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Using SMHUB as Thread Border Router for Matter devices

This guide explains how to run an OpenThread Border Router (OTBR) on SMHUB and connect it to Home Assistant for Matter-over-Thread devices.

Requirements

Hardware

  • Any SMHUB model (Essential, Premium, Nano, etc.)

Firmware & apps (tested on)

  • smhub-os ≥ 0.3.10

  • smhub-services ≥ 0.2.7

  • smhub-web ≥ 0.2.23

  • OpenThread app ≥ 0.3.0

Important note about radios

  • SMHUB Essential/Premium:

    • Use Radio 2 (EFR32MG21 / EFR32MG24) for Thread

    • CC26XX is not supported yet for Thread (support will be added later)

  • SMHUB NanoMg24
    • Use Radio 1 (EFR32MG24) for Thead

Prepare SMHUB for Thread

Flash Thread firmware to the radio

Do the following in the SMHUB Web UI:

  • Go to Settings → Radio

  • Select Radio mode: Thread

  • Select a Thread firmware version

  • Click Update

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✅ The radio is now prepared for Thread networks.

Install and start OpenThread Border Router on SMHUB

What to do

  • Go to Apps

  • Click Refresh

  • Install or upgrade Openthread Border Router

    • Latest version: 0.3.0-2

  • Enable Start on boot

  • Reboot the SMHUB device or press Stop, wa,it until it stops, and then Run buttons.

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After reboot or re-launching the app:

  • Go to Apps → Openthread

  • Verify that Status = Running

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Connect OpenThread Border Router to Home Assistant

Add the integration in Home Assistant

In Home Assistant:

  • Go to Settings → Devices & Integrations

  • Click Add Integration

  • Search for OpenThread Border Router

In the connection dialog, enter: tcp://SMHUB_IP:8081

Example: tcp://192.168.1.69:8081

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  • Confirm and wait for successful connection

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Verify Thread integration

  • Home Assistant should automatically install the Thread integration

  • If it does not:

    • Go to Settings → Devices & Integrations

    • Manually add Thread (no settings required)

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Home Assistant Settings

All the information below relates to setting up a Matter-over-Thread controller (in this particular case, Home Assistant) and is outside the scope of SMHUB functionality (i.e., this is a third-party configuration topic). Therefore, the instructions below may change over time, and we do not track or maintain updates.

Setting Up the Matter add-on and Integration

While Thread is a physical network, to control Matter-over-Thread devices, users need to installa  Matter server on Home Assistant.

  1. Go to the Home Assistant interface and navigate to Settings > Devices & Services.
  2. Click on Add integration and search for Matter.
  3. Keep checkbox Use the official Matter Server Supervisor add-on and click Submit.
  4. Wait untill installation of Matter Integration and Matter Server add-on is completed.
  5. Head over to the Left panel within Home Assistant and Click Settings and choose Add-ons. Go to the Matter Server add-on. Start the Matter Server add-on. Here we would suggest as well to click both Start on boot and Watchdog.

Set-up and configuring the Integrations

  1. Thread Integration – click Configure and make sure you have OpenThread Border Router under Preferred network line, and it contains an icon with key+phone.

    image.png

  2. If not, do the following:
  • click three dots on the right to OpenThread Border Router, choose Add to preferrede network.
  • Under the preferred network now, click again three dots on the right to OpenThread Border Router, and choose Use router for Android + iOS credentials.

Reboot your Home Assistant server

  1. Once all Home Assistant components are installed, we reccomend to reboot your Home Assistant server.

Result

  • SMHUB is running an OpenThread Border Router

  • Home Assistant is connected to it

  • Your system is ready for Matter-over-Thread devices

Pairing Matter-over-Thread devices

Pre-set up your phone

This paragraph is an extended version of the official documentation Home Assistant: https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/thread/#to-make-home-assistant-your-first-thread-network

  1. Install Home Assistant App on your Android phone from the Play Store. At the time of this video, we were unable to pair a Matter-over-Thread device via iPhone.
  2. Install Google Home app from the Play Store. It is recommended by Home Assistant developers and we were not able to pair our Thread devices without installed Google Home app.
  3. Open Home Assistant app and sync it with your Home Assistant server. Your phone and Home Assistant server should be in the same Wi-Fi network.
  4. In the app, go to Settings – Companion app -> Click Troubleshooting and click Sync Thread Credentials.
  5. Wait until the message Home Assistant and this device use the same network. If you see another message, namely Added network from Home Assistant to this device – You need to click on Sync Thread Credentials again until you get that message about the same network.
  6. If you are not getting my message Home Assistant and this device use the same network - try to reset your Google Play Services (remove all data, usually by App settings -> Erase data -> Clear All Data, but names depend on the smartphone model).

Adding the Matter Device

  1. With the Matter integration set up, grab your Matter device and Android smartphone. Make sure Bluetooth is enabled on your phone.
  2. Open the Home Assistant app and navigate to Settings > Devices & Services -> Devices Tab.
  3. Click the + ADD DEVICE button at the bottom right part of the screen to add a device, choose Add Matter device.
  4. Follow the on-screen instructions in the app. You'll likely need to scan a QR code located on your Eve Energy socket or enter the pairing code manually. We did it with QR-code scanning.
  5. Home Assistant app on your phone can as which app to open? Select other and then Home assistant.
  6. The app will guide you through pairing the device with your Thread network. It should pass through this satuses:
  • Connecting to device...
  • Generating Matter credentials...
  • Connecting device to network...
  • Checking netwoek connectivity...
  • Connecting device to Home Assistant...
  • Device connected!
  1. Note:
  • If a Matter-over-Thread end-device has been powered up for a long time, it may require a reset of device to put back into pairing mode.
  • In case you have Google home devices (Nest hub) and experiances issues with pairing, try to turn them off before starting OpenThread Border router add-on on your Home Assistant and your Home Assistant app.

Verifying Connection and Control

  1. Once the pairing is complete, head back to the Home Assistant interface. You should see your Eve Energy socket listed on your Dashboard or under the Devices section .

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  2. Click on the device to access its controls. You should be able to turn the socket on and off remotely within the Home Assistant interface.

Congratulations! You've successfully connected your Matter-over-Thread device to Home Assistant using the OpenThread Border Router and Matter Integrations. Now you can enjoy the benefits of Matter's secure and interoperable smart home ecosystem, connected via SMHUB.

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