TL;DR
Get furniture and decor delivered free with Prime
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
- Member-only deals all year
Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, custom support for Aqara’s FP400 sensor and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE thermostat, and changes to device availability reporting. The release uses Matter.JS 0.18.0 and lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 features, but some capabilities still need changes in Home Assistant Core before they are readily available to users.
Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, support for custom features in Aqara and IKEA devices, and groundwork for Matter 1.6.1. The update matters to smart-home users who rely on Matter cameras, sensors and radiator thermostats, though the server changes alone do not make every feature available through Home Assistant: some still require work in Home Assistant Core.
The update moves the server to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and introduces WebSocket Schema version 14, including an API that manages WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation for connected clients. A new talkback: true parameter can enable users to speak through compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells from the Home Assistant dashboard or integrated client apps. The report names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example of compatible hardware. It also says the release fixes some WebRTC session drops and adds error codes intended to clarify stream problems.
For the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400, the server adds definitions for three manufacturer-specific clusters and Python client support. These cover ambient-sensing configuration, radar sensing and occupant location, with the reported result that detection-zone settings and real-time target-position events can be handled over Matter. The update also fixes transmission of zone-configuration byte lists. For IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat, it adds a custom ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel intended to calibrate compatible radiator valves without an IKEA hub.
Other changes affect device management and diagnostics. The server removes its fixed three-minute offline grace period, so a device can be marked unavailable once Matter.JS determines it cannot be reached. Network-graph labels are updated to use Thread 1.4 terminology. The Door Lock panel can create temporary guest PINs with custom expiration times, and commissioning windows now show discriminator, vendor ID, product ID and timeout information directly.
New Tools for Matter Cameras and Devices
The release addresses practical gaps that can limit how useful a mixed-brand Matter setup feels. Camera talkback brings two-way audio into the server’s camera handling, while custom cluster support can expose functions that manufacturers add beyond Matter’s standard device controls. For FP400 owners, that includes radar-related positioning and detection-zone features; for compatible IKEA thermostats, it includes valve calibration.
The Matter 1.6.1 work is a foundation rather than proof that every related behavior is already active in Home Assistant. The report says the protocol update provides groundwork for Groupcast, which could allow commands to be sent to device groups using multicast rather than sequentially addressing devices. That change is intended to reduce staggered responses, such as lights switching off one after another. Users should not assume this beta alone delivers that outcome across their networks.
Faster unavailable-device reporting could also make dashboards and automations reflect connection failures sooner. That may help diagnose problems, but it could change how quickly an installation labels devices offline. The broader effect will depend on device reachability, network conditions and how Home Assistant Core surfaces the server’s new capabilities.
Home Assistant Matter camera with two-way audio
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
What Matter 1.6.1 Adds
The server is the controller layer Home Assistant uses to communicate with Matter devices. The source report describes version 1.5.0 as an update to that server, not a release of Home Assistant Core itself. It says the CSA released Matter 1.6.1 in September and that the specification moved Groupcast out of provisional status while adding independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes.
Until this update, the report says Home Assistant handled Matter groups by sending commands individually to each device. The new server establishes a protocol-level basis for native IPv6 multicast group messaging across Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. Actual use depends on the relevant support being available throughout the Home Assistant software stack and on compatible devices and networks.
The release also includes a command-line option, –custom-cluster-poll-interval, for changing polling frequency for custom attributes on older Eve Energy smart plugs that lack state subscriptions. The dashboard gains interactive command panels for device categories including robot vacuums, ovens, water heaters, EV chargers, media players, window coverings and home energy management forecasts.
“The new Matter Server establishes the protocol-level foundation required for native IPv6 multicast group messaging over Thread, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet.”
— Matter Alpha report
Core Support and Device Compatibility
The source describes Matter Server 1.5.0 as a beta and says a stable add-on release is expected soon, but provides no confirmed release date. It also does not specify which Home Assistant Core version will expose each addition, or when that work will be completed. The report says users can opt into beta testing through the Matter Server settings, but beta availability and behavior may vary by installation.
Compatibility details remain limited. The report identifies example devices and server-side cluster support, but does not provide a complete list of cameras, thermostats or firmware versions that support talkback, calibration or the custom sensor functions. It also does not establish that Groupcast is already enabled for all device groups. Users should distinguish the server’s stated protocol foundation from confirmed end-to-end support in their own setup.
Stable Release and Core Changes
The next milestone is a stable release of Matter Server 1.5.0 as a Home Assistant add-on; the report says this is expected soon but gives no date. Users who want to test the beta can enable the beta option in Matter Server settings, while recognizing that some features still need Home Assistant Core changes.
Further clarity will depend on release notes for the stable server and subsequent Core updates. Those should establish which camera clients expose talkback, how Aqara and IKEA functions appear to users, and whether Matter 1.6.1 group messaging works across supported devices and network types. Until those details are published, the reported additions describe beta server capabilities and groundwork, not a guarantee that every feature is ready in a standard Home Assistant installation.
Key Questions
Is Matter Server 1.5.0 available as a stable release?
No. The source report says version 1.5.0 is in beta and that a stable add-on rollout is expected soon, without giving a date.
What does the new camera talkback feature do?
It adds a server camera API that can support two-way audio through compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells. The report says a client can request it with the talkback: true parameter when starting a stream.
Which Aqara and IKEA devices are mentioned?
The report describes custom-cluster support for the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and calibration support for IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. It does not provide a full compatibility list or firmware requirements.
Does the update mean Matter group commands will be faster?
Not necessarily yet. The server lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast, which is intended to support multicast group messaging. The report does not confirm that every Home Assistant installation or device group already uses it.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
