Orico 4-Port USB 2.0 Hub | ideal for Smart Home servers

More USB Ports Without Signal Interference

USB 3.0 hubs emit a broadband signal in the 2.4GHz range that directly overlaps with Zigbee, Z-Wave, and other wireless protocols. The Orico W5P-30 is deliberately equipped with USB 2.0: fast enough for any Zigbee or Z-Wave dongle, but without the interference caused by USB 3.0. You get three extra ports on your smart home server without sacrificing wireless stability.

The cable is 30 centimeters long. This is sufficient to physically distance the hub from your server, SSD, or other equipment that could cause interference. Compact size, no external power needed, ready to use immediately.

Do you use an N150 Home Assistant Server or similar mini-PC with a limited number of USB ports? This hub provides space for a Zigbee controller, a Z-Wave controller, and possibly a Bluetooth adapter simultaneously, without running out of ports.

Why USB 2.0 and not USB 3.0

USB 3.0 operates at a frequency that produces unwanted noise in the 2.4GHz spectrum. Zigbee and Z-Wave 800 operate in precisely that range. In practice, a USB 3.0 hub next to a Zigbee dongle leads to increased packet loss, unstable connections, and devices that regularly drop out. USB 2.0 does not have this problem and provides more than sufficient bandwidth for dongles: a Zigbee coordinator consumes a maximum of a few MB/s, while USB 2.0 supports up to 480 Mbps.

Power and connectivity

The hub is powered via the USB port of the connected server and does not require an external power adapter. The total current available for all four ports combined depends on the host port. For passive devices such as dongles, this is more than sufficient. For charging mobile devices or powering USB drives, a hub with external power is more suitable.

Home Assistant

The Orico W5P-30 is a passive USB hub with no dedicated driver or integration. In Home Assistant, you will recognize the connected dongles exactly as you would with a direct connection to the server. The hub adds no latency or configuration. Step-by-step:

1. Connect the Orico W5P-30 to a USB port on your Home Assistant server.
2. Connect your Zigbee dongle, Z-Wave controller, or Bluetooth adapter to one of the four USB 2.0 ports.
3. Home Assistant will detect the dongle at the usual device path, for example, /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyACM0.
4. Proceed with the configuration of ZHA, Zigbee2MQTT, or Z-Wave JS as usual.

Tip: In Home Assistant, use fixed device names via by-id paths (/dev/serial/by-id/...) so that dongles are always available at the same path after a restart, regardless of the recognition order.

Suitable dongles for use with this hub

The hub is suitable for all passive USB dongles and adapters. Combinations that work well in a Home Assistant setup:

• A Zigbee controller from the Zigbee controller range for use with ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT
• A Z-Wave controller from the Z-Wave controller range for use with Z-Wave JS
• A USB Bluetooth 5.0 adapter for BLE sensors such as SwitchBot sensors

Automation examples

Example 1: Zigbee and Z-Wave simultaneously on one server

1. Connect the Orico W5P-30 to your Home Assistant server.
2. Connect a Zigbee dongle to port 1 and a Z-Wave controller to port 2.
3. Configure ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT with the Zigbee path and Z-Wave JS with the Z-Wave path.
4. Both protocols run stably side-by-side without interference thanks to USB 2.0.
5. Result: you manage Zigbee lights and Z-Wave switches from a single Home Assistant installation.

Example 2: Keeping USB ports free for future expansion

1. Connect the hub to your server and use one port for your current Zigbee dongle.
2. The remaining three ports will remain available for a future Z-Wave controller, Bluetooth adapter, or USB stick for backups.
3. When expanding your setup, insert the new dongle into a free port without rearranging anything.
4. Result: your smart home server remains easily expandable without hassle with ports.

Points of attention

• No external power supply: total current for all four ports combined depends on the host USB port. Not suitable for charging smartphones or powering USB hard drives.
• USB 2.0 maximum 480 Mbps: amply sufficient for dongles, not intended for high-speed data transfer.
• Cable length is 30 cm: sufficient to keep the hub away from the server, but consider its placement relative to your dongles.
• No on/off switch per port.

Box contents

• 1x Orico W5P-30 USB 2.0 Hub (black)
• 30 cm connection cable (fixed)

Compatible platforms

Works with all operating systems and platforms that recognize standard USB: Home Assistant OS, Linux, Windows, macOS. No driver installation required.

Technical specifications

Frequently asked questions

Why specifically USB 2.0 and not a USB 3.0 hub?

USB 3.0 produces unwanted noise in the 2.4GHz spectrum, precisely the frequency at which Zigbee and Z-Wave operate. In practice, a USB 3.0 hub next to a Zigbee dongle leads to packet loss and unstable device connections. USB 2.0 does not have this problem and provides more than enough speed for all dongles you connect to a Home Assistant server.

Do I need an external power adapter?

No. The hub is powered via your server's USB port. For passive devices like Zigbee and Z-Wave dongles, this is amply sufficient. For charging mobile devices or powering USB drives, a hub with an external power supply is recommended.

Does this hub work with Home Assistant OS?

Yes. The hub requires no drivers and works directly on Home Assistant OS, Linux, Windows, and macOS. Dongles you connect will appear on the usual device paths such as /dev/ttyUSB0 or /dev/ttyACM0.

Can I connect multiple dongles simultaneously?

Yes. The four ports are independent. You can simultaneously connect a Zigbee controller, a Z-Wave controller, and a Bluetooth adapter to the same hub.

How long is the cable?

The cable is 30 centimeters long and fixed to the hub. This is sufficient to place the hub at some distance from your server and thus minimize interference between the connected dongles and other hardware.

Is the hub also suitable for use with a Raspberry Pi?

Yes. The hub works on any host with a standard USB port, including Raspberry Pi, mini-PC, and the N150 Home Assistant Server.

Take the first step towards a fully local smart home and keep your dongles connected stably and interference-free.