SMLIGHT SLZB-06 U Review: A PoE Zigbee Coordinator With USB Passthrough and a Three Year Warranty
Texas Instruments CC2652P over Ethernet, PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, and the ability to share other USB dongles across the network.
The SLZB-06 U is SMLIGHT's LAN gateway built on the well-proven Texas Instruments CC2652P, the chip most self-hosted Zigbee networks have run on for years. It connects over Ethernet with PoE, USB or Wi-Fi, uses a +20 dB amplifier and a +5 dBi external antenna, and works as a Zigbee coordinator, a Zigbee router and a Thread border router. Its distinguishing feature is USB-over-Ethernet passthrough, which lets other USB devices, such as a Z-Wave stick, be reached across the network as if they were plugged into the server. It carries a three year warranty, longer than the rest of the range.
- Zigbee2MQTT and Home Assistant setups
- Sharing a Z-Wave stick over the network
- PoE installations
- Proven, well-supported hardware
Pros
- Proven Texas Instruments CC2652P radio, the long-standing Zigbee2MQTT default
- Ethernet with PoE, plus USB and Wi-Fi options
- USB-over-Ethernet passthrough for sharing another dongle, such as a Z-Wave stick
- +20 dB amplifier with a +5 dBi external antenna
- Works as Zigbee coordinator, Zigbee router and Thread border router
- Three year warranty, longer than the rest of the range
- Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT support
Cons
- No Bluetooth proxy, unlike the MG24 and p7U models
- No dual network mode, so Zigbee and Thread cannot run simultaneously
- No Z-Wave radio of its own, and no Matter bridging
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi only
- Largest body in the family at 200 x 30 x 44 mm
Who is the SLZB-06 U for?
It is aimed at the self-hoster who wants the coordinator away from the server. Zigbee performance is decided by where the radio sits, and a PoE gateway can be mounted centrally on a single cable while Home Assistant stays wherever it lives. The CC2652P is the conservative choice of radio: it has been the default for Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA for years, so firmware, guides and community troubleshooting are all mature. If you value proven over newest, that matters more than a chip generation number.
What it offers
Beyond the usual coordinator and Zigbee router roles, it can act as a Thread border router for Matter accessories. The +20 dB amplifier and detachable +5 dBi antenna give the reach that keeps distant battery sensors connected. The feature that sets this model apart is USB-over-Ethernet passthrough: another USB device connected to the gateway, typically a Z-Wave controller, becomes accessible over the network as though it were attached to the server itself, which is a neat way to relocate both radios at once. Home Assistant and Zigbee2MQTT are both supported, and connection can be Ethernet, USB or Wi-Fi.
What to know before you buy
There is no Bluetooth proxy on this model, so it will not relay BLE sensors to Home Assistant, which the MG24 and p7U versions do. There is no dual network mode either, so Zigbee and Thread are not served simultaneously. It has no Z-Wave radio of its own (the passthrough only shares a stick you supply), and it does not bridge Zigbee devices to Matter controllers. Wi-Fi is 2.4 GHz only. At 200 x 30 x 44 mm it is the largest body in the family, which matters if it is going in a tight spot.
Is the SLZB-06 U worth it?
For a Zigbee2MQTT user it is arguably the sweet spot of the range: the most proven radio, PoE placement freedom, USB passthrough for a second dongle, and three years of warranty rather than one. The reasons to pick a sibling are specific: choose an MG24 or MG26 if you want the newest Silicon Labs silicon, or the p7U if you want both passthrough and a Bluetooth proxy.
Frequently asked questions
What does USB-over-Ethernet passthrough actually do?
It makes a USB device plugged into the gateway, typically a Z-Wave stick, available over the network as if it were connected to your server, so both radios can be relocated away from the machine.
Which chip does it use?
The Texas Instruments CC2652P, the radio most self-hosted Zigbee networks have run on for years, so support and firmware are mature.
Does it relay Bluetooth sensors?
No. There is no Bluetooth proxy on this model. The MG24 and p7U versions offer that.
Can it be powered over Ethernet?
Yes, PoE is supported, and it can also connect by USB or Wi-Fi.
How long is the warranty?
Three years, which is longer than the one year on the other models in the range.
