SONOFF Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus (Dongle-PZG23) USB Flash Drive
SONOFF Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus (Dongle-PZG23) USB Flash Drive with EFR32ZG23, Compatible with Home Assistant and openHAB, S2 Security, Stable and Extensive Smart Home Control
| Weight: | 0.07 Kilograms |
| Brand: | SONOFF |
| Model: | Dongle-PZG23 |
| Manufacture: | SONOFF |
| Origin: | China |
SONOFF Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus
I ordered this SONOFF Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus, and it has proven to be a highly reliable and discreet addition to my smart home set-up. Despite its small size, which ensures it does not get in the way, it comes equipped with a 2dBi external antenna with an adjustable angle to significantly improve signal stability. I also really appreciate that a handy USB extension cable is included, allowing for flexible placement away from the host machine to minimise any potential electromagnetic interference.
In terms of installation, the process was remarkably hassle-free. It functions as a true plug-and-play device; I simply plugged it into my system, and it was recognised very quickly. The set-up was noticeably smoother than I had expected, particularly when integrating it with Home Assistant, though it is also fully compatible with other open-source platforms such as openHAB.
When it comes to performance, it feels exceptionally stable. Powered by the EFR32ZG23 chip, this Z-Wave 800 series dongle supports the latest S2 security features alongside Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) for direct point-to-point communication. In practice, the range seems very decent, and it handles multiple device connections without any issues whatsoever. I have been running it continuously, and it has not dropped a single device so far, ensuring a safe and robust control network.
Overall, it does exactly what I needed it to do and provides excellent interference resistance for a seamless smart home experience. Priced at 34.20 at the time of reviewing, it represents excellent value for money for a highly capable, modern, and dependable Z-Wave coordinator.
A Flawless First Foray into Z-Wave for Home Assista
TLDR / Overview
As a regular user of SONOFF products, I had high expectations for their first Z-Wave 800 dongle, and it did not disappoint. The aluminium body feels incredibly well-made, and the setup within Home Assistant was a breeze compared to some other smart home tech. It handles the latest Z-Wave standards for better range and security, and the inclusion of a USB-A extension cable shows that SONOFF understands the practical needs of their users.
Quality and Design
SONOFF is a quality brand that we use extensively in our smart household, and this dongle fits perfectly in line with their other top-tier products like the Zigbee Max products The aluminium body is fairly sleek and gives the device a bit of heft that plastic alternatives lack. It also features a large, adjustable antenna to help with that long-range performance that the 800 standard is known for.
One big plus is that it comes with a USB-A cable included in the box. This is highly recommended to prevent interference from the USB ports on your computer or hub, which is a well-documented issue in the smart home community. It is great to see a manufacturer include exactly what you need for a stable connection right out of the gate.
Setup and Integration
This was actually my first foray into Z-Wave, as I usually stick to Zigbee, but the experience was remarkably smooth. I am using it with Home Assistant, and the system recognised the dongle instantly. Adding the Z-Wave integration and getting the stick configured was quick, easy, and entirely free of the usual technical faff.
The 800 series standard is supposedly capable of much longer ranges than Zigbee, and so far, the stability has been excellent. Given how well this coordinator works, I will definitely be looking for more Z-Wave devices to add to the network in the future.
Value for Money
At the time of writing, the price is 38.51. While it is not the cheapest dongle on the market, it is certainly not overly expensive when you consider that Z-Wave products generally carry a higher price tag than their Zigbee counterparts. Given the build quality, the latest 800 series technology, and the painless setup, it represents very fair value for money for a coordinator that should be future-proof for years to face.
The Verdict
I am giving this a full 5-star rating. It is a great product that lives up to the reputation SONOFF has built with their Zigbee Dongle Plus and MAX ranges. It looks nice, it is built to last, and it just works. If you are a Home Assistant user looking to start or expand a Z-Wave network, I highly recommend this as your primary controller.
Pros:
Robust aluminium construction that feels premium and durable.
Latest Z-Wave 800 series chip for better range and security.
Exceptionally easy setup within Home Assistant.
Includes a necessary USB-A extension cable to avoid interference.
Reliable performance from a trusted brand in smart home tech.
Cons:
Slightly more expensive than standard Zigbee coordinators.
The large antenna makes it a bit more prominent than smaller sticks.
SONOff grande marchio
SONOFF una garanzia. Utilizzando per espandere le funzionalit z-wave per il mio Home Assistant che gira su un mini pc.
Ad oggi nessun problema e un ottimo raggio d’azione, anche grazie alle caratteristiche dei dispositivi Z-Wave (lavorano ad una frequenza molto pi bassa di quelli ZigBee garantendo una portata del segnale maggiore anche se consente meno jump).
Consiglio vivamente.
Sonoff Zwave Dongle
Works pefect on my flashed thin client with homeassistant and old zwave devices from my retired old vera plus which i was just using as a zwave bridge the past few years to homeassistant. No issues what so ever with the older zwave devices which are like 10 years old now along with the vera plus. Also running zigbee and thread on 2 other seperate dongles. Again no issues with all 3 dongles in the same room/house. Good stuff!
Excellent for long range applications
Sonoff is a quality brand from which we have many devices in our smart household connected to Home Assistant, all of them being excellent products.
The only issue we have is with a Zigbee door sensor at our gate which has low signal strength, as it is just a bit too far for Zigbee. When I saw this Sonoff Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus, I decided to give it a try as the Z-Wave 800 standard supposedly can handle much longer ranges, and thus much better for these situations.
The Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus looks and feels well made, and looks nice too with its fairly sleek aluminium body and a large antenna. It comes with a USB-A cable which is recommended to be used to prevent interference from USB ports, which is a well documented issue.
Setting it up was a breeze, as Home Assistant instantly added the Z-Wave integration and adding the dongle to set it up, which was quick and easy. Once set up, I added a Z-Wave 800 door sensor and installed it on our gate. I am happy to report that the door sensor now works properly without any issues, as the range improvement is noticeable. Impressive!
Just like all our other Sonoff products, they hit it out of the park yet again with this Z-Wave 800 dongle, which fits nicely in line with their other new Sonoff Zigbee MG24 dongle, and their Dongle MAX products which I have found to be quality products as well. For the price of 38.51 at the time of writing this review, it’s not the cheapest but not overly expensive either, as most Z-Wave products carry a higher price tag. Regardless I recommend it and give it 5 stars!