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Matter is now a standard not just a common spec. Everyone should demand all new smart home devices support matter. (it is okay if you use Zigbee or some other

Matter is now a standard not just a common spec. Everyone should demand all new smart home devices support matter. (it is okay if you use Zigbee or some other alternative to control it today but you should still demand matter for the day you switch - that day should come) In particular note the bane of all smart homes: if you have to move the next owner won't have a clue what you did. In the worst case you have to hire an electrician (no DIY allowed since it isn't your house anymore) to rip that out so your house is livable. If you are using matter there is a chance they can start using your system in their own way. The more matter takes off the more likely this is. Also the more likely others will use it - perhaps you next house will have matter installed for you and so you can just automate it where you want to instead of rewiring the house first.

sisiphos74 1y ago
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guerrilla 1y ago
So, right now I use a Zigbee dongle on my a Raspberry Pi. Is that goimg to be possible with Matter?
- nexus7556 1y ago
  Yes, here is the one I use https://www.home-assistant.io/connectzbt1/ https://www.home-assistant.io/connectzbt1/
- kristofferR 1y ago
  Matter is just the software. A lot of Matter devices use Thread as their radio protocol (think of it as "Zigbee 2.0") though, and you need a separate radio/dongle for that. Seems like Home Assistant will launch a combo Zigbee/Thread dongle with great range in two weeks, might want to wait for that: https://old.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/1opak9w/new_hardware_product_coming_from_nabu_casa/ https://old.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/1opak9w/new_...
  - guerrilla 1y ago
    Right, that sounds familiar. It's been so long since I've looked into this. Thank you.
vollbrecht 1y ago
A standard where you have to pay to play. Cheapest option is 3000$ per product and 500$ annual.
- Someone1234 1y ago
  More information here: https://wizzdev.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-launch-matter-device/ https://wizzdev.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-launch-mat... But, yes, Matter/Thread is more expensive than Zigbee by a lot.
- Ajedi32 1y ago
  I wasn't aware of that. One other concern I have with Matter is that, if I understand correctly, Thread+Matter devices get their own IP address with internet access, whereas with Zigbee all of that has to be controlled by the gateway. In theory that's a win for Matter, but I'm a little concerned about the security and enshitification problems that might cause. I kinda like the idea that I can buy a cheap IoT lock off Temu and as long as my Zigbee gateway is secure there's very little chance of that decision coming back to bite me...
  - deleted 1y ago
    [deleted]
  - cptskippy 1y ago
    Having network access is my primary concern. The protocol was developed by the largest adware companies on the planet... I'm sure someone will chime in and say you can setup a VLAN and restrict all Matter devices from the internet yada yada... You don't have to do that with Z-Wave or ZigBee. And with ESPHome you know exactly what the device is doing because you have 100% control over it.
    - protimewaster 1y ago
      This is, to me, one of the absolute biggest selling points for ZigBee and Z-Wave. I can get some random, vendor I've never heard of, ZigBee sensor, and I know it won't do anything rogue on the internet because it doesn't have any way of getting to the internet. Also, ZigBee is extremely power efficient compared to WiFi. With ZigBee, I don't mind putting a sensor in the crawlspace or somewhere a pain to get to. It won't need the batteries changed for a year or two anyway. I know Matter can work over more efficient means than WiFi, but most of the cheaper devices I find are WiFi. A cheap ZigBee device is still ZigBee.
ocdtrekkie 1y ago
Definitely will not be buying Matter stuff. Way too complicated, doesn't address the real problems in smarthome technology. I usually take my smart devices with me when I move. It's a pretty expensive thing to leave behind for a new owner that probably won't use it anyways. If someone offered me extra to leave them I might and then I'd also leave a manual.
- devttyeu 1y ago
  It does address quite a few reliability issues - you can have multiple gateways into the thread network so it is actually highly available. It’s definitely complicated, but it’s a kind of usb-c of smart home - you only worry about the complex part when building a product. Just wish there was a better device reset/portability story.
- 05 1y ago
  > I usually take my smart devices with me when I move. Considering you can't even set up Matter devices if you lost the enrollment QR code (and the manual enrollment code is printed on the back of those ceiling downlights), it's a very good idea to take them with you and avoid frustrating the future occupants :)
  - ocdtrekkie 1y ago
    Yeah as noted I don't have any Matter-based systems. Also, all of mine are designed to work with or without smart components: Aka, a light switch turns on or off the lights when you touch it.

sisiphos74 1y ago

[dead]

guerrilla 1y ago

So, right now I use a Zigbee dongle on my a Raspberry Pi. Is that goimg to be possible with Matter?

nexus7556 1y ago
Yes, here is the one I use https://www.home-assistant.io/connectzbt1/ https://www.home-assistant.io/connectzbt1/
kristofferR 1y ago
Matter is just the software. A lot of Matter devices use Thread as their radio protocol (think of it as "Zigbee 2.0") though, and you need a separate radio/dongle for that. Seems like Home Assistant will launch a combo Zigbee/Thread dongle with great range in two weeks, might want to wait for that: https://old.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/1opak9w/new_hardware_product_coming_from_nabu_casa/ https://old.reddit.com/r/homeassistant/comments/1opak9w/new_...
- guerrilla 1y ago
  Right, that sounds familiar. It's been so long since I've looked into this. Thank you.

vollbrecht 1y ago

A standard where you have to pay to play. Cheapest option is 3000$ per product and 500$ annual.

Someone1234 1y ago
More information here: https://wizzdev.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-launch-matter-device/ https://wizzdev.com/blog/how-much-does-it-cost-to-launch-mat... But, yes, Matter/Thread is more expensive than Zigbee by a lot.
Ajedi32 1y ago
I wasn't aware of that. One other concern I have with Matter is that, if I understand correctly, Thread+Matter devices get their own IP address with internet access, whereas with Zigbee all of that has to be controlled by the gateway. In theory that's a win for Matter, but I'm a little concerned about the security and enshitification problems that might cause. I kinda like the idea that I can buy a cheap IoT lock off Temu and as long as my Zigbee gateway is secure there's very little chance of that decision coming back to bite me...
- deleted 1y ago
  [deleted]
- cptskippy 1y ago
  Having network access is my primary concern. The protocol was developed by the largest adware companies on the planet... I'm sure someone will chime in and say you can setup a VLAN and restrict all Matter devices from the internet yada yada... You don't have to do that with Z-Wave or ZigBee. And with ESPHome you know exactly what the device is doing because you have 100% control over it.
  - protimewaster 1y ago
    This is, to me, one of the absolute biggest selling points for ZigBee and Z-Wave. I can get some random, vendor I've never heard of, ZigBee sensor, and I know it won't do anything rogue on the internet because it doesn't have any way of getting to the internet. Also, ZigBee is extremely power efficient compared to WiFi. With ZigBee, I don't mind putting a sensor in the crawlspace or somewhere a pain to get to. It won't need the batteries changed for a year or two anyway. I know Matter can work over more efficient means than WiFi, but most of the cheaper devices I find are WiFi. A cheap ZigBee device is still ZigBee.

ocdtrekkie 1y ago

Definitely will not be buying Matter stuff. Way too complicated, doesn't address the real problems in smarthome technology. I usually take my smart devices with me when I move. It's a pretty expensive thing to leave behind for a new owner that probably won't use it anyways. If someone offered me extra to leave them I might and then I'd also leave a manual.

devttyeu 1y ago
It does address quite a few reliability issues - you can have multiple gateways into the thread network so it is actually highly available. It’s definitely complicated, but it’s a kind of usb-c of smart home - you only worry about the complex part when building a product. Just wish there was a better device reset/portability story.
05 1y ago
> I usually take my smart devices with me when I move. Considering you can't even set up Matter devices if you lost the enrollment QR code (and the manual enrollment code is printed on the back of those ceiling downlights), it's a very good idea to take them with you and avoid frustrating the future occupants :)
- ocdtrekkie 1y ago
  Yeah as noted I don't have any Matter-based systems. Also, all of mine are designed to work with or without smart components: Aka, a light switch turns on or off the lights when you touch it.