LILYGO T-Zigbee ESP32-C3 TLSR8258

Overview

The LILYGO T-Zigbee is a dual-MCU development board that uniquely combines the ESP32-C3 with the Telink TLSR8258 chip, allowing both processors to operate simultaneously. This architecture enables true multi-protocol IoT edge nodes that can bridge Wi-Fi/Bluetooth connectivity from the ESP32-C3 with Zigbee and other 2.4GHz mesh protocols from the TLSR8258.

The TLSR8258 is an ultra-low-power chip that supports an impressive range of standards: BLE 5 Mesh, Zigbee, RF4CE, Thread, 6LoWPAN, HomeKit, and ANT. It features integrated PGA, AMIC, and DMIC along with 6-channel PWM. Status LEDs on both chips (red on PD04 and green on PA00 for TLSR8258; button on IO02 and LED on IO03 for ESP32-C3) make debugging straightforward.

A PA (Power Amplifier) variant is also available that boosts the RF range of the TLSR8258 radio, making it suitable for larger spaces or through-wall installations. The T-Zigbee can be paired with the T-U2T USB-to-TTL adapter for easy programming since the base board does not include an integrated USB-to-serial converter.

This board is an excellent choice for building Zigbee coordinators, routers, or end devices that also require Wi-Fi cloud connectivity, or for projects integrating home automation protocols like Matter/Thread alongside traditional Zigbee networks.

Firmware Compatibility

• Arduino: Supported for the ESP32-C3 side via the standard ESP32 Arduino core.
• ESP-IDF: Supported for ESP32-C3 with access to full Espressif SDK features.
• Telink Zigbee SDK: The TLSR8258 is programmed using Telink's proprietary toolchain and SDK, which supports Zigbee, BLE Mesh, Thread, and other protocols.

Flashing Guide

1. Connect the T-U2T USB-to-TTL adapter to the T-Zigbee board.
2. For flashing the ESP32-C3: use Arduino IDE or ESP-IDF with the standard ESP32-C3 flash procedure. Hold the BOOT button while pressing RST to enter download mode.
3. For flashing the TLSR8258: use the Telink BDT (Burning and Debugging Tool) with a compatible JTAG/SWS programmer.
4. Refer to the GitHub repository at https://github.com/Xinyuan-LilyGO/T-ZigBee for pinout diagrams and example code for both MCUs.