Pipe HC Gateway
Multi-protocol smart-home gateway built on the ESP32-C6: Matter, Zigbee 3.0, BLE Mesh, RF 433, IR, and Modbus in one compact device.
Last updated: 2026-04-27
The Pipe HC Gateway is the heart of the system — where IoT devices meet and automations run inside your home.
Hardware roadmap
Pipe HC ships in three generations, with growing radio + protocol capability:
| Version | SoC | Concurrent radios | Extra protocols | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v1 — Early Bird | ESP32-C6 | Wi-Fi + either Zigbee or BLE Mesh | — | ✅ Available now (DIY via /en/flash/) |
| v2 — Pipe HC | ESP32-S3 + 802.15.4 NCP | Wi-Fi + Zigbee + BLE Mesh simultaneously | — | 🟡 In development |
| v3 — Pipe HC Pro | v2 + add-on modules | + IR + RF 433 + Matter bridge | + broader integrations | 🔵 Roadmap |
The ESP32-C6 has a single 2.4GHz radio shared among Wi-Fi + 802.15.4 (Zigbee) + Bluetooth (BLE Mesh) — coexistence means all three can’t run simultaneously. Early Bird users pick one of two builds:
- Zigbee build — Wi-Fi + Zigbee 3.0 (P0 — first available)
- BLE Mesh build — Wi-Fi + BLE Mesh (P1)
Specifications — Early Bird (v1)
| Item | Spec |
|---|---|
| SoC | ESP32-C6 (single-core RISC-V 160MHz) |
| RAM / Flash | 320KB internal SRAM + 4MB flash |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) 2.4GHz |
| Zigbee | Native Zigbee 3.0 (Zigbee build only) |
| Bluetooth | BLE 5.0 + BLE Mesh (BLE Mesh build only) |
| Power | USB-C 5V / 1A |
| Form factor | ESP32-C6 SuperMini (user-supplied board) |
ℹ️ Notes:
- The gateway can connect to Matter devices via Zigbee but is not Matter-certified
- IR / RF 433 / Modbus are exclusive to v3 with the add-on modules — Early Bird v1 doesn’t support them
Device support (per build)
Zigbee build (v1)
- 5,000+ Zigbee models from Aqara, Tuya, IKEA Tradfri, Sonoff, Philips Hue, MOES, Lonsonho… (using zigbee2mqtt descriptors as the reference source)
BLE Mesh build (v1)
- Lights, switches, plugs that follow the SIG Mesh model spec
Future products (v2/v3)
- v2: Zigbee + BLE Mesh run simultaneously — no need to pick a build
- v3: adds RF 433 (PT2262 / EV1527 remotes, alarms), IR (A/C, TV), Modbus (power meters, inverters)
Real-world capacity
Measured on an ESP32-C6 SuperMini with the full pipeline running (gateway + Wi-Fi + MQTT TLS + Zigbee):
- Free heap at runtime: ~130 KB (29% headroom after full init)
- Recommended scale: 25-30 devices + 8-10 automations + 5 scenes
- Local control latency: < 150ms from app to bulb (same Wi-Fi network)
- Target uptime: > 30 days continuous, with heap watchdog
Warranty
ℹ️ [TO BE UPDATED] Formal warranty terms will be published when the gateway goes commercial. Expected: 12 months hardware + free firmware updates long term.
Datasheet & docs
ℹ️ [TO BE UPDATED] Datasheet PDF and technical docs will be available at
/downloads/once the product is order-ready.
How to get one
The commercial Pipe HC Gateway is being finalized and not yet available for general sale.
For now you have two options:
1. Build it from an ESP32-C6 (Early Bird) — available now
Buy an ESP32-C6 SuperMini board (~$3 USD on AliExpress), plug it into your computer, and flash the Pipe HC firmware right from your browser in two minutes. Then pair it like any commercial gateway.
See the full guide: /en/flash/
2. Order a pilot unit — assembled product
Email contact@mpipe.org for the pilot edition — a unit assembled in our final case, tested, and shipped with direct support.