just harder than competitive products - No external antennae if you needed that - Even with the low profile, it is still recommended by most that you use a USB extension cable to reduce interference from the device it is plugged into (though it works ok without the extension) The cons outweigh the pros when you can get products without the cons for cheaper.

i bought this to control all my zigbee devices. i have 47 philips hue light, 8 sensors, 5 tap switch, 8 dimmer switch. philips hue hub has limitation, so i wanted to test something else. so i bought this, with a raspbery pi 4, and other things, installed home assistant, all is working great. BUT when issuing color changes, for instance, the blue was not the same blue as hue application. this is not due to the controller but the application. overall, the controler is awsome, but i ended up using 2 philips hub, spliting light bulbs on one hun and all accessories on other hub, then using the light bulbs in google home, and using device hub on home assistant. overall, this controller seemed nice! but couldnt let go away philips hue application. so in the end, that usb controller is not plugged and sleeping in the drawer.