Sonoff Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus (PZG23) Review: A Plug-and-Play, Long-Range Z-Wave Coordinator for Home Assistant
A compact USB Z-Wave 800 coordinator on the EFR32ZG23 chip with S2 security, Z-Wave Long Range, an adjustable external antenna and a bundled USB extension cable, built for Home Assistant and openHAB.
The Sonoff Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus (PZG23) is a compact USB Z-Wave coordinator that owners describe as genuinely plug-and-play with Home Assistant: plug it in, it is recognized quickly with no flashing or updating, and it runs all your Z-Wave devices reliably, often up and running in under ten minutes. Built on the EFR32ZG23 chip, it brings the Z-Wave 800 series' S2 security and Z-Wave Long Range, and owners consistently praise its range and rock-solid stability, with users reporting 100% reliability, no dropped devices, and flawless operation with everything from a Schlage deadbolt to decade-old Z-Wave gear and a retired Vera hub. It ships with a roughly one-meter USB extension cable, which owners strongly recommend using to keep the antenna away from noisy USB ports, and it has an adjustable external antenna for better signal. It is compatible with Home Assistant and openHAB and coexists happily with separate Zigbee and Thread dongles in the same room. There are essentially no functional complaints; just note this is a dedicated Z-Wave coordinator with no Zigbee or Thread. For a modern, dependable Z-Wave radio for Home Assistant, it is an excellent, well-priced choice.
- Home Assistant Z-Wave networks
- openHAB Z-Wave setups
- Long-range Z-Wave with S2 security
- Running Z-Wave alongside separate Zigbee/Thread sticks
Pros
- Truly plug-and-play with Home Assistant; no flashing needed
- Strong range from Z-Wave 800, Long Range and an adjustable antenna
- Rock-solid stability with no dropped devices
- S2 security and Z-Wave Long Range support
- Includes a USB extension cable to reduce interference
- Works with Home Assistant and openHAB, and alongside Zigbee/Thread sticks
Cons
- Z-Wave only, with no Zigbee or Thread
- USB-only, with no Ethernet, Wi-Fi or PoE
- Long-term durability not yet proven by early owners
Who is the Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus for?
This is a USB Z-Wave coordinator on the Silicon Labs EFR32ZG23 chip, part of the Z-Wave 800 series, aimed at Home Assistant and DIY smart home users who want a dedicated Z-Wave radio. It supports S2 security and Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) for direct point-to-point communication, and has an adjustable external antenna. It is a USB-A stick, plugging into a Pi, mini-PC or server, ships with a USB extension cable, and has no Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Zigbee or Thread. It best suits Home Assistant Z-Wave networks, openHAB setups, anyone wanting long-range Z-Wave with S2 security, and users who run Z-Wave alongside separate Zigbee or Thread sticks. If you need Zigbee, Thread, or a network-connected (Ethernet/PoE) coordinator, this is Z-Wave only.
What buyers love
The standout is that it is truly plug-and-play with Home Assistant: owners plug it in and it is recognized quickly, with no flashing or firmware updating needed, and it runs all their Z-Wave devices, often up and working in under ten minutes. Range is a recurring highlight, with owners finding it better than cheaper dongles thanks to the Z-Wave 800 chip, Z-Wave Long Range, and an adjustable 2dBi external antenna. Stability is the other big theme: users report 100% reliability with no dropped devices, running it continuously without a single dropout, and it works cleanly with a wide mix of hardware, a Schlage BE469ZP deadbolt, a Honeywell T6 Pro thermostat, and even decade-old Z-Wave devices migrated from a retired Vera Plus hub. The included USB extension cable (about a meter long) is widely praised, with owners echoing the advice to keep the antenna away from noisy USB ports to reduce interference. It is compatible with Home Assistant and openHAB, runs on Raspberry Pi 4 and 5, HAOS and thin clients, brings S2 security, and coexists happily with separate Zigbee and Thread dongles in the same room. Owners also call it well built, compact and discreet, and excellent value.
What to know before you buy
There is very little to flag: functional complaints are essentially nil, and even ratings below five stars still describe it working correctly without failures. The main thing to understand is scope: this is a dedicated Z-Wave coordinator, so it does not do Zigbee or Thread, you would run those on separate dongles (which owners confirm works fine side by side). A couple of owners note they have only had it a short time and cannot speak to long-term durability yet, though it appears well constructed. As with any USB coordinator, owners strongly recommend using the included extension cable rather than plugging directly into a busy USB 3 port, to avoid electromagnetic interference. It is a USB stick with no Ethernet, Wi-Fi or PoE, so it must plug into the host running your smart home software.
Is the Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus worth it?
For a modern, dependable Z-Wave coordinator for Home Assistant, the Sonoff Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus is an excellent, well-priced choice. It is genuinely plug-and-play, quick to set up, and rock-solid stable, with strong range from the Z-Wave 800 chip, Z-Wave Long Range and an adjustable antenna, plus S2 security and a bundled USB extension cable for interference-free placement. It works with Home Assistant and openHAB and coexists with separate Zigbee and Thread sticks. The only real caveat is scope: it is Z-Wave only, with no Zigbee or Thread. Buy it if you want a reliable, long-range Z-Wave radio for a local smart home; if you need Zigbee or Thread in the same stick, look at Sonoff's Zigbee dongles or a multi-protocol coordinator instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is it plug-and-play with Home Assistant?
Yes. Owners plug it in and it is recognized quickly, with no flashing or firmware updating, then runs all their Z-Wave devices reliably, often up and working in under ten minutes. It also runs on Raspberry Pi 4 and 5, HAOS and thin clients, and is compatible with openHAB as well.
How is the range and reliability?
Owners rate both highly. The Z-Wave 800 chip, Z-Wave Long Range (ZWLR) and the adjustable 2dBi external antenna give it better range than cheaper dongles, and users report 100% reliability with no dropped devices, running continuously without a single dropout.
Does it support Zigbee or Thread?
No. This is a dedicated Z-Wave 800 coordinator, so it does not do Zigbee or Thread. Owners who want all three run separate dongles, and confirm that a Z-Wave, a Zigbee and a Thread stick all work fine together in the same room.
Do I need the USB extension cable?
It is strongly recommended, and it is included (about one meter long). Owners advise keeping the dongle and its antenna away from noisy USB 3 ports to avoid electromagnetic interference; some found it works even without the extension, but everyone suggests using it for best results.
Does it work with older Z-Wave devices?
Yes. Owners report it pairing flawlessly with a wide mix of hardware, including a Schlage BE469ZP deadbolt, a Honeywell T6 Pro thermostat, and decade-old Z-Wave devices migrated from a retired Vera Plus hub, with no issues.
