SMLIGHT SLZB-06 MG24 Review: An Ethernet Zigbee Coordinator That Also Proxies Bluetooth
PoE, Ethernet, USB and Wi-Fi in one gateway, built on Silicon Labs' EFR32MG24 with an amplified external antenna.
The SMLIGHT SLZB-06 MG24 is the coordinator to buy when your Home Assistant machine is in the wrong place for radio. Instead of plugging into the server, it connects over Ethernet with PoE, so it can be mounted wherever the Zigbee mesh needs it while the server stays in the basement or a rack. It runs Silicon Labs' EFR32MG24 with a +20 dB amplifier and a +5 dBi external antenna, works as a Zigbee coordinator and router, doubles as a Thread border router, and relays Bluetooth to Home Assistant as a BLE proxy. USB and Wi-Fi are available as alternative connections.
- Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT setups
- Servers in poor radio locations
- PoE installations
- Large Zigbee meshes
Pros
- Ethernet with PoE, so the radio can be mounted away from the server
- USB and Wi-Fi available as alternative connections
- Silicon Labs EFR32MG24 with a +20 dB amplifier and +5 dBi external antenna
- Works as both Zigbee coordinator and Zigbee router
- Thread border router capability
- Bluetooth proxy relays BLE sensors to Home Assistant
- Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT support
Cons
- No dual network mode, so Zigbee and Thread cannot run simultaneously
- No USB-over-Ethernet passthrough on this model
- No Z-Wave support and no Matter bridging
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
- More expensive than a plain USB coordinator
- One year warranty
Who is the SLZB-06 MG24 for?
The case for a LAN coordinator is simple: Zigbee range depends on where the radio sits, and servers usually live in the worst spot in the house. This one takes power and network from a single PoE cable, so it can be mounted centrally, high up or away from interference, and still talk to Home Assistant across the network. It supports both Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT, and if your situation changes it can also be connected by USB or over Wi-Fi instead.
What it offers
The radio is a current-generation Silicon Labs EFR32MG24, paired with a +20 dB amplifier and a detachable +5 dBi external antenna, which is the combination that keeps distant battery sensors attached to the mesh. It works as the coordinator that creates and secures the network and as a Zigbee router that relays for other devices. It is also a Thread border router, so it can bridge Thread accessories to your IP network for Matter setups. The extra feature over most coordinators is the Bluetooth proxy: it relays BLE signals from temperature, presence or plant sensors back to Home Assistant over the network, which effectively extends Bluetooth coverage to wherever the gateway is mounted.
What to know before you buy
It does not support dual network operation, so Zigbee and Thread are not served simultaneously by separate radios: the device fills one role at a time. There is no USB-over-Ethernet passthrough on this model, which its stablemates offer, so it cannot expose other USB dongles across the network. There is no Z-Wave support and no Matter bridging, so existing Zigbee devices are not exposed to Matter controllers through it. Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only. Warranty is one year.
Is the SLZB-06 MG24 worth it?
It costs more than a USB stick, and the extra buys placement freedom plus the BLE proxy, both of which solve real reliability problems rather than adding numbers to a spec sheet. If your Home Assistant box is already sitting in a decent central spot, a cheaper stick will do. If it is not, this is the difference between a mesh that works and one that keeps dropping sensors, and PoE means one cable does the whole job.
Frequently asked questions
Why choose a LAN coordinator over a USB stick?
Because Zigbee reliability depends on where the radio sits. Over Ethernet with PoE, this gateway can be mounted centrally while your Home Assistant server stays wherever it lives.
Does it work with Zigbee2MQTT and Home Assistant?
Yes, both are supported, and it can connect over Ethernet, USB or Wi-Fi.
What does the Bluetooth proxy do?
It relays Bluetooth Low Energy signals from nearby sensors back to Home Assistant over the network, extending BLE coverage to wherever the gateway is installed.
Can it run Zigbee and Thread at the same time?
No. It supports both roles but has no dual network mode, so it serves one at a time.
Does it support Z-Wave or act as a Matter bridge?
No to both. It is a Zigbee and Thread device, and it does not expose Zigbee devices to Matter controllers.
