Equipped with an RS-232 serial port for legacy equipment and priced at $69, ZDNET reported that the Home Assistant Connect AUX-2 is available for purchase now to modernize older electronics.
Modern smart home platforms exclude working electronics simply because they lack native integration with today’s systems. The AUX-2 addresses this gap by allowing consumers to make existing devices smarter without replacing them. Nabu Casa, the company behind official Home Assistant hardware, manufactures the multi-purpose device. Home Assistant provides extreme customization power through its versatile automation system.
“The most sustainable device is the one you already own,” Paulus Schoutsen, founder of Home Assistant and Nabu Casa, told ZDNET.
Schoutsen added, “No device should be left behind because it doesn’t have smart capabilities, or worst of all, its cloud services get turned off.”
A single AUX-2 controls multiple devices based on physical connections and interfaces. The device limit relates directly to the required physical connections.
Users can connect two serial-controlled devices directly through the RS-232 ports. A USB port acts as an expansion for compatible adapters. Placing one AUX-2 on an entertainment center links an older stereo and TV, while another unit elsewhere in the house handles additional equipment.
The hardware supports Bluetooth, Z-Wave, USB, PoE, and Wi-Fi connectivity alongside RS-232 serial.
An AUX-2 enables control of an old AV receiver without its original app. It also allows an older TV to respond to commands without relying on manufacturer cloud servers and integrates existing audio gear into modern multiroom sound systems.
Earlier coverage: Home Assistant Connect AUX-2 Costs $69 to Modernize Legacy Gear
