A developer has built a custom Zigbee network monitor using an Elecrow CrowPanel display and an ESP32-H2 module to visualize live smart home traffic without requiring external software.

Key Points

• The project utilizes an ESP32-P4-based 10.1-inch display paired with an ESP32-H2 wireless module for real-time packet sniffing.
• The system decodes Zigbee frames locally, displaying source, destination, cluster, and command data on a dedicated screen or web interface.
• The ESP32-H2 captures network keys during initial pairing to decrypt traffic, allowing it to function autonomously without a constant connection to Wireshark.
• Hardware integration required custom firmware to bridge the two chips via UART, as the ESP32-P4 lacks native wireless connectivity.
• The interface provides a live feed, a device-specific traffic table, and a capture health monitor to track network performance and signal strength.

Why it Matters

This DIY tool transforms invisible smart home network traffic into a tangible, real-time dashboard, offering a more accessible alternative to complex packet-capture software. By providing immediate visibility into device communication and signal health, it helps users troubleshoot connectivity issues within their own Zigbee networks.