Nabu Casa, the commercial division of the Open Home Foundation responsible for managing Home Assistant, has officially introduced the Home Assistant Connect Aux-2. Priced at $69 and roughly the size of a standard deck of cards, this versatile hardware box is engineered to bridge disparate devices into a cohesive smart home network. The device arrives as part of broader initiatives to make the powerful, open-source automation ecosystem significantly more user-friendly and accessible to everyday enthusiasts.
Testing the Aux-2 reveals a remarkably straightforward deployment process paired with a robust array of hardware connections. The device features built-in 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, an Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet support, a USB-A port, and a USB-C port. Additionally, it incorporates a digital and analog audio jack, a dedicated Grove port designed for interfacing with peripherals like sensors, buttons, and LEDs, and a pair of RS-232 serial ports for legacy hardware control.
Key takeaways
- The Home Assistant Connect Aux-2 is a $69 multi-function box that is approximately the size of a deck of cards.
- Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Ethernet with PoE, USB ports, serial connectors, and an audio jack.
- The device is built on ESPHome and utilizes existing open-source integrations for Bluetooth proxying, audio streaming, and serial control.
- Initial configuration is handled via a web browser over USB-C before final integration inside the Home Assistant user interface.
Hardware Capabilities and Bridge Functions
The Aux-2 functions as a multi-tool capable of tackling multiple smart home pain points simultaneously. It can operate as a Bluetooth proxy, allowing external sensors—such as Govee Bluetooth hygrometers placed inside garage refrigerators—to communicate reliably with a Home Assistant hub across multiple walls. If a primary Home Assistant hub suffers from poor physical placement, plugging a Nabu Casa Z-Wave or Zigbee antenna directly into the Aux-2's USB port resolves coverage gaps.
Beyond wireless proxying, the hardware opens up audio and wired control avenues. Connecting an amplifier or powered speakers to the audio jack enables music streaming via Music Assistant, an auxiliary platform that runs directly on local hardware. Music Assistant supports major services like Spotify and YouTube Music alongside local files, routing audio outputs to diverse protocols such as Sonos, Wiim, AirPlay, and Google Cast. Furthermore, the dual RS-232 serial ports allow users to control hardware like TVs, AV receivers, and solar inverters directly.
Streamlined Setup and Open-Source Philosophy
Getting the Aux-2 running requires minimal friction. Users can plug the box into a computer using a USB-C cable, download and install the latest firmware directly from a web browser, and configure Wi-Fi credentials instantly. Moving the device to a media console and supplying power via USB-C or Power over Ethernet allows the Home Assistant interface to automatically detect the hardware via ESPHome, prompting a setup wizard that finalizes feature enablement in minutes.
While equivalent functionality can be achieved using alternative pre-built hardware or by manually soldering cheap ESP32 development boards, the Aux-2 offers a polished, turnkey solution for users who want to avoid tedious DIY tinkering. Both Nabu Casa and alternative hardware vendors actively support the Open Home Foundation, ensuring that pre-assembled options coexist harmoniously with a fully open-source philosophy that always encourages custom building.
Comments