Home Assistant Green
Home Assistant, or rather the company Nabu Casa, which stands behind Home Assistant, has started to focus on hardware over time and currently offers two plug and play solutions for running Home Assistant - Home Assistant Green and Yellow.
The individual devices have similar names, but they are quite different, and we will look at the first one called Green. If you are interested in the second one called Yellow, then look here.
Home Assistant Yellow is the first hardware device directly from Home Assistant, and its goal was to build a slightly modified Raspberry Pi (thanks to the use of the Raspberry Compute Module) for Home Assistant users' needs - especially thanks to the integrated Zigbee & Thread module and the possibility to install an M.2 SSD disk.
In contrast, Home Assistant Green is a pre-prepared computer at the lowest possible price, but with performance that will still be sufficient for Home Assistant.
Personally, I consider Home Assistant Green to be the currently preferred choice for running a smart home with Home Assistant. It is a great combination of relatively low price, sufficient performance for the purposes of a smart home hub, and last but not least, very simple installation.
Specifications
- Processor: Quad-core ARM 1.8 GHz (Cortex-A55)
- RAM: 4 GB
- Storage: 32 GB eMMC
- Ports: USB 2.0 2x
- Network: 1GBit Ethernet port
- Bluetooth: ❌ - requires an additional USB adapter
- Zigbee/Thread: ❌ - requires an additional USB adapter
Package Contents
- The Home Assistant Green itself in the form of a square transparent box
- 12V power adapter 1A with universal plugs for different types of sockets
- Black Ethernet cable
To use Bluetooth, Zigbee, or Thread technologies, you need to purchase the appropriate USB adapter.
Home Assistant SkyConnect
USB adaptér pro připojení Zigbee / Thread zařízeních k chytré domácnosti od tvůrců Home Assistanta.
Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus E
USB adaptér pro připojení Zigbee zařízeních k chytré domácnosti.
TP-Link UB500, Bluetooth 5.0 Nano USB Adapter
Bluetooth adaptér externí, připojení USB 2.0Very similar options are also offered by Raspberry computers, which are a certain staple with broader possibilities that I recommend looking at as well.
Detailed product specifications and more information can be found on the official manufacturer's website.
Pros
- ✅ Easy installation and use: Ideal for users looking for a simple solution without the need for technical knowledge.
- ✅ Optimized HassOS operating system: Ensures stable and efficient operation of the Home Assistant application.
- ✅ Compact design: Small dimensions allow easy placement of the device in the home.
Cons
- ❌ Limited flexibility: The special HassOS operating system may limit the installation and use of other software.
- ❌ Lack of expandable storage slot: This can be limiting for users with higher data storage requirements.
- ❌ No native Bluetooth support: Requires an external USB adapter to connect Bluetooth devices.
Home Assistant Installation
The installation is really simple. Just physically connect the Ethernet cable and power supply to the device. Then, in the browser or Home Assistant app on your mobile phone, find Home Assistant at https://homeassistant.local:3128.
First, you will see a screen with information in English that Home Assistant is preparing. Once everything is ready, the language will automatically switch to Czech, and you can either create a new smart home or restore an existing one from a backup.
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