Handheld Transmitter Aeotec Z-Stick Wireless USB Lithium Battery

Aiotec Zi-Stick is a compact Zigbee USB stick that turns a host PC or single-board computer into a local Zigbee gateway without relying on cloud services. It connects to devices via a USB-UART bridge and stores automations, scenes and settings locally on the connected host such as Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi, laptop, desktop PC or MacBook. The Zi-Stick is compatible with many community-driven smart home platforms and supports thousands of Zigbee devices from major brands.

Advantages

Zi-Stick operates entirely locally, avoiding cloud processing of your data. Its USB-UART interface ensures broad compatibility with automation software such as openHAB, Zigbee2MQTT, FHEM, Node-RED, ioBroker, Jeedom and Home Assistant. The device uses Silicon Labs EFR32MG21A020 Zigbee MCU, offering high performance and future-proof hardware that is Thread-ready and upgradeable by firmware to support Thread/Matter devices. Small form factor and wide device compatibility make it suitable for varied smart home setups.

Suitable for

• Home automation hobbyists building a self-hosted Zigbee gateway
• Users wanting local control without cloud dependency
• Integrations with platforms like Home Assistant, Zigbee2MQTT or openHAB
• Setups using single-board computers (Raspberry Pi, Orange Pi) or standard PCs and laptops

Key specifications

• Manufacturer: AEOTEC
• Model / MPN: AEOZZGA008
• EAN: 1220000017191
• Interface: USB with USB-UART bridge
• Wireless standard: Zigbee (Silicon Labs EFR32MG21A020 MCU)
• Power: USB powered (listed product data: 5.25 V)
• Compatibility: Works with thousands of Zigbee devices (e.g., Philips Hue, Osram, IKEA Tradfri, Xiaomi Aqara)

How to use

Plug the Zi-Stick into a USB port of your chosen host device (single-board computer, laptop, desktop or MacBook). Install or configure your preferred automation software (for example Zigbee2MQTT, Home Assistant, openHAB or Node-RED) and select the Zi-Stick USB-UART device as the Zigbee coordinator. Pair Zigbee devices through the automation software; automations, scenes and settings are stored locally on the host.

Recommendations

Place the Zi-Stick in a USB port with minimal obstruction and away from large metal objects or Wi‑Fi routers to reduce interference. Keep host software and Zi-Stick firmware up to date to enable Thread/Matter support when updates become available.