# Looking for advice on a dongle **URL:** \ **Category:** Home Automation\ **Created:** [November 20, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840 "2019-11-20T03:32:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![arseed](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@arseed](https://community.openhab.org/u/arseed)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/1 "2019-11-20T03:32:48Z")
I am brand new and have been digging through the forums for answers that suit my needs, but I’ve finally caved and created an account to ask for some help. I am brand new to OH and home automation in general. Currently I have OH on MacOS, but I played with the Synology build too. Right now both are doing nothing (no devices). I’m open to grabbing a Raspberry Pi to host if that’s better than either of those two, but for now that’s what I’ve got. I can see that there are a lot of options out there that require an app from the manufacturer or a connection to the internet, but one of the things I’m focusing on accomplishing with this project (and with all my IoT things) is to keep them unreachable from the outside. I want to control which of them can initiate connections to the outside world. I’ve got a network segment and firewall zone all set up to do this part already. I don’t want to cede any control of my devices to an outside entity if I can avoid it. The first advice I’m looking for is which dongle I should get. My first things will be RGB bulbs (globes for those of you across the pond 😉). If I can avoid it, I’d like to keep them off wifi and use Zigbee or Z-Wave. I want to add motion detectors and window/door sensors eventually as well, so hopefully the dongle/hub I choose supports all of that. What hardware is solid and well supported and might suit my needs? Thanks much! ---
**Author:** ![mstormi](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/mstormi/32/55857_2.png) [@mstormi](https://community.openhab.org/u/mstormi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 9:00am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/2 "2019-11-20T09:00:51Z")
So you’re looking for advice on _technology_. That would depend on your (planned) usage. If you ever only want to do lighting, ZigBee might be a good choice as most popular systems such as Hue and Tadfri (IKEA) are ZigBee and OH can ultimately directly control the lamps. On the other hand, you will have existing lights on ceilings, walls etc. that you cannot put smart bulbs into so you need to insert actuators somewhere, and there’s not many ZigBee choices there. And Home Automation is much more than lighting. That being said, I would rather look into Z-Wave. There’s many more devices on offer for many more different kinds of applications (such as say smoke and flooding detection). Much more people here to use and prefer it over ZigBee. Usually with the Aeotec Gen 5 Z-stick or the UZB/RaZberry one. Then again if you’re undecided and want to keep options, there’s a combo stick to do both, ZWave _and_ ZigBee. I think it was the Linear HUSBZB-1 but you should read up on this in the forum (search). PS: I don’t know if that combo controller config allows for being backed up/restored. That’s crucial! ---
**Author:** ![rlkoshak](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/rlkoshak/32/75251_2.png) [@rlkoshak](https://community.openhab.org/u/rlkoshak)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 2:43pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/3 "2019-11-20T14:43:17Z")
> [@mstormi](#): > > I think it was the Linear HUSBZB-1 That is correct. > [@mstormi](#): > > PS: I don’t know if that combo controller config allows for being backed up/restored. That’s crucial! At least for the Zwave side, that is incorrect. I’ve not done this myself but @5iver [reports](https://community.openhab.org/t/linear-husbzb-1/33200/7) that the Aeon software will work with it to backup and restore. ---
**Author:** ![arseed](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@arseed](https://community.openhab.org/u/arseed)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:51am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/4 "2019-11-21T00:51:26Z")
Thanks mstormi for all the info! I’m undecided on my planned usage, I just know that I _at least_ want some bulbs and window/door sensors and probably motion sensors to trigger video camera PTZ actions. From what I can tell I can do all of those things with just Z-Wave. I like the idea of using a stick which leaves my options open, but if more people are using Z-Wave then I’ll probably find more support for it on this forum. I think what tipped my decision was that the Linear HUSBZB-1 seems to be discontinued. Am I wrong about that? ---
**Author:** ![arseed](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@arseed](https://community.openhab.org/u/arseed)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 12:52am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/5 "2019-11-21T00:52:55Z")
> [@arseed](#): > > From what I can tell I can do all of those things with just Z-Wave \*I do realize that I can’t control cameras with Z-Wave, but I can trigger actions and send commands to my NVR ---
**Author:** ![jswim788](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/jswim788/32/36341_2.png) [@jswim788](https://community.openhab.org/u/jswim788)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 1:14am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/6 "2019-11-21T01:14:10Z")
> [@arseed](#): > > Linear HUSBZB-1 seems to be discontinued You can easily get it from [Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/GoControl-CECOMINOD016164-HUSBZB-1-USB-Hub/dp/B01GJ826F8) (US site). That’s under the GoControl brand, but the picture shows it as Nortek. I have one and it works well enough for me. ---
**Author:** ![arseed](https://community.openhab.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/ccd318/32.png) [@arseed](https://community.openhab.org/u/arseed)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 4:17am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/7 "2019-11-21T04:17:40Z")
I was more referring to the availability of firmware, but it kind of seems like that doesn’t happen very often anyway. I ended up ordering the one you linked to though, so thanks for the help! I might as well leave my options open. I also ordered a Sengled A19 RGB bulb while I was at it. That should give me a simple first project and some motivation to get OH set up properly. Thanks everyone for your tips! ---
**Author:** ![jswim788](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/jswim788/32/36341_2.png) [@jswim788](https://community.openhab.org/u/jswim788)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/8 "2019-11-21T05:40:38Z")
Yes, you are right, the HUSBZB-1 doesn’t seem to get updates. You have much better choices for Z-wave only dongles. That’s the only Zigbee/Z-wave combo that I know about. ---
**Author:** ![mstormi](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/mstormi/32/55857_2.png) [@mstormi](https://community.openhab.org/u/mstormi)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 10:17am UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/9 "2019-11-21T10:17:52Z")
> [@arseed](#): > > . I like the idea of using a stick which leaves my options open, but if more people are using Z-Wave then I’ll probably find more support for it on this forum Yes. And even with a Z-Wave only stick, you can still add another ZigBee stick. ---
**Author:** ![rlkoshak](https://community.openhab.org/user_avatar/community.openhab.org/rlkoshak/32/75251_2.png) [@rlkoshak](https://community.openhab.org/u/rlkoshak)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2019, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.openhab.org/t/looking-for-advice-on-a-dongle/85840/10 "2019-11-21T16:06:03Z")
The HUSBZB-1 doesn’t get firmware updates because it’s un-upgradable in the first place.