Hardware
Sensors we support today
OpenSense is hardware-agnostic by design. Anything that can POST JSON to an HTTP endpoint, publish to MQTT, or arrive through a LoRaWAN Network Server webhook can be a source. The list below is the set of devices we have written end-to-end guides for. If your sensor is not in the list, the generic LoRaWAN guide, the POST /v1/ingest reference and the DIY ESP32 walkthrough are the escape hatches.
WiFi battery sensor. Pushes temperature and humidity over HTTPS every 60 s. The cheapest production-grade entry point. Recommended default.
Zigbee sensor. Cheapest per-unit but requires a Zigbee gateway (Home Assistant or Aqara Hub). Best when you already have a smart home.
LoRaWAN battery sensor for large premises or thick walls. 10-year battery, works through reinforced concrete. Requires a TTN-compatible gateway.
Any LoRaWAN device that decodes to a JSON payload on TTN. We expose a webhook and ship a payload decoder library for the common ones.
ESP32 + BME280 (T / RH / pressure). ESPHome YAML included. For tinkerers and anyone with more sensor types than a commercial product covers.
Same hardware, MQTT instead of HTTPS. Routes through your own EMQX or Mosquitto broker. For users on a private network with no outbound HTTPS.
How to pick
| Constraint | Pick |
|---|---|
| One fridge, one room | Shelly H&T |
| Already on Home Assistant | Aqara TH (via HA's MQTT bridge) |
| Hotel, hospital, large building | Efento NS-T (LoRaWAN) |
| Specialised sensor (CO₂, leak) | DIY ESP32, or a TTN device |
| No outbound internet allowed | DIY ESP32 + on-prem MQTT broker |
| Lowest cost, you tinker | DIY ESP32 |
What we deliberately do not support
- 433 MHz off-brand sensors (the Aliexpress "weather station" class). No authentication, no integrity, two units in the same building collide.
- Bluetooth-only sensors with no gateway. They cannot reach our ingest; they need a phone or a Pi to relay. We do not write or maintain that relay.
- Sigfox. Coverage is shrinking and we cannot justify a second LPWAN stack.
- Generic Tuya devices. Cloud lock-in by vendor; pairing is fragile.
Sensor accuracy at a glance
| Device | Temp accuracy | RH accuracy | Cadence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelly H&T | ±0.4 °C (SHT31) | ±2 % | 60 s |
| Aqara TH | ±0.3 °C | ±3 % | event-driven |
| Efento NS-T | ±0.3 °C | ±1.8 % | 5–15 min |
| BME280 (DIY) | ±0.5 °C, ±3 % RH | ±3 % | any |
Accuracy figures are vendor-published 1σ at 25 °C. The product reports raw sensor values; if you need traceable calibration, buy a calibrated probe and pair it the same way (see DIY ESP32 + ESPHome).