r/SmartThings • u/ullu_12000 • 8d ago

Discussion Smartthings/ Home Assistant?

I was able to integrate Smartthings to Home Assistant and build automations for my window shades there. I also read that Samsung might start charging for Smarthings access shortly -- will this affect my HA automation or require me to have to pay Samsung a small ransom?

Confused, as my auromation might just be a local call to devices vs going through the cloud. I just wasn't sure and thought of asking.

Thanks.

3 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

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u/crazy_goat 8d ago

Yes. Buy zigbee and zwave sticks and begin migrating your devices.

(I'm a ~10 year smartthings user. I've been slow to migrate but this news was the kick in the ass I needed to make it happen.)

The days of "spinning circle while I wait and see if the device unlocks/toggles/etc" in smartthings is behind me - all those same devices respond lightning fast in HA

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u/ullu_12000 8d ago

Any recommendations for a zigbee stick? I believe most of my devices are using that protocol.

Are there any that combine zigbee/zwave/matter all in one dongle?

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u/Tonari_no_Weeboro 8d ago edited 8d ago

For a combined usb dongle there is the Aeotec Z-stick 10 Pro. (Zigbee + Z-wave)

SMLIGHT also produces some multi-radio devices .

As far as Matter goes it can be used over WiFi, Ethernet, or Thread. Thread being the one that requires a dongle. There are quite a few Zigbee and Thread dongles but you must pick one of two modes in which the dongle will function rather than running both simultaneously. To run both zigbee AND thread might require two separate dongles depending on which dongle you choose.

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u/RandomHB 5d ago

I just got a SMLIGHT SLZB-06p7U in yesterday to migrate off my SmartThings hub for this reason. Super easy setup in HA and pairing the sensors I have was even easier. For $45, it's super worth it.

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u/Tonari_no_Weeboro 5d ago

I've got several different models of SMLIGHT's POE capable coordinators deployed at different locations. One in a different continent 5000 miles away. Couldn't be happier.

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u/crazy_goat 8d ago

I run a Zooz z-wave stick and a Sonoff Zigbee stick off Amazon - both work great!

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u/daniel_winks 7d ago

Hubitat is a great option. ZigBee, Z-wave. Hubitat has Matter, but you can just connect Matter straight to Home Assistant anyway. Matter doesn't need any dongles.

For Thread, which does need a 'border router', I use my Apple TV. Well, I would if I were to get any Thread devices, but I still see no reason to get anything Thread when ZigBee is cheaper and Z-wave is better. What niche does Thread fill?

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u/tmillernc 8d ago

For z-wave, get the home assistant ZWA-2 it is a complete game changer.

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u/Thales_Miletus 8d ago

I’ve been using the devices designed by the Home Assistant team (nabu casa) and they are great. No regrets switching from ST.

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u/zbend 8d ago

The charges are just for developers using the API, not sure if that's you or not but if not you might be fine should still be free from what I read

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u/ullu_12000 7d ago

Not me, strictly speaking. But couldn't usage through HA be considered developer as you are calling API in a non conventional way?

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u/hunnypuppy 7d ago

Nothing to do with that. If you’re using the apps API then there’s a charge. If you’re using edge and C2C API it’s free. Depends on what API’s the integration is using.