I recently setup my ZigBee network in Home Assistant, using a Conbee III with deConz on my Synology NAS.
I purchased a few Aqara Temperature sensors and a couple of Mini Switches.
I was able to get them to pair just fine, but they won’t remain online for more than a couple days. They then drop off and I can’t even reconnect them easily. I need to try to pair them again like 10 times before they come back online.
At this point I don’t know if the problem is my network, the Conbee III, deConz, or the Aqara devices.
I don’t know much about ZigBee, but a couple things that I tried so far were:
- Use a USB extender instead of connecting the Conbee III directly to my NAS.
- Bring the devices as close a possible to the gateway. I don’t have a big home, so I don’t think distance is a factor here, but still, I put of the sensors right next to the gateway, and it would still drop after a while.
Do you have any hints on things to try to get this fixed, or at least identify the problem?
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Once everything is online have you checked the network map to see how it’s all connected? That might give you an idea. If everything is connected directly to your gateway your problem is probably there. If it’s all bridged through one relay device that device is likely the issue.
Yes would agree, more mains powered devices can help with network range
^This …
I have seen a few places now where devices drop randomly if they’re two “hops” over from a gateway. It always appears to be that the missing device thinks it is meshed in but the device it meshes with is saying nah, too far I can’t understand you. Adding a mains powered zigbee gateway or device solves it promptly.
I’ve got a fairly extensive Zigbee network (32 devices) - using a CC2652 USB stick hooked up to an rpi with socat connecting that to my HA VM. I have probably a dozen wired devices (in-wall switches, plug-in outlets, etc.) scattered between the two floors and even the wired devices occasionally fall off the mesh, while most of them (and about 50% of the wireless devices) are pretty robustly connected. I’ve found no real link between LQI/RSSI and a device’s stablity, nor have I found any real link between manufacturer and stability. Sonoff, Aqara, ewelink, lumi. It’s frustrating, because some of the devices that fail to stay connected are within 3 meters of either the hub or a wired device and report great signal strength. I just don’t feel that Zigbee is all that awesome for a robust low power network.
When I’m at the house next I might try moving the entire network to a different channel, as tedious as that is going to be.
How can I see how everything is connected or check the signal strength at the devices?
Devices and services, click on your Zigbee integration, configure, then network. Not sure if it works the same way for all the integrations, but that’s how ZHA works. I know z2mqtt has a network map as well.
Having moved my home assistant from the middle of my house to a garden shed/office, check your WiFi network is not on channel 1. As that will most likely be the same part of the spectrum as your ZigBee network, if you have your ZigBee on channel 11.
On another note. A zigbee network is a mesh network set up at pairing. Moving your host around will not re-generate the routes in the network and make your devices drop.
Pair your devices (and hub) in there position they will be in when installed.
Also: mains powered devices (lightbulbs, smart plugs, zigbee repeaters) will all act as a repeater in your mesh. Depending on your home it might help to add in a few of them. But keep in mind that this will not magically make your existing devices use them. When setting up your network always pair your permanent powered devices first so they can act as endpoints for your battery powered ones.
Well, this explains a whole lot. I’ve recently paired a few devices in front of the receiver and then moved them into position and wondered why some of them kept dropping off.
I don’t know if that’s the (entire) story – the mesh is supposed to occasionally reroute based on the link quality of the individual nodes and the repeaters they can see.
Also have a read of this https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/zigbee-wifi-coexistence/
Thanks TIL! Although I prefer this diagram that has all the wifi channels on it, instead of just the 3 common ones.
My wifi is on channel 11, while ZigBee is on 15. That shouldn’t overlap, right?
15 is right in the middle of both WiFi 1 and 6, maybe not the best channel for ZigBee.
Check out this page https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/zigbee-wifi-coexistence/
So… It should be good if I am using WiFi 11, shouldn’t it? Not sure if I am missing something.
Yeah, should be
I use Z2mqtt and still get random powered devices showing as unavailable. Too bad there isn’t a “ping” feature like ZWave.
Nothing moves, and yet I get random unavailable devices that come and go randomly.
I guess I need to check my WiFi channels. One of my biggest complaints around Zigbee vs ZWave. I don’t have these issues with my ZWave devices.
I had a similar problem with Aqara leak sensors. I solved it by installing a smart switch very close to it, about 30cm in my case. For shitty sensors, it’s important to have strong signal close to them and set them up at the location of usage so they connect through that strong node.
Don’t try fiddling with the receiver much, instead treat your network as a mesh, which it is. Ensure there’s a good path of nodes between the receiver and the edges of the network. I did this initially by sprinkling IKEA smart switches around. I have at least one in every room. The same is valid for Z-Wave.
This is in addition to fixing your channels as suggested by others.
Do you have any zigbee routers (mains powered devices) scattered around your house? I had the same problem, then I strategically placed a bunch of smart plugs throughout my house. Haven’t had any problems since.
No, I don’t have any ZigBee routers, just the Aqara sensors. My home is pretty small, so I didn’t think I would need them, but I am leaning towards that being the issue. Last night I paired one of the sensors again, right next to the controller and left it there - literally 5 cm from it. It has stayed online so far, which is more than it usually does.
Weird thing is that I have another sensor in that same room just like a couple meters away and that one keeps dropping. Is ZigBee’s range really that short?
What criteria should I follow to place the routers? One per room should be enough?
My experience is that Zigbee’s range is fine, but it is highly susceptible to interference/electrical wires/water pipes that might be in walls. I put my Conoff dongle on a 12 ft USB extension (my HA Raspberry Pi is right next to my router, modem, and home server). Then, as I was having issues with devices staying connected, I added routers. I tried to place them so they had clear line of sight with each other (or the dongle), or only through one wall. After that, I’ve had no problems. It ended up being about one per room. Ikea’s smart plugs are cheap and I use them only as routers.
The most popular way (and might also be the best) is to use z2m instead of deconz
I had a couple of Aqara sensors awhile ago (vibration sensor and door sensors) and they always fell off the network randomly and required re pairing. Aqara don’t seem to properly follow the zigbee standard, so unless you’re using their gateway there’s a good chance it will just stop working - or at least that’s been my experience. I replaced them with different brands and haven’t had a problem since.
I wasn’t clear from your post if most of the devices are Aqara or not but if they’re all that brand then I would guess this is your problem.
How is the link strength for the devices? Do they still drop off if you leave them right by the controller? If you’re just getting started I’m guessing you don’t have a strong mesh yet with plugged in devices to provide routers to the network.
My experience is that some manufacturers are better at following the spec and devices work better or worse based on that.
How can I check the signal strength for the devices? Indeed these are my only devices on the network. No routers.
One of the sensors is a couple meters from the controller, direct line of sight… And still drops. Does it need to he closer?
I don’t know deConz but ZHA shows RSSI on the device in home assistant, and you can see RSSI in the Zigbee2MQTT UI list of devices. I’d assume it’s something like that in deConz.
I’d say if the device is closer to the controller then I’d suspect the devices. Do you have any other devices yet or just the Aquara sensors? It’s possible they work better through a Zigbee router too so you can try connecting them via one.
I’ll check, but I haven’t seen anything like that in deConz.
Yeah, ALL my devices are Aqara at this point.
I found this on the deConz pages - https://github-wiki-see.page/m/dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin/wiki/LQI-explained
Can you find it in the UI somewhere?
Thanks! There definitely seems to be a network map view on the desktop deConz app, but I am using the Docker version of deconz and the only way I have to manage it is through Phoscon, which is the web UI. I really don’t see how to use the desktop app to manage my Conbee controller, since it is installed on my NAS, not a PC.
I’ll keep investigating.
