Universal Smart-Home Modular Hub

A compact, scalable, multi-protocol communication platform designed for modern smart homes. Built around a powerful ESP32-S3, with plug-in radio modules for Zigbee/Thread and Proprietary RF. Reliable power architecture, clean RF design, and automatic module detection.

🌍 Overview

This system uses a three-board modular hub architecture:

1) Main Board – ESP32-S3 Controller

Contains the ESP32-S3 with native Wi-Fi + Bluetooth LE, full power management, Ethernet support, and the universal expansion bus.

2) Zigbee/Thread Module – EFR32MG24

A dedicated 2.4 GHz radio module supporting Zigbee, Thread, and Matter over Thread with a high-efficiency antenna.

3) Proprietary RF Module – nRF24L01+

A flexible low-power 2.4 GHz module for custom protocols, legacy devices, and private links.

⚠️ Only one expansion module is active at a time.

The Main Board can run standalone using Wi-Fi and BLE even with no module attached.

🎯 Problem This Project Solves

Most smart-home hubs are:

• Locked to one brand or protocol
• Difficult to expand
• Closed hardware
• Not modifiable or repairable
• Dependent on cloud services
• Not designed for RF noise isolation

This project solves these issues with a fully documented, open, modular, serviceable platform.

🚀 Main Features

🧠 Main Board – ESP32-S3 Core Controller

Capabilities:

• Native Wi-Fi + BLE
• USB programming
• JTAG debugging
• I²C bus for module identification
• SPI bus shared with expansion modules
• Presence-detect signal
• Ethernet PHY
• Local battery backup
• Clean, isolated power rails

Standalone Operation

If no radio module is plugged in, the board still supports:

• Wi-Fi control
• BLE provisioning
• Local automation
• OTA updates

📡 Zigbee / Thread / Matter Module – EFR32MG24

Capabilities

• Zigbee
• Thread
• Matter over Thread
• High-efficiency chip antenna or external u.FL
• SPI + IRQ communication
• Local low-noise LDO
• EEPROM with module ID
• Hardware reset & enable control
• SWD header for development

Why a Separate Board?

• RF noise isolation
• Easy upgrades
• Thermal and EMI improvements
• Lower main-board complexity

📡 Proprietary RF Module – nRF24L01+

Capabilities

• 2.4 GHz bidirectional transceiver
• SPI interface
• IRQ line
• CE line for TX/RX control
• Local LDO for clean RF power
• On-board EEPROM for identification

Why It Exists?

• Legacy systems
• Private, encrypted links
• Ultra-low-power sensors
• Custom protocols

🔋 Power Architecture

Main Board

• 12 V input
• Step-down to 5 V
• 3.3 V LDO for logic
• Local LDOs for each RF module
• Battery charger & backup
• Inrush, surge, ESD protection
• Proper decoupling everywhere

Radio Modules

• Dedicated LDO
• Ferrite-bead power filtering
• Enable pin for power control
• RF-clean power domain

🧩 Automatic Module Identification (EEPROM)

Every expansion module includes a 24AA02E48 EEPROM that stores:

• Unique EUI-48
• Module type ID

The ESP32 reads the EEPROM via I²C on boot and:

1. Identifies the module type
2. Powers only the selected module
3. Loads the appropriate firmware configuration

🛡️ Reliability & Safety

• TVS on power rails
• ESD protection on connectors
• Solid ground planes
• RF-clean routing
• Ferrite-bead domain separation
• Reverse-polarity protection
• Controlled RF impedance paths

🧭 Why This Architecture Is Better

• Fully modular — plug-in radio modules
• Upgradable — replace modules anytime
• Main board works standalone
• Automatic detection via EEPROM
• Clean RF design with isolated power
• Open hardware
• Supports Wi-Fi, BLE, Zigbee, Thread, Matter, Proprietary RF
• Future-proof platform
• Easy to manufacture & repair

The Universal Smart Home Hub represents a new way of thinking about home automation: open, modular, and completely free from closed ecosystems. Its three-board architecture allows the system to evolve over time, upgrade individual radios without redesigning the entire platform, and ensure a much longer lifespan than typical commercial hubs.

With a clean RF layout, advanced power management, support for multiple communication protocols, and an engineering approach focused on long-term reliability, this hub becomes an ideal platform for developers, makers, and companies looking for high-quality smart-home hardware.

If you’re looking for a solution that is robust, scalable, hackable, and ready for the future of Matter, Zigbee, Thread, and Wi-Fi, this platform delivers exactly that.

I’m always open to partnering on hardware projects, integrating new technologies, or helping build custom electronic products.

If this design inspires you or you’d like to adapt it to your own ecosystem, reach out — let’s build something together.