AVATTO HA70 Home Assistant Box User Manual

1. Introduction

The AVATTO HA70 Home Assistant Box is a compact, open-source smart home hardware hub designed to centralize and automate your smart devices. It functions as a small mini-computer, providing a robust platform for home automation with support for various protocols and ecosystems.

Key features include a Quad-core Cortex-A53 processor, 4GB RAM, 32GB EMMC storage, and multiple connectivity options such as USB 3.0/2.0 ports, HDMI, Gigabit Ethernet, and a memory card socket.

2. Specifications

The following table details the technical specifications of the AVATTO HA70 Home Assistant Box:

3. Setup

Follow these steps to set up your AVATTO HA70 Home Assistant Box:

1. Connect Ethernet Cable: Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the LAN port on the Home Assistant Box and the other end to your local home network router.

   

2. Plug in Power Supply: Plug the power supply cable into the DC 5V==2A port on the Home Assistant Box and connect it to a power outlet.
3. System Startup: Wait for a few minutes for the system to start up. Once started, you can access the Home Assistant interface.
4. Access Home Assistant: Open a web browser on your computer or mobile device and navigate to http://homeassistant.local:8123. Alternatively, download the Home Assistant app from the App Store or Google Play.

   

5. Initial Configuration: On the welcome page, you can choose to "CREATE MY SMART HOME" for a fresh setup or "Upload backup" / "Restore from your Home Assistant Cloud backup" if you have an existing configuration.

4. Operating Modes

The AVATTO HA70 supports two primary modes for Zigbee device communication:

4.1 ZHA Mode (Zigbee Home Automation)

ZHA is a native integration within Home Assistant based on the Zigbee protocol. It allows direct integration of Zigbee devices with Home Assistant without an external MQTT broker.

4.2 ZigBee2MQTT Mode

ZigBee2MQTT allows Zigbee devices to be connected to smart home systems through the MQTT protocol. This mode is suitable for users who prefer to use MQTT for communication with systems like Home Assistant, Node-RED, or OpenHAB. It also allows users to bypass vendor gateways and directly control Zigbee devices using a Zigbee USB adapter.

5. Compatibility

The AVATTO HA70 Home Assistant Box offers broad compatibility, allowing you to integrate a wide range of smart home devices and ecosystems.

• Ecosystem Migration: Seamlessly switch from or integrate with existing smart home ecosystems such as Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, and Amazon Alexa.
• Third-Party USB Accessories: Expand functionality by integrating third-party USB accessories and other ZigBee 3.0 smart dongle devices.
• Extensive Device Support: Compatible with a vast array of brands and devices, including but not limited to:
  • Mijia, Tuya, Yiweilian, Bolian, Haier, Panasonic Electric, Dyson, Opp, Yilai, Philips Hue
  • Gree, Midea, Dajin air conditioning
  • Fluorite Cloud, Hikvision, Dahua, TP-LINK cameras (supporting rtsp and ONVIF)
  • Up to 2,000 Zigbee smart devices
  • Sony, Xiaomi, LG, Samsung, Apple TVs
  • esphome, zigbee, knx, 485, 233, modbus, mqtt, radio frequency, infrared devices
• Voice Assistant Integration: Connects with popular voice assistants like HomeKit, Xiao Ai Speaker, Siri, Apple Speaker, and Alexa/Google Home.

6. Maintenance

To ensure optimal performance and longevity of your AVATTO HA70 Home Assistant Box, consider the following maintenance tips:

• Keep it Clean: Regularly dust the device to prevent accumulation that could affect ventilation. Use a soft, dry cloth.
• Proper Ventilation: Ensure the device is placed in a well-ventilated area, away from direct sunlight or heat sources, to prevent overheating.
• Software Updates: Periodically check for and install software updates for Home Assistant to benefit from new features, bug fixes, and security enhancements.
• Backup Configuration: Regularly back up your Home Assistant configuration to prevent data loss. This can typically be done through the Home Assistant interface.
• Power Cycle: If you experience minor issues, a simple power cycle (unplugging and replugging the power adapter) can often resolve them.

7. Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues with your Home Assistant Box, refer to the following common troubleshooting steps:

• Webpage Not Opening: If the Home Assistant web interface (http://homeassistant.local:8123) does not open after initial setup, ensure the power supply and Ethernet cable are securely plugged in. Wait a few more minutes for the system to fully boot.
• Network Connectivity Issues: Verify that your Ethernet cable is properly connected to both the Home Assistant Box and your router. Check your router's status to ensure it has an active internet connection.
• Device Not Responding: If connected smart devices are not responding, check their power status and ensure they are within range of your Zigbee network. Restarting the Home Assistant Box may also help.
• Performance Issues: If the system feels slow, ensure it has adequate ventilation. Consider reducing the number of active integrations or automations if resource usage is high.

8. User Tips

No specific user tips were available from reviews or Q&A for this product. However, general tips for Home Assistant users include:

• Start Simple: Begin with a few basic automations and gradually expand your smart home setup.
• Community Resources: Leverage the extensive Home Assistant community forums and documentation for advanced configurations and troubleshooting.
• Experiment Safely: When trying new integrations or automations, do so incrementally and ensure you have backups of your configuration.

9. Warranty & Support

For detailed warranty information and technical support, please refer to the official AVATTO website or contact their customer service. A comprehensive user manual in PDF format is also available for download here.