It’s official: Busch-Jaeger has got its Matter software extension certified (link). After a closed beta test over several months, the so-called addon is now being rolled out step by step for all users. It transforms the access point of the Busch-free@home system into a Matter Bridge. As such, it forwards its connected devices to a Matter platform such as Amazon Alexa, Apple Home or Samsung SmartThings. They can then be operated, automated or controlled with the respective voice assistant from there. The Matter Bridge currently supports four tasks:
- Switching
- Dimming
- Blind control (roller shutters, blinds, awnings, skylights)
- Temperature control
Further functional areas and products such as window contacts or the connection of a weather station are to follow. Busch-Jaeger also wants to enable the reverse route – integrating Matter products from other brands into a free@home installation – with future updates. To achieve this, the company is aiming to certify the access point as a Matter Controller, as stated in the German-language community forum (link).The subsidiary of the global ABB Group is therefore one of the first professional building fitters to open up its B2B system to the Matter standard.
However, the number of products that can be passed on is limited: A maximum of 64 free@home devices can be controlled via Matter using the add-on. In total, the access point manages up to 150 devices – regardless of whether they are connected by wire via a KNX-certified bus line or over the air using the free@home wireless standard.
Installing the addon on the access point
The prerequisite for Matter integration is a System Access Point 2.0 from Busch-Jaeger (picture at the top of this page). The second-generation control center has been the linchpin of Busch-free@home since 2018. On the previous models System Access Point and System Access Point WL, the software extension for Matter cannot be installed. In addition, firmware 3.3.1 or newer must be running on the control center.
An addon for Matter can then be found on the configuration interface of the access point under “Extensions”. Addons are JavaScript applications that extend the standard functional scope of free@home. They are written by external developers or partners – there is an Addon Development Kit (ADK) for it – or provided by Busch-Jaeger themselves.
After installing the software extension, the addon can be activated via the corresponding screen tile. The system then generates the QR code required for Matter (see: “Matter benefits – easy setup”). The manufacturer has published detailed step-by-step instructions on its website (link).
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