Home Assistant Connect Aux-2 Launches as $69 Smart Home Multi-Tool

Nabu Casa, the commercial arm behind the Open Home Foundation which operates Home Assistant, has launched a $69 multi-function hardware device called the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2. Roughly the size of a deck of cards, the Aux-2 is designed to help users integrate non-smart equipment into their automated setups. Reviewers testing the hardware found it useful for bridging older technology into modern configurations, such as tracking garage refrigerator temperatures and routing audio to previously unused in-wall speakers.

The device features 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet, USB-A, USB-C, a digital and analog audio jack, a Grove port for peripherals like sensors and buttons, and two RS-232 serial ports. It operates on ESPHome, an open platform for DIY smart home devices utilizing ESP boards. According to the reporting, the unit can function as a Bluetooth proxy to connect sensors, bridge USB antennas like Z-Wave or Zigbee, and manage serial-connected devices such as televisions, AV receivers, and solar inverters.

Setting Up the Multi-Tool Hub

Initial configuration of the Aux-2 involves plugging the hardware into a computer via USB-C to download and install firmware through a web browser, followed by entering Wi-Fi credentials. Users can then connect the device to power using USB-C or power over Ethernet and complete the remaining setup inside the Home Assistant software interface. Through the interface, Music Assistant and other integrations can be configured to route audio outputs to various equipment, including Sonos speakers.

While similar functionality can be achieved using cheaper DIY components or alternative hardware like the $35 Apollo Automations Cast-1, products like the Aux-2 offer a more user-friendly, out-of-the-box solution for enthusiasts working within the open-source ecosystem.