Sonoff Zigbee Bridge Ultra

SONOFF Zigbee Bridge Ultra

Overview

The SONOFF Zigbee Bridge Ultra is an advanced Zigbee gateway designed for seamless integration of Zigbee sub-devices into the Matter ecosystem. It is equipped with the powerful EFR32MG21 chip, offering enhanced processing capabilities with a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB DDR4 RAM and 8 GB eMMC memory. This ensures robust performance and smooth operation. It supports up to 256 Zigbee sub-devices and provides a communication range of up to 200 metres in Turbo mode, ensuring wide coverage and reliable connectivity throughout the home.

What is Zigbee?

Most Sonoff devices use Wi-Fi and RF for communication, which makes them more affordable than other smart technologies, but they are not specifically IoT standards. Zigbee, on the other hand, is specifically designed as an ideal communication solution for low-power devices where high data transfer is not required but low latency is important.
Zigbee is an excellent choice for battery-powered sensors or remote controls as it offers a longer battery life compared to WiFi. Zigbee sensors cannot be used stand-alone, they need a Zigbee gateway to connect to the home/business network. Examples of these gateways are the Sonoff Zigbee Bridge and the Sonoff Zigbee Bridge Pro. The Zigbee Bridge Ultra is a Matter protocol compatible Zigbee 3.0 gateway that uses the same eWeLink application as other Sonoff devices. This allows Zigbee devices to be interconnected with each other and also to be connected to WiFi devices in the automation system.

Of course, there is also the so-called mesh network topology, so the range, which is already large in itself, can be easily extended by connecting Zigbee devices to 230V, such as Zigbee switches and relays. In other words, if a Zigbee sensor is installed in a remote corner of the home where it is already out of range of the Zigbee Bridge, but a Sonoff ZBMini or similar device is operating between them, signal transmission is guaranteed.

Key features

• Seamless Matter integration: easy integration of Zigbee devices with the Matter ecosystem, support for SONOFF and eWeLink devices for enhanced smart home automation.
• Enhanced performance: with a powerful 1.5 GHz dual-core processor, 1 GB of DDR4 RAM and 8 GB of eMMC storage, it delivers fast and reliable performance.
• Extensive device support: it can manage up to 256 Zigbee sub-devices, ideal for large smart homes.
• Long communication range: in Turbo mode, it offers a range of up to 200 metres outdoors, providing wide coverage.
• Flexible connectivity options: supports both Ethernet RJ45 and Wi-Fi connectivity for stable and reliable performance.
• Smart home security: it acts as an alarm system that can be activated via NFC, wireless button or the eWeLink app, improving home security.

Advanced capabilities

• Dual connection mode: choose between Ethernet and Wi-Fi for optimal network stability and performance.
• High capacity: capable of supporting a large number of devices, ensuring efficient management of all smart devices in the home.
• Designed for the future: compatible with the latest Matter protocol, ensuring your system is always up-to-date with the latest technologies.
• Easy setup: simply set up and manage via the intuitive eWeLink app, which offers a seamless user experience.

Integration and compatibility

The SONOFF Zigbee Bridge Ultra seamlessly connects to a variety of smart home systems, allowing Zigbee devices to be integrated into an existing automation network. It supports a wide range of devices and is compatible with major smart home platforms such as Apple Home, Amazon Alexa and Google Home via Matter Gateway, enabling a versatile and comprehensive smart home experience.

Comparison with SONOFF iHost

While SONOFF iHost focuses on local data storage and privacy, Zigbee Bridge Ultra uses cloud connectivity for wider compatibility and convenience. This makes it ideal for users who value extensive device integration and ease of use.