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Devices continuously dropping off my ZigBee network (lemm.ee)

submitted 5 days ago by MrKurtz@lemm.ee to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world

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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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[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 8 points 5 days ago (3 children)

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.

[–] mhzawadi@lemmy.horwood.cloud 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Yes would agree, more mains powered devices can help with network range

[–] Dragomus@lemmy.world 4 points 5 days ago

^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.

[–] anotherandrew@mbin.mixdown.ca 2 points 4 days ago

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.

[–] MrKurtz@lemm.ee 2 points 5 days ago (1 children)

How can I see how everything is connected or check the signal strength at the devices?

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

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.