The smart home community just got a fantastic upgrade with the release of the Aeotec Z-Stick Gen5! I’ve been eagerly waiting for this update, and I’m thrilled to share my experience with this amazing device.
For those of you who’ve struggled with the previous Z-Stick models not being recognized by the Raspberry Pi 4 when connected directly to its USB ports, this is great news! The workaround of using a USB hub is now a thing of the past. I can confirm that the New Z-Stick Gen5 works seamlessly when connected directly to either the USB 3 or USB 2 ports on the RPi 4.
I’m running Home Assistant 0.111.4 on HASSOS 4.10 off a 64GB SD card on my 4GB RPi 4, and the transition has been smooth. The best part? Aeotec provided a backup tool that made transitioning from my old stick to the new one effortless.
Here’s what I love about the Z-Stick Gen5:
- Direct USB Connectivity: No more USB hubs needed!
- Seamless Integration: Works perfectly with my existing setup
- Painless Transition: Backup and restore process was a breeze
The only noticeable difference is the addition of the word “New” on the back of the device, making it easy to identify.
If you’re still using the older Z-Stick models, I highly recommend upgrading. It’s like getting a whole new smart home setup without the hassle!
What are your thoughts on this update? Have you made the switch yet? I’d love to hear your experiences in the comments below! 