---
title: "EspHome-AwoX-BLE-mesh-hub"
url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/irina/projects/esphome-awox-ble-mesh-hub/"
markdown_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/irina/projects/esphome-awox-ble-mesh-hub/md"
type: "UCC: User Created Content"
author: "fsaris"
author_url: "https://github.com/fsaris/EspHome-AwoX-BLE-mesh-hub"
editor: "WIZnet"
editor_url: "https://maker.wiznet.io/"
original_author: "fsaris"
original_url: "https://github.com/fsaris/EspHome-AwoX-BLE-mesh-hub"
published: "2026-11-09"
language: "en"
hardware: ["WIZnet W5500", "Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 Plus"]
likes: 0
views: 12
comments: 0
source: "WIZnet Makers (https://maker.wiznet.io/)"
---

# EspHome-AwoX-BLE-mesh-hub

> ESPHome AwoX BLE Mesh Hub connects AwoX/EGLO devices to Home Assistant using ESP32-S3 BLE Mesh and W5500 Ethernet for MQTT connectivity.

Original author: fsaris (source: https://github.com/fsaris/EspHome-AwoX-BLE-mesh-hub)

## Components

- **WIZnet W5500** x 1 ([docs](https://docs.wiznet.io/Product/Chip/Ethernet/W5500))
- **Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 Plus** x 1

WIZnet parts: W5500 ([Datasheet](https://docs.wiznet.io/Product/Chip/Ethernet/W5500/datasheet?utm_source=maker&utm_medium=project&utm_campaign=w5500), [product hub](https://maker.wiznet.io/products/w5500/))

## Article

**EspHome-AwoX-BLE-mesh-hub**는 ESP32와 ESPHome을 이용해 AwoX, EGLO, KERIA 계열 BLE Mesh 조명과 스마트 플러그를 제어하고, MQTT를 통해 Home Assistant와 연동하는 오픈소스 프로젝트입니다.

기본 구성에서는 Wi-Fi를 사용할 수 있으며, **Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 Plus + WIZnet W5500 Ethernet Adapter**를 사용하는 별도의 wired configuration도 제공합니다.

W5500 구성에서는 **BLE Mesh 통신은 ESP32-S3가 담당하고, MQTT/Home Assistant 연결은 W5500 Ethernet이 담당**합니다.

### 1. System Architecture

전체 구조는 다음과 같습니다.

```plaintext
AwoX / EGLO / KERIA BLE Mesh Devices
                  │
                  │ BLE Mesh
                  ▼
          XIAO ESP32-S3
                  │
                  │ SPI
                  ▼
             WIZnet W5500
                  │
                  │ Ethernet
                  ▼
             MQTT Broker
                  │
                  ▼
            Home Assistant
```

![](https://maker.wiznet.io/upload/ckeditor5/affd181ad794413780b199632f4d2fb0.png)

ESP32-S3는 BLE Mesh 장치를 검색하고 제어하며, MQTT Discovery를 통해 Home Assistant에 각 장치를 자동으로 등록합니다.

지원되는 주요 device type은 다음과 같습니다.

- RGB Light

- Dimmable Light

- White Temperature Light

- Smart Plug

- Group / Zone

각 장치는 `product_id`를 기준으로 기능이 매핑됩니다.

### 2. MQTT Discovery and Home Assistant

Hub가 BLE Mesh device를 발견하면 MQTT Discovery message를 전송합니다.

Home Assistant에서는 별도의 entity를 수동으로 생성하지 않아도 MQTT integration을 통해 조명과 플러그를 자동으로 인식할 수 있습니다.

```plaintext
BLE Mesh Device
      │
      ▼
ESP32-S3
      │
      ▼
MQTT Discovery
      │
      ▼
Home Assistant
```

![](https://maker.wiznet.io/upload/ckeditor5/159e2e1f52f3435f96a56fb2e3b85414.png)

AwoX에서 구성된 Group 또는 Zone도 Home Assistant에서 group entity로 사용할 수 있습니다.

BLE Mesh 연결은 RSSI, MAC address, mesh ID 등을 이용해 관리할 수 있으며, 여러 ESP32 Hub를 사용해 mesh 영역을 나누는 구성도 가능합니다.

### 3. W5500 Ethernet Instead of Wi-Fi

W5500 configuration에서는 기존 `wifi:` section을 `ethernet:` section으로 교체합니다.

```plaintext
ethernet:
  type: W5500
  clk_pin: GPIO7
  mosi_pin: GPIO9
  miso_pin: GPIO8
  cs_pin: GPIO2
  interrupt_pin: GPIO10
```

Hardware 구성은 다음과 같습니다.

| Component | Role |
| --- | --- |
| XIAO ESP32-S3 Plus | BLE Mesh 및 ESPHome 실행 |
| WIZnet W5500 | Wired Ethernet |
| MQTT Broker | Device message 전달 |
| Home Assistant | Smart-home control |
| PoE / USB-C | Hub power |

기존 Wi-Fi 구성:

```plaintext
ESP32-S3
├── BLE Mesh
└── Wi-Fi → MQTT
```

W5500 구성:

```plaintext
ESP32-S3
├── BLE Mesh
└── SPI → W5500 → Ethernet → MQTT
```

즉 BLE와 IP network를 서로 다른 interface로 분리합니다.

### 4. Ethernet Deployment

XIAO W5500 Ethernet Adapter는 **PoE 또는 USB-C 전원**으로 사용할 수 있습니다.

PoE 환경에서는 Ethernet cable 하나로 network와 power를 함께 공급할 수 있으며, PoE를 사용하지 않는 경우 USB-C 5V 전원이 필요합니다.

첫 firmware flash는 USB-C로 수행하고 이후에는 Ethernet을 이용해 OTA update가 가능합니다.

```plaintext
esphome upload --device <ip-address>
```

VLAN 환경에서는 W5500이 untagged frame을 사용하므로 MQTT broker에 접근 가능한 VLAN의 access port에 연결합니다.

### 5. Related WIZnet Maker Projects

AwoX BLE Mesh Hub와 비교할 수 있는 WIZnet Maker 프로젝트 중 **무선 device network와 W5500 Ethernet을 연결해 Home Assistant로 전달하는 구조**를 가진 세 프로젝트를 선정했습니다.

### Project Comparison

| Feature | **AwoX BLE Mesh Hub** | **ESPHome Avi-on Mesh** | **ESP-NOW Gateway** | **PadSpan HA** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MCU | ESP32-S3 | ESP32 | ESP32 | ESP32-S3 |
| WIZnet | **W5500** | **W5500** | **W5500** | **W5500** |
| Wireless Side | BLE Mesh | Bluetooth Mesh | ESP-NOW | BLE Scan |
| Ethernet Backhaul | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| MQTT | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Optional path |
| Home Assistant | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Main Function | Lighting / Plug Control | Lighting Control | Relay / Switch Gateway | Presence Detection |
| Hybrid Network | **Yes** | **Yes** | **Yes** | **Yes** |
| W5500 Role | MQTT Ethernet | MQTT Ethernet | Gateway Ethernet | HA Ethernet |

#### Key Differences

**AwoX BLE Mesh Hub**는 AwoX/EGLO/KERIA 조명과 plug를 대상으로 하며, `product_id`와 MQTT Discovery를 이용해 Home Assistant에 device를 자동 등록합니다.

**ESPHome Avi-on Mesh**는 구조적으로 가장 유사하지만 Avi-on lighting ecosystem을 대상으로 하며, local Bluetooth Mesh lighting control에 초점을 둡니다.

**ESP-NOW Gateway**는 lighting mesh 대신 ESP-NOW relay/switch node를 사용하며, W5500을 gateway의 안정적인 upstream Ethernet으로 사용합니다.

**PadSpan HA**는 device control보다 BLE advertisement를 이용한 room-level presence detection에 초점을 둡니다.

### ESPHome Avi-on Mesh

[ESPHome Avi-on Mesh — WIZnet Makers](https://maker.wiznet.io/sophia/projects/esphome-avi-on-mesh-local-bluetooth-mesh-lighting-control-with-w5500-ethernet-backhaul/)

AwoX 프로젝트와 가장 직접적으로 비교할 수 있는 사례입니다.

ESP32가 **Avi-on Bluetooth Mesh lighting**을 제어하고, W5500 Ethernet을 통해 MQTT와 Home Assistant에 연결됩니다. LilyGO T-ETH-Lite W5500을 Ethernet gateway option으로 사용할 수 있으며, individual/group/broadcast lighting control과 MQTT auto-discovery를 지원합니다.

```plaintext
Avi-on Bluetooth Mesh
        │
        ▼
ESP32 Gateway
        │
        ▼
W5500 Ethernet
        │
        ▼
MQTT / Home Assistant
```

AwoX Hub와 동일하게 **Bluetooth Mesh와 wired Ethernet을 분리한 smart-lighting gateway**라는 점이 가장 유사합니다.

### ESP-NOW Gateway for Home Assistant

[ESP-NOW Gateway for Home Assistant over W5500 Ethernet](https://maker.wiznet.io/josephsr/projects/esp-now-gateway-for-home-assistant-over-w5500-ethernet)

이 프로젝트는 ESP-NOW 기반 relay node와 Home Assistant 사이에 ESP32 + W5500 gateway를 배치합니다.

Field node와 gateway 사이에서는 ESP-NOW를 사용하고, gateway와 Home Assistant 사이에서는 W5500 Ethernet과 MQTT를 사용합니다. W5500은 DHCP/static IP와 MQTT network path를 담당합니다.

```plaintext
ESP-NOW Nodes
      │
      ▼
ESP32 Gateway
      │
      ▼
W5500 Ethernet
      │
      ▼
MQTT / Home Assistant
```

AwoX Hub와 wireless protocol은 다르지만 **wireless field network와 wired smart-home backbone을 gateway에서 연결**한다는 구조가 유사합니다.

### PadSpan HA

[PadSpan HA — WIZnet Makers](https://maker.wiznet.io/Aimee0/projects/padspanha/)

PadSpan HA는 ESP32-S3가 BLE advertisement를 수집해 room-level presence를 판단하고 이를 Home Assistant에 전달하는 프로젝트입니다.

ESP32-S3 + W5500 ESPHome configuration을 사용할 수 있으며, BLE scanner는 무선으로 device를 감지하고 W5500은 Ethernet network path를 담당합니다.

```plaintext
BLE Tag / Phone
      │
      ▼
ESP32-S3
      │
      ▼
W5500 Ethernet
      │
      ▼
Home Assistant
```

AwoX Hub가 BLE Mesh device를 **제어**하는 프로젝트라면 PadSpan HA는 BLE advertisement를 **수집·분석**한다는 차이가 있습니다.

## FAQ

#### Q. W5500은 Wi-Fi를 대체하나요?

네. W5500 configuration에서는 MQTT/Home Assistant network path가 Wi-Fi 대신 wired Ethernet을 사용합니다.

#### Q. BLE Mesh도 W5500을 통해 처리하나요?

아닙니다. BLE Mesh는 ESP32-S3가 담당하고 W5500은 Ethernet communication을 담당합니다.

#### Q. PoE를 사용할 수 있나요?

네. XIAO W5500 Ethernet Adapter는 PoE 환경에서 사용할 수 있으며, PoE가 없는 경우 USB-C 전원을 사용합니다.

#### Q. Ethernet OTA가 가능한가요?

네. 첫 USB-C flash 이후에는 IP address를 이용해 Ethernet으로 firmware를 upload할 수 있습니다.

---

**EspHome-AwoX-BLE-mesh-hub** is an open-source project that uses ESP32 and ESPHome to control **AwoX, EGLO, and KERIA BLE Mesh lights and smart plugs**, then integrates them with **Home Assistant via MQTT**.

While the default setup can use Wi-Fi, the project also provides a dedicated wired configuration for the **Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 Plus + WIZnet W5500 Ethernet Adapter**.

In this setup, **ESP32-S3 handles BLE Mesh communication**, while **W5500 provides the Ethernet path for MQTT and Home Assistant connectivity**.

### 1. Project Overview

The overall system can be summarized as follows:

```plaintext
AwoX / EGLO / KERIA BLE Mesh Devices
                  │
                  │ BLE Mesh
                  ▼
          XIAO ESP32-S3
                  │
                  │ SPI
                  ▼
             WIZnet W5500
                  │
                  │ Ethernet
                  ▼
             MQTT Broker
                  │
                  ▼
            Home Assistant
```

The ESP32-S3 scans, connects to, and controls BLE Mesh devices, then publishes their states and control interfaces through MQTT.

The project supports several device types, including:

- RGB lights

- Dimmable lights

- Tunable white lights

- Smart plugs

- Groups / zones

Each supported device is mapped by its `product_id`, allowing ESPHome to expose the right features to Home Assistant.

### 2. MQTT Discovery and Home Assistant Integration

One of the main strengths of this project is its **automatic MQTT Discovery integration**.

When the hub detects a supported BLE Mesh device, it publishes MQTT Discovery messages so that **Home Assistant can automatically create the corresponding entities**.

```plaintext
BLE Mesh Device
      │
      ▼
ESP32-S3 Hub
      │
      ▼
MQTT Discovery
      │
      ▼
Home Assistant
```

This means users do not have to manually define each light or plug inside Home Assistant.

The project also supports **AwoX groups and zones**, which can be exposed as group-style entities for easier smart-home control.

### 3. W5500 Ethernet Instead of Wi-Fi

A key variation of this project is the **W5500 Ethernet-based deployment**.

Instead of using `wifi:`, the project offers an `ethernet:` configuration for the W5500 adapter.

Example configuration:

```plaintext
ethernet:
  type: W5500
  clk_pin: GPIO7
  mosi_pin: GPIO9
  miso_pin: GPIO8
  cs_pin: GPIO2
  interrupt_pin: GPIO10
```

This changes the network topology from:

```plaintext
ESP32-S3
├── BLE Mesh
└── Wi-Fi → MQTT
```

to:

```plaintext
ESP32-S3
├── BLE Mesh
└── SPI → W5500 → Ethernet → MQTT
```

This separation is important because it allows the system to use:

- **BLE Mesh** for local device communication

- **W5500 Ethernet** for wired MQTT / Home Assistant connectivity

In other words, this is a **hybrid smart-home gateway**.

### 4. Hardware Configuration

The wired Ethernet version is based on the following hardware:

| Component | Role |
| --- | --- |
| Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32-S3 Plus | BLE Mesh hub and ESPHome controller |
| WIZnet W5500 Ethernet Adapter | Wired Ethernet connection |
| MQTT Broker | Message transport |
| Home Assistant | Home automation platform |
| PoE / USB-C | Power source |

The W5500 adapter provides a wired Ethernet path for MQTT and Home Assistant connectivity without using Wi-Fi.

The project also mentions that the board can be powered by:

- **PoE**, if the adapter supports it

- **USB-C**, when PoE is not used

### 5. Deployment Notes

A few practical deployment points are worth noting:

- The **first flash must be done over USB-C**

- After that, **OTA update over Ethernet** is supported

- W5500 uses **untagged Ethernet frames**

- In VLAN environments, the hub should be connected to an **access port**

- If PoE is not used, **USB-C 5V power is still required**

Typical OTA command:

```plaintext
esphome upload --device <ip-address>
```

## 6. Related WIZnet Maker Projects

To better position this project, here are three comparable WIZnet Maker projects that use similar ideas such as **wireless field communication + W5500 Ethernet + Home Assistant / MQTT integration**.

### Project Comparison

| Feature | **AwoX BLE Mesh Hub** | **ESPHome Avi-on Mesh** | **ESP-NOW Gateway** | **PadSpan HA** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MCU | ESP32-S3 | ESP32 | ESP32 | ESP32-S3 |
| WIZnet | **W5500** | **W5500** | **W5500** | **W5500** |
| Wireless Side | BLE Mesh | Bluetooth Mesh | ESP-NOW | BLE Scan |
| Ethernet Backhaul | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| MQTT | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | Optional path |
| Home Assistant | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Main Function | Lighting / Plug Control | Lighting Control | Relay / Switch Gateway | Presence Detection |
| Hybrid Network | **Yes** | **Yes** | **Yes** | **Yes** |
| W5500 Role | MQTT Ethernet | MQTT Ethernet | Gateway Ethernet | HA Ethernet |

#### Key Differences

### [ESPHome Avi-on Mesh](https://maker.wiznet.io/sophia/projects/esphome-avi-on-mesh-local-bluetooth-mesh-lighting-control-with-w5500-ethernet-backhaul/)

This is the most directly comparable project.

Like the AwoX hub, it uses **Bluetooth Mesh** for lighting control and **W5500 Ethernet** as the wired backhaul for MQTT and Home Assistant.

#### Similarities

- Bluetooth Mesh lighting control

- ESP-based hub

- W5500 Ethernet backhaul

- MQTT + Home Assistant integration

#### Difference

- This project targets the **Avi-on lighting ecosystem**, while the current project targets **AwoX / EGLO / KERIA BLE Mesh devices**

### [ESP-NOW Gateway for Home Assistant over W5500 Ethernet](https://maker.wiznet.io/josephsr/projects/esp-now-gateway-for-home-assistant-over-w5500-ethernet/)

This project uses **ESP-NOW** instead of BLE Mesh, but the architecture is still comparable.

Wireless nodes communicate with an ESP32 gateway, and the gateway uses **W5500 Ethernet** to connect to MQTT and Home Assistant.

#### Similarities

- Wireless field-side communication

- ESP32 gateway structure

- W5500 as Ethernet uplink

- Home Assistant integration

#### Difference

- Uses **ESP-NOW**

- Focuses on relay/sensor-style node communication rather than smart lighting

### [PadSpan HA](https://maker.wiznet.io/Aimee0/projects/padspanha/)

PadSpan HA is another useful comparison because it combines **BLE-based sensing** with **W5500 Ethernet** and Home Assistant.

#### Similarities

- ESP32-S3 based

- BLE-related application

- W5500 Ethernet support

- Home Assistant integration

#### Difference

- Focuses on **presence detection**

- Uses BLE advertisement scanning rather than BLE Mesh light control

### FAQ

#### Q. Does W5500 replace Wi-Fi in this project?

Yes. In the Ethernet configuration, W5500 is used instead of Wi-Fi for MQTT and Home Assistant connectivity.

#### Q. Does W5500 handle BLE Mesh communication?

No. BLE Mesh communication is handled by the ESP32-S3. W5500 only provides the Ethernet network connection.

#### Q. Can it be deployed with PoE?

Yes. The W5500 adapter can be used in a PoE-based setup if supported, otherwise USB-C power is used.

#### Q. Does it support OTA updates?

Yes. After the initial USB flash, firmware updates can be performed over Ethernet.

---

Source: https://maker.wiznet.io/irina/projects/esphome-awox-ble-mesh-hub/