Espressif Thread Border Router Supports IPv6, Service Discovery, and NAT64

Espressif Thread Border Router is a SP32-H2 (802.15.4) and ESP32-S3 (WiFi + BLE) powered development board that has acquired Thread Interoperability Certificate V1.3, which makes it a Thread-Certified Component that supports Matter application scenarios.

The ESP Thread Border Router supports the latest Thread 1.3 standard, including features like IPv6 connectivity, service discovery, multicast forwarding, and NAT64. Additionally, it offers product-ready functionalities such as a web configuration interface, automatic updates, and optimized radio performance.

Espressif Thread Border Router Specifications

• ESP32-S3-WROOM-1
  • SoC: ESP32-S3 dual-core 240 MHz with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 4 and Bluetooth 5.0 LE
  • Memory: 2MB PSRAM
  • Storage: 4MB SPI flash
  • Dimensions: 25.5 x 18 x 3.1 mm
• ESP32-H2-MINI-1 (D4N2)
  • MCU: ESP32-H2 96 MHz RISC-V with Bluetooth 5.2 LE/Mesh and 802.15.4 radios
  • Storage: 2MB flash
  • Dimensions: 13.2 x 16.6 x 2.4 mm
  • Interfaces (ESP32-S3 <-> ESP32-H2):
    • UART, SPI
    • RESET, BOOT
    • 3-wire PTA for RF coexistence
• Connectivity
  • USB: 2x Type-C (one for each module)
• Expansion
  • ESP32-S3: 26-pin GPIO header
  • ESP32-H2: 8-pin GPIO header
• Additional Features
  • Reset and Boot buttons for each module
  • 3 user LEDs on ESP32-H2

Espressif offers an optional ethernet board to add Ethernet, HMI, and voice control to their development board. This versatile board is primarily for Thread Border Router development but can also be used for Zigbee Gateways.

The ESP Thread Border Router SDK, sample code, and documentation are available on Espressif’s website and GitHub. Zigbee hardware support exists, but the corresponding SDK has not been released yet.

The board is priced at around $10.00 and can be purchased from AliExpress or Sparkfun. Additional information can be found on Espressif’s announcement page.

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