Have questions about home automation? I can assist with Hassio and Z-Wave topics.
Have questions about home automation? I can assist with Hassio and Z-Wave topics.
You're just starting out with home automation. Your idea involves using the Silicon Labs SLUSB7000A for Z-Wave Conbee II, a RPi 4, and a SATA-to-USB converter. You're also considering a USB hub and wondering why it's needed. Regarding Z-Wave devices, they should work with genuine products as long as the configuration is correct and supported in HASSIO. It doesn't necessarily depend on a specific brand or model, as long as the setup matches the device requirements.
Z-Wave is the initial version, Z-Wave Plus is an upgrade that works backward with older Z-Wave devices and adds extra capabilities. A bridge for Z-Wave Plus is required to access new features, but most users need a Zigbee or Z-Wave hub. Without it, devices can't connect. They don’t support Wi-Fi, so the hub acts as the central controller. Certain hubs only support one protocol, while others handle both.