# Powered thread router devices (FTD) choices in Canada - Eve Energy?
**URL:** https://community.homey.app/t/powered-thread-router-devices-ftd-choices-in-canada-eve-energy/156473
**Category:** Questions & Help
**Tags:** homey-pro, matter, thread
**Created:** [June 23, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/powered-thread-router-devices-ftd-choices-in-canada-eve-energy/156473 "2026-06-23T16:20:17Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Luca1](https://community.homey.app/u/Luca1)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2026, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/powered-thread-router-devices-ftd-choices-in-canada-eve-energy/156473/1 "2026-06-23T16:20:17Z")
Hi I’m relatively new to homey. I’ve been using Google home for a long time for automation. As time to replace my aging Nest protect devices, I’ve been testing a couple of Heiman S1-M smoke detectors, which use Matter-over-thread. My homey pro is in central position in my home, but I think that the thread network needs reinforcing for devices not to disconnect.
I looked for powered FTD devices, and the AI sold me on: _Eve Energy:_ _Widely considered the gold standard for energy monitoring and reliability_. I installed a couple of plugs yesterday (firmware 3.5.0) and was able to connect them to Homey directly, I can see power consumption, great.
Only one of the two plugs disconnected after a couple of hours. I moved it much closer to the Homey hub but it stayed disconnected - so my first question: isn’t this system supposed to be “self-healing”? Meantime, one of the two smoke detectors disconnected as well, and staying so.
I deleted and re-paired the Eve plug, keeping it closer to the hub, so far so good for the plug, but the smoke detector is not reconnecting on its own. This short experience got me wondering if Matter is a good choice moving forward (I can still return the devices).
In your experience, do thread devices disconnect and don’t reconnect automatically? Would 4 FTD be enough for a large home (wood frame / drywall)? Should I rethink the choice of Matter-over-thread at this point for something as critical as smoke alarms?
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### Author:  [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/powered-thread-router-devices-ftd-choices-in-canada-eve-energy/156473/2 "2026-06-23T17:37:12Z")
Matter in general is pretty unstable and unreliable, not something you’d want to use for a smoke detector. I would recommend getting Zigbee or Z-Wave smoke detectors instead
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### Author:  [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2026, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/powered-thread-router-devices-ftd-choices-in-canada-eve-energy/156473/3 "2026-06-23T22:40:48Z")
Thread uses the same frequency and technique as zigbee.
You should add sufficient Thread routers if you want to cover a (large) home.
As rule of thumb, I’d say 4 meters max between any of these.
Very useful zigbee info (like, adjust your 2.4GHz wifi and Thread channels to minimise interference):
[https://community.homey.app/t/advanced-zigbee-troubleshooting-on-homey/115930](https://community.homey.app/t/advanced-zigbee-troubleshooting-on-homey/115930)
Offtopic:
> [@Luca1](#):
>
> the AI sold me on: _Eve Energy:_ _Widely considered the gold standard for energy monitoring and reliability_.
With all due respect, but that’s just a marketing yell of Eve HQ.
Just like “Homey is the last hub you’ll ever need”; it’s meaningless, it’s just some words.
Imho it’s still best to check experiences with other users / this forum, especially if stuff is 100% compatible with Homey.
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### Author:  [@Luca1](https://community.homey.app/u/Luca1)
#### Post date: [June 23, 2026, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/powered-thread-router-devices-ftd-choices-in-canada-eve-energy/156473/4 "2026-06-23T23:43:34Z")
Thanks @smarthomesven and @Peter_Kawa
I do have a bunch of TR3 Zigbee plugs already around the house. And they have not disconnected, so far. My 1st thought was Zigbee or Zwave, but… Heiman S1-M has CAN/ULC S531 (Canadian certification). Finding alternatives to the Nest protect is not so easy. I’m also worried that devices that are lacking Canadian certification could cause problems in case of an insurance claim - it’s not like insurance companies need extra reasons to find you at fault.
My impression, and perhaps is wrong, is that Zigbee, and especially Z-wave, seems marketed much more towards Europe than North America. I’d be glad to be pointed to suitable devices that I’m obviously missing in my searching.
For instance, browsing the only 2 options for detectors with Zigbee on the buy guide, Frient or Trust, is not obvious how to even buy these sensors. I can only see one option to buy the Frient smoke sensor from Vesternet for $101 (wow!) plus shipping.
I am still curious about Matter though. Aside from the feeling that Matter is still somewhat unreliable, are there any better options than the Eve plugs? Maybe I’ll try and have another look at wifi devices as well.
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### Author:  [@smarthomesven](https://community.homey.app/u/smarthomesven)
#### Post date: [June 24, 2026, 12:46am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/powered-thread-router-devices-ftd-choices-in-canada-eve-energy/156473/5 "2026-06-24T00:46:50Z")
> [@Luca1](#):
>
> Maybe I’ll try and have another look at wifi devices as well.
All Tuya-based devices (WiFi) should be supported as well, maybe there are options with Tuya? At least here in the Netherlands, Tuya devices are sold everywhere (online and also in many physical stores) under many different brand names and mobile apps. To check if a device uses Tuya, you can use this strategy:
> [@\[HowTo\] Recognize Tuya-based devices](https://community.homey.app/t/howto-recognize-tuya-based-devices/147343):
>
> If you’re shopping (online) for smart home devices, you might want to know if the device is supported by Homey. But you can’t always find it in the Homey App Store Many smart home brands use “Tuya“ to handle their smart home cloud/services. What is Tuya? Many manufacturers want to build smart home devices. But not all of them know how to build everything (app, server, firmware, smart modules, compliance, integrations) themselves. For this, the brand can use Tuya to do it for them. Tuya will pu…