Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
This Home Assistant hardware setup guide compares running Home Assistant on existing hardware, Home Assistant Green, and a Raspberry Pi 5. I explain how direct Zigbee, Thread, and Z-Wave USB radios can eliminate the need for extra hubs while supporting devices in Apple Home and other smart-home platforms. It will help you choose the right Home Assistant setup based on your current hardware, wireless-device needs, and how far you want to expand your system.
๐๏ธ *Watch More*
youtu.be/a1reY0MnJmQ
youtu.be/jHn3WpLCBI4
๐๏ธ *Go Shopping*
My Raspberry Pi 5 Kit geni.us/tYfN [Amazon]
Home Assistant ZBT-2 for Thread or Zigbee geni.us/BbYS31 [Amazon]
Zooz Z-Wave Radio Smart Stick G8 geni.us/HoW0Ijj [Amazon]
Zigbee USB Stick geni.us/TVbx [Amazon]
Home Assistant Green geni.us/UyWxl [Amazon]
๐ *Sunday Scene Newsletter*
ericw.org/newsletter
It's just 3 Apple or smart home things worth your attention.
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youtube.com/@EricWelander?sub_confirmation=1
๐ธ *Instagram*
instagram.com/ericwelander
๐งต *Threads*
threads.net/@ericwelander
*Chapters*
00:00 Intro
00:24 Running Home Assistant on Existing Hardware
01:30 Why Direct USB Radios Matter
02:30 Home Assistant Green Overview
03:23 ZBT-2 and USB Port Limits
05:00 Thread, Zigbee, and Z-Wave Setup
06:13 Why I Upgraded from Home Assistant Green
06:48 Raspberry Pi 5 Hardware Setup
08:24 Installing Home Assistant OS
08:54 Which Home Assistant Setup Is Right for You?
09:30 A Simpler Alternative: Homey
#HomeAssistant #RaspberryPi5 #SmartHome
๐ผ *Details*
- Some links in this description are affiliate links and might support the channel at no additional cost to you
- This video and all of Eric Welander's channel is a production of E. Welander, LLC
This Home Assistant hardware setup guide compares running Home Assistant on existing hardware, Home Assistant Green, and a Raspberry Pi 5. I explain how direct Zigbee, Thread, and Z-Wave USB radios can eliminate the need for extra hubs while supporting devices in Apple Home and other smart-home platforms. It will help you choose the right Home Assistant setup based on your current hardware, wireless-device needs, and how far you want to expand your system.
๐๏ธ *Watch More*
youtu.be/a1reY0MnJmQ
youtu.be/jHn3WpLCBI4
๐๏ธ *Go Shopping*
My Raspberry Pi 5 Kit geni.us/tYfN [Amazon]
Home Assistant ZBT-2 for Thread or Zigbee geni.us/BbYS31 [Amazon]
Zooz Z-Wave Radio Smart Stick G8 geni.us/HoW0Ijj [Amazon]
Zigbee USB Stick geni.us/TVbx [Amazon]
Home Assistant Green geni.us/UyWxl [Amazon]
๐ *Sunday Scene Newsletter*
ericw.org/newsletter
It's just 3 Apple or smart home things worth your attention.
โ *Subscribe*
youtube.com/@EricWelander?sub_confirmation=1
๐ธ *Instagram*
instagram.com/ericwelander
๐งต *Threads*
threads.net/@ericwelander
*Chapters*
00:00 Intro
00:24 Running Home Assistant on Existing Hardware
01:30 Why Direct USB Radios Matter
02:30 Home Assistant Green Overview
03:23 ZBT-2 and USB Port Limits
05:00 Thread, Zigbee, and Z-Wave Setup
06:13 Why I Upgraded from Home Assistant Green
06:48 Raspberry Pi 5 Hardware Setup
08:24 Installing Home Assistant OS
08:54 Which Home Assistant Setup Is Right for You?
09:30 A Simpler Alternative: Homey
#HomeAssistant #RaspberryPi5 #SmartHome
๐ผ *Details*
- Some links in this description are affiliate links and might support the channel at no additional cost to you
- This video and all of Eric Welander's channel is a production of E. Welander, LLC









![Is Aqara Doorbell G410 the BEST for HomeKit Video?
HomeKit Secure Video is Apples service that allows you to record video clips to iCloud without paying additional monthly fees beyond your iCloud plan. There arent many options for doorbells that support this service. Models from Logitech and Belkin have been plagued with technical issues. After the success of their Doorbell G4, when Aqara launched their new Doorbell G410 with support for HomeKit Secure Video, I knew I had to check it out.
๐๏ธ *Related Video*
https://youtu.be/tBp7vlgXoYk
๐๏ธ *Products*
Aqara Doorbell G410 https://geni.us/8Lf3XK [Amazon]
HomeKit Secure Video pricing (included with iCloud) https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/icloud-homekit-secure-video-mme054c72692/icloud
โ *Subscribe*
https://www.youtube.com/@EricWelander?sub_confirmation=1
๐ *Sunday Scene Newsletter*
https://ericw.org/newsletter
๐ธ *Instagram*
https://instagram.com/ericwelander
*Chapters*
00:00 Introduction
01:06 Installation
02:24 Doorbell specs and vs Doorbell G4
03:05 Smart home hub functions
03:56 Video performance
05:50 Power options
06:16 Huge advantage for face recognition
06:56 Video picture quality
07:51 What I wanted from Aqara
09:38 Chime sounds and alerts
10:22 Is this doorbell right for you?
#HomeKitSecureVideo #AppleHome #doorbellcamera
๐ผ *Details*
- Some links in this description are affiliate links and might support the channel at no additional cost to you
- This video and all of Eric Welanders channel is a production of E. Welander, LLC Is Aqara Doorbell G410 the BEST for HomeKit Video?](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R1_5-_H-eLQ/mqdefault.jpg)
