The Tado X starter kit was advertised as having a thread border router and gave the impression that non-proprietary devices could be connected to it, which is one of the reasons I invested in it rather than earlier Tado system. However, this is not the case as it would seem that the third party matter over thread devices (eg IKEA BILRESA switch) can't join the Tado Mesh network, and yet the Node-red-matter-controller effectively does join/access the network and is capable of reading and setting the thermostat.. So do I have to buy a fully capable thread border router, or is there way round the Tado X starter kit impasse?
This sounds like an issue of getting the Thread credentials onto the Ikea devices.
Matter works by having a commisioner send the Thread (or WiFi) credentials via BLE to a new device the first time it connects to the network, Once its connected to the IP network then the Controller can manage it.
My Matter Controller doesn't have a Commisioner as part of the setup (mostly because BLE got too complicated with people running on their own hardware) so you need to use one of the other ecosystems like Apple, Google or Amazon initially to add the device to the network (and this will do the commisioning onto the thread network) before you can then share the device as an on-net connection to the node-red matter controller.
Does the Tado X system allow you to see your thread network credentials? Usually its a coupe of HEX ids for network and key.
Alexa via Echo Dot (gen 5) can connect to the the Ikea matter device and offers only the Tado thread network for it to join, and then requests a Network Key which I don't have! There are similar issues when using Apple Home on an iPhone.
Yeah as I thought you need to find the Tado thread network key, I thought there was some method for sharing this with the matter controller in the latest version of Thread and Matter, but its quite possible that Tado hasn't updated to it.
Thread is great when its working but the way most implementations have hidden the network details from users is a real pain point, WiFi is much easier as you know your network name and key!
Might be worth digging through the Tado app settings screen, I know on my Samsung Smart Things hub the thread key was only shown at the bottom of a settings page 3 menus deep, in 8pt font (behind the sign saying beware of the leopard!)
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Yes, they seem to have ensured that it is a proprietary mesh network. 
Thanks for replying to my query.
According to Tado AI help, but there again I don't have a lot of confidence in AI....
Yes, you can connect non-proprietary Matter over Thread devices to the tadoĀ° X mesh network. Thread devices create a mesh network where devices from different vendors can communicate with each other without needing a proprietary bridge.
The tadoĀ° X devices like Smart Thermostat X, Wireless Temperature Sensor X, and Smart Radiator Thermostat X are Matter-enabled and can communicate with non-tadoĀ° devices that are also Matter-enabled.
Your Bridge X acts as a Thread border router that enables other devices to connect and routes communication between Thread-enabled devices, so third-party Matter over Thread devices should be able to join the same network.
So it is theoretically feasible but practically not.
And just to comment, in the case of the new IKEA Thread devices I have paired them to 3 different TBR (Apple, Smartthings and Tuya) via their own apps without problem.
Yet when I try to comission with Alexa all goes well and it shows me 4 options (I have an Eero router with TBR also).
Although I have supplied the key in 2 of these cases it is unable to pair. System compatibility on Thread is not here yet.
EDIT UPDATE: After rebooting one Echo (Echoflex - not Thread) and disconnecting all others it no longer asked for the key but allowed me to share to all my hubs. It didn't even ask, so I had to disconnect by rotation to force it pair to each one.
Thanks for the information, but you have left me in suspense as to which TBR systems that Alexa was unable to commission connection with IKEA devices 
In my not so smart home I have issues with my Somfy smart blinds, despite routines being verifiably deployed by either the Somfy App or Alexa, the requested actions by the blinds are not always implemented. There is of course no feedback in the system to verify whether the the blinds have opened or closed, so my intention was to use IKEA's door/window sensor on the blinds together with Node Red to verify their position and implement further calls to open/closure instructions as required.
I don't know where to find the key for either the Apple Homepod nor Tuya TBR.
In the other 2 cases (Smartthings and Eero), after selecting and then pasting the Thread keys, Alexa tried twice, asking for the key again on each ocasion before showing error.
