Build Your Own Open Thread Border Router Board

What is OpenThread?

OpenThread is an open-source project created by the Google. It uses the Thread networking protocol to help developers build smart home products faster. Thread is a low-power, secure, and reliable wireless communication technology that lets smart devices talk to each other in homes and buildings.

What is Thread Border Router?

A Thread Border Router is a device or a Controller that connects a Thread network to other networks like Wi-Fi or Ethernet for smart home devices.

In simple terms, a Thread Border Router serves as a bridge between your thread devices and the internet or your home thread network, allowing thread devices within the Thread network to communicate with other network like Ethernet or Wi-Fi, so they can talk to your phone or other devices that aren’t on Thread.

Without a Thread Border Router, your Thread devices can talk to each other only on Thread network, not to the outside Thread network.

A Thread Border Router has two main parts a Matter Controller and Radio Co-Processor (RCP):

• The Matter Controller is like brain that manages and controls thread devices using the Matter protocol, which make sure interoperability between nodes. It handles: commissioning, communication and network management.
• The Radio Co-Processor (RCP) is a special chip that handling Thread network radio communications and improving efficiency.

Build Your Own Open Thread Border Router Board

You can build your own Open Thread Border Router boards using open-source implementation of OpenThread running on compatible boards or development boards from companies like Espressif, Silicon Labs, Nordic Semiconductor, Telink, Arduino and Raspberry Pi.

Here is a list of development boards from differents companies to build your own OpenThread Border Router for your smart home.

1. Arduino Nano Matter & ESP32 Board
2. ESP32H2 and ESP Thread Border Router Board
3. Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 dev boards
4. Silicon Labs EFR32 boards and Raspberry Pi 3B+
5. B91 Development Boards and Raspberry Pi 3B+

Also Read: Thread Border Router for Smart Home Integration

1. Arduino Nano Matter & ESP32 Board

You can create or build and configuration your own Open Thread Border Router using OpenThread SDK, Arduino Nano Matter and ESP32 Board.

This border router will allow you to deploy a Matter network over Thread and integrate Thread Matter devices into your Smart Home system.

Use the Nano Matter as a Radio Co-Processor (RCP) and the Nano ESP32 as a Matter Controller.

Here is the details guide to Build your own Open Thread Border Router using Arduino Nano Matter & ESP32 Board.

2. ESP32H2 and ESP Thread Border Router Board

Espressif has adapted the OpenThread stack to work with FreeRTOS and LwIP, making it easier for developers to quickly build Thread networks. They have also created a Thread Border Router using RTOS with the ESP32H2 and ESP Thread Border Router Board.

Follow the details guide to Build your own Open Thread Border Router using ESP32H2 and ESP Thread Border Router Board.

3. Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 dev boards

You can create or build and configuration your own Open Thread Border Router using OpenThread and 3 Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 dev boards.

Here is the details guide to make your own Open Thread Border Router using with nRF52840 boards and OpenThread SDK.

4. Silicon Labs EFR32 boards and Raspberry Pi 3B+

Silicon Labs has improved OpenThread to work well with their hardware. You can use their Software Development Kit (SDK), which comes with Simplicity Studio 5 (SSv5). The SDK is fully tested and supports many types of Silicon Labs boards.

For more details, follow the guide to start building your own Open Thread Border Router using Silicon Labs EFR32 boards and Raspberry Pi 3B+ easly with their SDK and Simplicity Studio 5.

5. B91 Development Boards and Raspberry Pi 3B+

Telink has added OpenThread support to the Zephyr RTOS, making it work smoothly with Telink hardware. The source code is available on GitHub, and you can also get it as a software development kit (SDK) to start building your own projects to build your own Open Thread Border Router B91 Development Boards and Raspberry Pi 3B+.

Follow the details guide to make your own Open Thread Border Router using with B91 Development Boards and Raspberry Pi 3B+.

Also Read: Understanding Thread and Matter: The Future of Secure IoT Connectivity