Aqara & Xiaomi Zigbee Battery Types: The Complete Guide
Which battery does your Aqara or Xiaomi Zigbee sensor take, why Zigbee2MQTT's battery % reading isn't reliable, and when to actually replace it.
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deep-dive
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Which Aqara and Xiaomi Devices Actually Need a Hub?
Aqara and Xiaomi sell Zigbee, Bluetooth, Thread, and Wi-Fi devices under one brand. Here's which ones actually need a hub, and what the rest need instead.
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Sonoff DIY Mode: Local Control Without eWeLink Cloud
Sonoff's DIY Mode swaps eWeLink cloud control for a local HTTP API, no reflash needed. Which devices support it, and how to bring it into Home Assistant.
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Zigbee2MQTT device_temperature vs temperature Explained
Your Zigbee sensor reads 31°C indoors? That's device_temperature, chip heat, not the room. How to tell which attribute your device really reports.
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Tuya Zigbee Curtain Motor in Zigbee2MQTT: Which One?
Your Zemismart or Tuya curtain motor is one of three different Zigbee2MQTT device types. Here's how to tell yours apart, pair it, and calibrate it right.
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Zigbee2MQTT Converter vs ZHA Quirk: What’s Different
A device works on Zigbee2MQTT but shows unsupported on ZHA, or the reverse. The real mechanism: quirks, converters, and why they aren't interchangeable.
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Aqara’s T1/T2/E1/H1/P1 Codes: What They Actually Mean
A field guide to Aqara's T1, T2, E1, H1, and P1/P2 codes — which track real generations, which are tier names, and how to check before you buy.
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Zigbee2MQTT MQTT Broker Security: A Practical Checklist
A practical checklist for securing Zigbee2MQTT's Mosquitto broker and frontend, from the add-on's anonymous-access default onward. Every fix stays local.
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Zigbee2MQTT Groups vs Scenes: Why Scenes Don’t Show in HA
Zigbee2MQTT groups show up automatically in Home Assistant. Scenes don't. Here's why, and the local MQTT workaround for triggering them anyway.
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Aqara/Xiaomi Zigbee: Routers vs End Devices Explained
Which Aqara/Xiaomi Zigbee devices strengthen your mesh, and which just ride along. A local-only audit for your device list, no new hardware needed.