A curious Home Assistant community member has provided us with a glimpse into the inner workings of IKEA's latest smart home offering, the VINDSTYRKA. While IKEA is synonymous with affordable flat-pack furniture, this unassuming white box appears to be quite the powerhouse in terms of air quality monitoring, and it might have more surprises up its sleeve.
Sensirion SEN54: A sensor to rule them all
The VINDSTYRKA distinguishes itself from its Zigbee air quality monitor counterparts with its superior Sensirion SEN54 environmental node. This US$30 all-in-one marvel measures particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), humidity, and temperature, offering users comprehensive readings. With an accuracy of ±10% for particulate matter, 0.45 °C for temperature, and 4.5 %RH for humidity, the SEN54 is designed to last over a decade, making it quite the investment.
Connectivity: A tale of Zigbee, Thread, and Bluetooth
The connectivity module in the VINDSTYRKA, the Silicon Labs MGM210L22F, may not have a catchy name, but it does boast support for not just Zigbee, but also Thread and Bluetooth. Bluetooth connectivity could be a boon for those looking to link their VINDSTYRKA to a Raspberry Pi running Home Assistant. However, it's the Thread capabilities that are truly intriguing.
Currently, IKEA offers the Matter and Thread-enabled DIRIGERA hub, but the VINDSTYRKA is seemingly solely utilizes Zigbee. The possibility of an updated firmware to unlock these additional features remains a tantalizing mystery.
