Nabu Casa Launches Home Assistant Connect Aux-2 Multi-Function Smart Home Hub
Nabu Casa, the commercial arm of the Open Home Foundation, has released the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2, a versatile $69 hardware device designed to expand smart home connectivity. The compact unit features 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet with PoE support, USB ports, an audio jack, and RS-232 serial ports, allowing users to bridge various protocols and control legacy hardware like AV receivers or amplifiers. Built on the ESPHome open platform, the Aux-2 aims to reduce friction for Home Assistant users by acting as a Bluetooth proxy and providing easy integration for sensors and peripherals. The device is positioned as a tool to help consolidate fragmented smart home ecosystems by enabling better communication between disparate devices such as Zigbee/Z-Wave antennas, temperature sensors, and audio equipment.
Topics: Hardware Launch IoT Smart Home