TL;DR
Get cleaning 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 support for Matter 1.6.1, a camera API with two-way audio, and custom features for Aqara and IKEA devices. The release is not yet stable, and several additions still need work in Home Assistant Core before users can access them through the platform.
Home Assistant’s Matter Server 1.5.0 beta adds an upgrade to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine, a dedicated camera API with two-way audio, and custom support for selected Aqara and IKEA hardware. The update matters to users who rely on Matter devices in Home Assistant, but it is still a beta release and several features require further work in Home Assistant Core.
The server is the controller that connects Matter devices to Home Assistant. According to the release details reported by Matter Alpha, version 1.5.0 lays the technical groundwork for Matter 1.6.1, including native group messaging over IPv6 multicast across Thread, Wi-Fi and Ethernet. The report says the change could address staggered responses when controlling groups of devices, such as multiple lights. The available information describes the foundation for Groupcast rather than confirming that every Home Assistant group will immediately use it.
The update also introduces WebSocket Schema version 14 and a dedicated camera API that manages WebRTC sessions and stream negotiation. A new talkback: true parameter allows supported Matter cameras and video doorbells to send two-way audio through compatible clients. The report names the Aqara Camera Hub G350 as an example of a device that could use the capability. It also cites fixes for WebRTC session drops and clearer camera-stream error codes.
For other hardware, the server adds custom cluster definitions and Python client support for the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400, including sensing configuration and occupant-location features. It also adds IKEA’s custom ValveCalibration cluster and a dashboard control panel for calibrating compatible radiator valves. Additional changes include faster offline detection, revised Thread network-graph labels and temporary guest PIN controls in the Door Lock panel, according to the changelog summary.
More Direct Control of Matter Devices
The additions broaden what the Matter Server can expose beyond standardized device controls. Camera talkback could let users handle live video and two-way audio through Home Assistant-connected clients, while custom clusters can make device-specific features available without relying solely on a manufacturer’s hub or app. For the IKEA thermostat, the reported calibration panel is specifically intended to work without an IKEA hub.
The Matter 1.6.1 groundwork may also improve how groups of devices respond to a single command. The report describes sequential commands as a source of staggered lighting changes and says the update prepares the server for protocol-level multicast. Users should distinguish that groundwork from a confirmed, immediate change in group behavior: the source does not establish when native group messaging will be active for particular setups.
Home Assistant Matter camera with two-way audio
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
What Server Version 1.5.0 Changes
Matter Server is an underlying component of Home Assistant rather than a standalone consumer device. The reported release upgrades its Matter.JS engine to version 0.18.0 and groups protocol, camera, device-support and management changes in a single update. Matter Alpha says the Matter Connectivity Standards Alliance released Matter 1.6.1 in September; the report associates that version with Groupcast moving out of provisional status and independent volume and mute controls for doorbell chimes.
The update also affects how device status and network information appear. The previous fixed three-minute grace period after a device disconnects has been removed, so the server can mark a node unavailable once Matter.JS determines it cannot be reached. Thread network graph labels are updated to terms such as “Mesh Extender” and “Standby Mesh Extender,” according to the report. These changes accompany the more visible camera and hardware features rather than replacing them.
“The server is upgrading to the Matter.JS 0.18.0 engine.”
— Matter Alpha, reporting on the Matter Server 1.5.0 changelog
IKEA Tradfri radiator valve calibration kit
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Beta Status and Core Dependencies
Version 1.5.0 remains in beta, and the supplied report does not give a firm stable-release date. It says users can opt into beta through Matter Server settings, but does not specify which hardware, Home Assistant version or client applications are required for every feature.
The report also says that most new features still need work in Home Assistant Core to become more accessible. It does not provide a feature-by-feature list of what is already usable in the beta, nor confirm when Groupcast will change device behavior in ordinary installations. Compatibility details for the named camera, sensors and thermostats may depend on device firmware and client support; those details are not established in the supplied material.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Stable Release and Core Integration
The next milestone is the stable release of Matter Server 1.5.0, which Matter Alpha says is expected soon. Until then, interested users can choose the beta option in Matter Server settings, while recognizing that beta features may not be fully surfaced through Home Assistant.
Further work in Home Assistant Core will determine how readily users can access the new camera, Matter 1.6.1 and device-specific controls from the platform. The supplied report does not give dates for those integrations or a schedule for enabling each capability, so availability should be checked against subsequent release notes.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Is Matter Server 1.5.0 available as a stable release?
No. The supplied report says version 1.5.0 is in beta and is expected to reach the stable Matter Server add-on soon, but it gives no release date.
What does camera talkback add?
The new camera API supports WebRTC session management and a talkback: true option for two-way audio through compatible Matter cameras or video doorbells and client apps. Actual availability depends on device and client support.
Which Aqara and IKEA devices are mentioned?
The report names the Aqara Spatial Multi-Sensor FP400 and IKEA’s LILJEBAGGE radiator thermostat. The server adds custom cluster support for FP400 sensing features and a calibration panel for compatible IKEA radiator valves.
Does the update mean Matter groups already respond together?
Not necessarily. The update provides a protocol-level foundation for Groupcast, but the supplied report does not confirm that native multicast group commands are active for every Home Assistant installation or device.
Source: rss
Evergreen bestsellers Picks
bestsellers
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
