zigpy-xbee

What it is and what it does

zigpy-xbee is a radio library that bridges the zigpy Zigbee framework to XBee-based radio modules from Digi International. It handles the low-level UART serial protocol communication with XBee hardware, allowing zigpy to discover, pair, and control Zigbee devices like motion sensors, temperature sensors, lightbulbs, switches, and fans. The library is typically used as part of Home Assistant's ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) component or other zigpy-based applications that need to support XBee radio adapters.

The package depends only on zigpy itself and communicates with XBee modules over standard serial connections (USB or GPIO UART). It supports documented XBee Zigbee modules including Series 3 (xbee3-24), S2C, and S2 variants. Configuration is straightforward—you specify the serial port path (e.g., /dev/ttyACM0) and the library handles the rest. The project is stable but aging, with its last release 286 days ago; it remains archived-free and actively maintained in the zigpy ecosystem.

Use it for:

• Integrate XBee-based Zigbee adapters into Home Assistant for controlling smart home devices like lights, switches, and sensors.
• Build custom Zigbee home automation applications using zigpy with XBee radio hardware as the wireless backbone.
• Connect and manage Zigbee binary sensors (motion, door) and environmental sensors (temperature) through a single XBee coordinator module.
• Replace or supplement other Zigbee radio libraries (bellows, zigpy-deconz) when XBee hardware is already deployed or preferred.

Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying

Enables zigpy to communicate with XBee-based Zigbee radio modules for home automation and device control over serial connections.

Yes, if you have XBee Zigbee hardware and need zigpy support for it. The package is stable, has no known vulnerabilities, and low install friction. The GPL-3.0 copyleft license is a non-issue for most home automation and open-source use cases. The aging maintenance status (286 days since last release) is acceptable for a mature, specialized library in a stable ecosystem, but monitor the repository for any security or compatibility updates before deploying in production.

Install

zigpy-xbee on PyPI

pip install zigpy-xbee

uv add zigpy-xbee

poetry add zigpy-xbee

Installing zigpy-xbee

Before you install

Low install friction with a single runtime dependency (zigpy). Maintenance status is aging—last release was 286 days ago, though the repository remains active and the project has been stable since its 2018 inception.

License in practice

Licensed under GPL-3.0 (copyleft). Any derivative work or distribution must also be open-source under GPL-3.0; proprietary applications cannot incorporate this library without complying with copyleft obligations.

Quickstart

pip install zigpy-xbee

from zigpy_xbee import XBeeRadio
radio = XBeeRadio({"port": "/dev/ttyACM0"})

Requires a physical XBee Zigbee radio module (e.g., Digi XBee Series 3 or S2C) connected via USB or serial port; XBee Series 2 modules must first be flashed with Zigbee Coordinator API firmware.

Verify before relying

• Whether firmware upgrades to XBee Series 3 and S2C modules are truly recommended or mandatory for reliable operation.
• Current compatibility status with XBee hardware beyond the documented Series 3, S2C, and S2 modules.
• Performance characteristics and latency when controlling large numbers of Zigbee devices through a single XBee adapter.

Package facts

Evidence: zigpy_xbee-0.21.1-py3-none-any.whl

Tags

More Networking packages