Frequently asked questions

• How is it different from an SLZB coordinator?

  An SLZB is only the bridge between the Zigbee network and a host, and it needs a PC or Raspberry Pi running Zigbee2MQTT. The SMHUB Nano Mg24 is the host itself: a Linux mini-server that runs Zigbee2MQTT, Matterbridge, Node-RED and the MQTT broker on its own, with an onboard EFR32MG24 Zigbee/Thread radio as well.
• Which radio chip does it have and which protocols does it cover?

  The onboard radio is the Silicon Labs EFR32MG24, a multiprotocol chip that handles Zigbee 3.0 and Thread locally. Matter-over-Thread is exposed through Matterbridge. On top of that the device has Wi-Fi 6 on 2.4 and 5 GHz and Bluetooth 5.0; the Zigbee antenna is external and rated 5 dB.
• Does it work with Home Assistant, ZHA and Zigbee2MQTT?

  Yes. Zigbee2MQTT comes pre-installed and Home Assistant connects over MQTT; ZHA is also compatible with the EFR32MG24 radio. Matterbridge, Node-RED, the Mosquitto MQTT broker, WireGuard, NodeJS and an OpenThread Border Router are included too, all with OTA updates.
• Can I power the hub over PoE?

  Yes, via the optional PoE module: base power is over USB-C, but with the PoE module data and power arrive over a single Ethernet cable, which helps where there is no socket near the switch. There is also an optional UPS connector for 18650 cells to ride out brief power cuts.
• How powerful is it for running automations?

  It has a dual-core 1 GHz + 700 MHz SoC, 512 MB RAM, 8 GB eMMC and a microSD slot expandable to 2 TB — enough for Zigbee2MQTT, the MQTT broker, Node-RED and automation flows in an ordinary home. The eMMC storage is more reliable than an SD card, and the microSD adds room for logs and backups.
• Can I use Z-Wave devices with it?

  Yes, but not through the onboard radio: the EFR32MG24 covers Zigbee and Thread, and for Z-Wave you plug a USB Z-Wave dongle into the USB-A port. The hub then handles Zigbee, Thread and Z-Wave in parallel from the same Linux host.
• Does it need internet or a cloud to work?

  No. The stack runs locally on the device — Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT and the MQTT broker work with no cloud, and connections are encrypted and local-first. WireGuard is included for secure remote VPN access when you genuinely need to reach the network from outside.