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.
Unravelling the secrets of IKEA's VINDSTYRKA
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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.
