[LIST] Does it Matter and Work over Thread

I’ve just got the Smart Home / SilverCrest - Smart Plug with monitoring from the Lidl. Sadly I can’t get it to work using the Lidl Smart Home app. I can connect it using Matter. However it’s without monitoring.
So it can be added to the list with Matter support, but without metering.

The one I bought (dutch): SILVERCREST® Stopcontact-tussenstekker | LIDL

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We tested this internally, and it turns out LIDL plugs are Tuya-based. Instead of following the standard Matter specification, Tuya has opted to use their own custom power measuring clusters. To make these work with Homey, we would need to create custom bindings. So much for Matter making things easier, right? :sweat_smile:

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They’re working fine in HA though, I bought 3 for €5 each :partying_face:

They are certified, so I guess the CSA doesn’t mind.

It’s interesting—I wasn’t even aware that custom clusters were a thing with Matter. It seems like Tuya developed this plug before Matter 1.3 introduced power measurement support, so they went with their own approach. From what I can see, Home Assistant has done the work integrating these custom clusters.

If more manufacturers start adopting this method, we might need to consider developing custom Matter App drivers for Homey in the future :woozy_face:

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The Matter server that HA uses supports 3 custom clusters, all power-related: python-matter-server/matter_server/common/custom_clusters.py at main · home-assistant-libs/python-matter-server · GitHub

The LIDL plugs will probably use one of them (I guess the Eve cluster).

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In the US and paired Kasa KS225 and KS205 switches with Homey via matter. So far they seem to be playing nice. Just sharing so this thread has the info that they work.

Excited to get more of my kit on Homey and out of my Smartthings Hub.

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That’s great to hear! Thanks for letting me know. We’re currently collaborating with TP-Link to integrate their Matter devices into their apps, making them easier to find and use.

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While Matter vastly improves upon the range of device types and available clusters I think sadly there will always be some features which will make it into devices before they make it into the standard for one reason or another :frowning: So I think sooner or later you guys will need to bite the bullet on that one

(PS: I’m still waiting for the ability to add uncertified devices like you can in Homekit :stuck_out_tongue: )

My Nuki smart lock 4 loose there connection sometimes connected via homey with matter

Does anyone know why this happened
Have 2 smart locks

Oh that would be great. Thank you! The matter integration after some trial and error on my part was great. I am not seeing a way to read the dimming level yet for the dimmer switch, but I’ll dig around.

Also the Matter sharing in Homey worked beautifully.

Homey’s Matter implementation has some stability issues, others also have problems with other types of devices losing connection. I use my Nuki over Matter with Home Assistant and don’t have any issues with it. I use an Apple HomePod as Thread border router.

Okay if I buy an HomePod can I connect it via matter then with honey and add Nuki to my the HomePod

Yes, but that won’t solve any issues if the problem is with Homey’s Matter implementation, because that’s the protocol that will be used to communicate between Homey and the lock (through the HomePod). By using a HomePod you’ll bypass Homey’s Thread radio though (which also isn’t great).

I understand it

Hope athom @Doekse will come with a matter update soon then

Yes, same here. My Nuki lock works very well with H.A. over Matter/Thread.
Just saying Nuki is allright.

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But will they still have rate limit issues?

I would expect this to be a continuous problem.
Manufacturers create similar stuff into manufacturer-specific clusters before it becomes a standard.
After it becomes a standard, there is no mandatory/timely upgrade in manufacturer’s software, until they actively decide which devices will start supporting the generic standard of the next version of the specification.
So you will have devices in the market from a manufacturer with specific clusters and the same type of devices with generic support for the same functionality.
This is the achilles heel of Matter. The freedom of device manufacturers to create custom clusters AND at the same time no force applies (besides markets) that encourages them to refactor to the generic standard.

Since these devices would work locally over Matter they won’t run into any of the issues we currently see with the cloud API

Yeah, it is a shame. We’ll see if a Matter SDK for Homey is something that would be feasible

Ah of course!

6 month ago I got burned by a Matter button that did not work (I still have it as I figure it’ll eventually work)… So I drop matter for a while and build up my z-wave and zigbee networ and do Thread later… Now I’m eyeing the Aqura U300 Matter over Thread lock. I notices somebody mention they got the U200 working so this leaves me to think the U300 will work. But before I go I aim to have at least one Thread repeater. I’d really rather get a switch with metering as this can be useful. The Eve plug seems good but gees, one is more expensive than 5 third reality plugs.