Step 1: Get the HomeAssistant BeaglePlay Image

Download the HomeAssistant Flasher Image. In the future, images will be available directly from Beagleboard.org.

Step 2: Flash the Image to an SD Card

Use Balena Etcher to flash the image to your SD Card. Download Balena Etcher from here.

Step 3: Flash the Board

Without applying power, insert your SD card and hold down the “USR” button, then Apply power.

Keep holding the USR button until the LEDs start cycling, as shown below:

When the LEDs are done flashing, first remove power to the board, then remove the SD card and re-apply power to boot from the onboard eMMC memory.

• Once booted, the Beagle shows up as a USB-Serial Adapter!
• Find its IP address on your router and use an “SSH” client to connect.
• Connect a monitor, keyboard and mouse.

Step 4: Change your password

The defaults are:

• Username: debian
• Password: temppwd

You will want to change this immediately, as keeping a device with its default password on the network is dangerous.

Run the following command once logged in to change your password:

passwd

Step 5: Let’s Setup Zigbee

• First, we need to disable bfserial:

This is documented in the BeagleDocs here.

echo "    fdtoverlays /overlays/k3-am625-beagleplay-bcfserial-no-firmware.dtbo" | sudo tee -a /boot/firmware/extlinux/extlinux.conf
sudo reboot now

The board will now reboot. Once booted, re-connect.

• Grab the CC1352 Python Flasher Script:

wget https://git.beagleboard.org/beagleconnect/cc1352-firmware/-/raw/main/0.2.2/play/cc1352-flasher.py

• Get the Zigbee Coordinator Firmware:

wget https://github.com/Koenkk/Z-Stack-firmware/raw/3096170e03f36a90e91648a7e703379ca386d6c6/coordinator/Z-Stack_3.x.0/bin/CC1352P7_coordinator_20230507.zip

• Unzip the Firmware

unzip CC1352P7_coordinator_20230507.zip

• Get the IntelHex Python Extension

sudo pip install IntelHex

• Finally, flash the CC1352

sudo python cc1352-flasher.py CC1352P7_coordinator_20230507.hex

Step 6: Let’s find our IP Address

ifconfig eth0

Step 7: Now, let’s login to HomeAssistant

On your computer, navigate to your IP address and add “:8123” at the end of your URL to indicate the HomeAssistant port number.

Example: http://10.0.0.85:8123 or http://192.168.1.12:8123

You will be presented with the HomeAssistant setup screen.

Step 8. Add the Zigbee Integration to HomeAssistant

On the bottom left, select Settings.

Then, select Devices & Services.

And finally, “Add Service” at the bottom right and select Zigbee Home Automation from the list.

For Radio Type, select ZNP.

Note: Make sure to set the Serial device path to /dev/ttyS4

And now you can create a new Zigbee network.

If all goes to plan, it should show up successfully, and you can assign the coordinator to a room.

Now, simply click “add devices” under the Zigbee integration!

Different Zigbee devices enter pairing mode in different ways.

Most have a “Sync” button that you need to hold for a few seconds. Others, like my Ikea FYRTUR blinds, have you hold the two buttons to pair. Lights will usually have you cycle them on-off several times (5 in the case of my Ikea ones). But once in pairing mode, you will see devices start to populate the list.

You can even configure multiple devices at once! Here we have 2 blinds and 3 lights, all configuring and initializing at once! How neat!

After a little bit, you should see that all your devices are ready to use and reporting various data to HomeAssistant. You are now in full control!

Summary

Well done! Thanks to your ingeniosity and a little help from BeaglePlay, this powerful little board with remarkable capabilities, you’ve now successfully set up your own Zigbee home automation system.

But hold on, what you’ve experienced so far is just a glimpse of what’s out there. This has just been a small subset of devices, ranging from remotes, MMWave presence detection, infrared sensors, cameras, lights, garage door openers and beyond.

There is a whole world of IoT and smart devices ahead of you. Perhaps you’ll want to add more Zigbee devices or Wi-Fi-enabled ones, or you may want to integrate HomeAssistant into Alexa or Apple HomeKit and create routines and automations. All of these things are just a few clicks away, and the Beagle is ready to remain by your side as your trusty Home Automation hub. We’re excited to see what you’re up to! Don’t forget to share your projects with us.

#letsokdo

Image credits: Andrei Aldea

Let’s invent the future together

What’s your challenge? From augmented reality to machine learning and automation, send us your questions, problems or ideas… We have the solution to help you design the world. Get in touch today.