TL;DR
Get backup power and energy gear 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 upgrades to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and adds a camera API with two-way audio, custom-cluster support for Aqara’s FP400 and an IKEA radiator thermostat, and faster offline detection. The release lays groundwork for Matter 1.6.1 features, but stable availability and access to some features through Home Assistant Core remain pending.
The Open Home Foundation’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, custom support for hardware including Aqara’s FP400 sensor and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE thermostat, and groundwork for Matter 1.6.1. The update affects the server that connects Matter devices to Home Assistant, but it is not yet a stable release, and the report says some features still need work in Home Assistant Core before they are broadly accessible.
According to the release information reported by Matter Alpha, version 1.5.0 upgrades the server to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine and introduces WebSocket Schema version 14, including a camera API. The server can manage WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation for connected clients. A new talkback: true parameter allows a client to start a stream with two-way audio on compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells. The report gives the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example; compatibility may depend on the device and client.
The release also adds definitions for Aqara FP400 custom clusters, covering ambient sensing configuration, radar sensing and occupant location. Matter Alpha says this enables features such as detection zones and real-time target-position events over Matter, and notes a fix for transmitting zone-configuration data. For IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat, the server adds a custom ValveCalibration cluster and a control panel for calibrating compatible valves without an IKEA hub.
Other changes include removing a fixed three-minute offline grace period: devices are reported unavailable once Matter.JS determines they cannot be reached. The server’s network graph adopts clearer Thread role labels. Its dashboard also gains support for temporary guest PIN codes on door locks, commissioning details for sharing devices with other platforms, and interactive command panels for several device categories. Older Eve Energy plugs gain a command-line option to adjust polling intervals for custom attributes.
More Matter Devices, Fewer Workarounds
The update targets two practical limits for Home Assistant users: features that manufacturers expose through custom Matter clusters, rather than standard controls, and the need for a client to handle camera streaming. Native server support could make selected Aqara sensing functions and IKEA valve calibration available through the Matter connection instead of requiring an additional hub or a separate integration for those functions. The report does not establish that every feature works without other device, client or Home Assistant requirements.
For camera users, handling WebRTC sessions through a dedicated API and adding talkback support could make it possible to speak through compatible devices from a Home Assistant dashboard or client app. Faster unavailable status may also make device failures more apparent. These changes matter most to people testing the beta or building integrations; the stable release and Core-side work will determine when they reach ordinary users.
The Matter 1.6.1 work also points toward native group messaging. The report says Home Assistant has previously sent group commands as sequential unicast messages, which can make lights respond at different times. The server’s new protocol foundation may support IPv6 multicast group messaging, but that is groundwork: the source does not say that synchronized group control is already available or quantify its performance.
Home Assistant Matter camera with two-way audio
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Matter 1.6.1 to Device Support
Matter is a smart-home connectivity standard, while Matter Server supplies the controller used by Home Assistant to communicate with Matter devices. The reported version number is Matter Server 1.5.0; Matter 1.6.1 is the protocol version the update is preparing to support. They are separate version numbers and should not be confused.
Matter Alpha reports that the Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September. Among the changes described are Groupcast moving out of provisional status and separate volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes. The server update is described as establishing a foundation for Groupcast over Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet, rather than confirming that all these protocol features are implemented in Home Assistant today.
Manufacturers can also define vendor-specific clusters for functions beyond Matter’s standard device controls. The FP400 and LILJEBAGGE additions are examples of the server recognizing those extensions. The report identifies Matter Server 1.5.0 as a beta and says users can opt into testing through the beta option in Matter Server settings.
“The new Matter Server establishes the protocol-level foundation required for native IPv6 multicast group messaging over Thread, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet.”
— Matter Alpha, reporting on the Matter Server 1.5.0 changes
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Stable Release and Core Support
The source describes version 1.5.0 as beta and gives no date for its stable rollout. It also says most new features still require work in Home Assistant Core to become more accessible, without identifying which features are ready or setting a completion schedule.
It is not clear from the report which camera models beyond the example will support talkback, how widely the Aqara and IKEA custom-cluster functions will be exposed in Home Assistant interfaces, or when Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast will be usable for everyday device groups. The source also does not provide performance measurements for faster offline detection or group messaging.
IKEA LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Beta Testing Before Stable Rollout
Users who want to test the changes can enable the beta option in Matter Server settings, according to Matter Alpha. That route is for testing rather than a guarantee of stable operation; users should check release notes and device compatibility before relying on new functions.
The next milestones are a stable Matter Server 1.5.0 release and the Home Assistant Core work needed to expose more of its features. Until those arrive, camera talkback, custom device controls and Matter 1.6.1 capabilities should be treated as beta or developing support, with exact availability dependent on the server, client and connected device.
smart home device calibration tools
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Is Matter Server 1.5.0 stable?
No. The report says Matter Server 1.5.0 is in beta and that a stable rollout is expected soon, but it does not give a release date.
What does the camera talkback feature do?
It adds a two-way audio option for compatible Matter cameras and video doorbells. A client can request talkback when starting a stream using the talkback: true parameter; support depends on the device and client.
Which Aqara and IKEA devices are named?
The report names the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and the IKEA LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. The server adds custom-cluster support for selected sensing features and valve calibration, respectively.
Does this release already enable Matter 1.6.1 Groupcast?
The report describes the update as laying a protocol-level foundation for native IPv6 multicast group messaging. It does not confirm that Home Assistant is already using Groupcast for group commands.
How can users try the beta?
Matter Alpha says users can turn on the beta option in Matter Server settings. The report cautions that most new features still need Home Assistant Core work before they are more accessible.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
