Aeotec
Aeotec Z-Stick 7
- Native integration
- Local control
- Z-Wave
Prices verified September 2026
See more hubs & dongles picks on our Amazon storefront →Our verdict
Price is close to the official ZWA-2 (around £46 vs £51), so the real trade-off is form factor and chip generation, not cost. The Z-Stick 7 is a pocket dongle — 37 x 17mm, plugging flush into a laptop or Pi with zero desk footprint — versus the ZWA-2's separated antenna-and-base unit that needs shelf space. You lose Z-Wave Long Range and get the older 700-series radio instead of 800-series; Aeotec's own Z-Stick 10 Pro adds LR if you need it. Pick this for a compact, no-fuss UK/EU setup; pick the ZWA-2 for the newer chip, LR reach, and official Nabu Casa backing.
What can Home Assistant control on the Aeotec Z-Stick 7?
| Control | Type | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Firmware | Update | Shows the currently installed and latest available Z-Wave JS firmware for the stick; installs the image in place without a vendor tool. |
| Node status | Binary sensor | Ready/alive state of the controller node itself, separate from any individual mesh device. |
| Background RSSI | Sensor | Per-channel RF noise floor measured by the controller's radio; a rising value points to USB port or Wi-Fi interference rather than a mesh problem. |
| Successful commands | Sensor | Controller statistics counter for successfully received Z-Wave frames, part of the diagnostic message-health group used to spot a degrading stick or antenna placement. |
| Identify | Button | Triggers the coordinator's own identify/ping action to confirm the serial connection is alive without touching any paired device. |
Unlike the 800-series ZWA-2, this stick runs the older 700-series SDK, which has a documented firmware-level bug band causing the controller to jam or go unresponsive — Z-Wave JS's own troubleshooting docs recommend a specific firmware range and warn against builds outside it. Updates ship through Z-Wave JS's built-in firmware updater, exposed in HA as a standard update entity, rather than a separate vendor tool. One catch: all 700-series USB sticks report the same generic manufacturer/product ID to the firmware database, so before accepting whatever update the entity offers, check its version against the known-bad range yourself rather than assuming the latest offered build is automatically the safe choice.
Specs
| chip | Silicon Labs EFR32ZG14 (700-series, Z-Wave Plus V2 certified) |
|---|---|
| size | 37 x 17 x 8.5mm, 3.5g |
| model | ZWA010 |
| power | USB DC 4.75-5.25V; ~18-20mA standby, up to 40mA active draw |
| range | Up to 150m outdoors / up to 50m indoors (EU/UK model) |
| antenna | Internal PCB antenna, no external antenna or port |
| frequency | 868.42MHz (EU/UK) |
| long range | Not supported (use Z-Stick 10 Pro for LR) |
How does the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 compare?
| Product | From | Protocol | Local control | Integration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aeotec Z-Stick 7 (this product) | £46.43 | Z-Wave | Yes | Native |
| Apple TV 4K (Wi-Fi + Ethernet, 128GB) | £249 | Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Yes | Native |
| Aqara Hub M3 | £109.99 | Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Yes | Native |
| Beelink ME mini N150 | £299 | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Yes | Native |
Frequently asked questions
- Does the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 work with Home Assistant locally?
- Yes. The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is controlled locally in Home Assistant through a built-in Home Assistant core integration (zwave_js), so it keeps working if your internet connection or the Aeotec cloud goes down. Control and state updates stay on your own network.
- Which protocol does the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 use, and do I need a hub?
- The Aeotec Z-Stick 7 uses Z-Wave. To pair it with Home Assistant you need a Z-Wave controller stick attached to your Home Assistant host. Aeotec's own hub is not required when you integrate through a built-in Home Assistant core integration (zwave_js).
- How much does the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 cost in the UK?
- The lowest price we have listed for the Aeotec Z-Stick 7 is £46.43 at Amazon UK. Prices were last checked in September 2026 and change often, so confirm on the retailer's page before buying.