Logitech Harmony Hub Extender For Zigbee And Z-wave Devices Guide
It is important to address the elephant in the room. Logitech officially discontinued the Harmony Hub Extender (and eventually the Harmony remote line entirely) several years ago.
Before the Extender, if you wanted your Harmony remote to lower your Lutron Serena shades (Zigbee) or lock your Yale front door (Z-Wave) when you pressed "Watch Movie," you were out of luck. The Hub simply couldn't "see" those devices. logitech harmony hub extender for zigbee and z-wave devices
Note: Logitech discontinued the Harmony line in 2021, but the hardware still functions for existing users. This content is written for those currently using the system or buying it second-hand. It is important to address the elephant in the room
The Extender acts as a hardware bridge, plugging directly into the main hub. It adds dedicated hardware radios to process popular local mesh protocols. N-R0009 Connectivity Protocols: Zigbee, Z-Wave, Z-Wave Plus The Hub simply couldn't "see" those devices
While Logitech has since moved away from this product line, the Extender remains a legendary piece of hardware for those looking to integrate legacy home automation protocols into a modern setup. Let’s look at what this device does, why it matters, and how it fits into the smart home landscape today.
But for the advanced smart home enthusiast, the Harmony Hub had a noticeable blind spot: it was largely isolated from the broader world of home automation. It spoke IR and Wi-Fi, but it couldn't talk to the vast ecosystem of Z-Wave door locks or Zigbee window shades.