Advice on ZigBee network split / reconfiguration

Configuration Zigbee
1

Hi,

Looking for some advice on a planned ZigBee network reconfiguration please.

Currently have about 90 ZigBee devices running off a ConBee II & ZHA. As the network size has increased - particularly as I added another ~30 devices over the last month or two - I’m noticing more and more “glitches” - delays in sensor data reaching HA, delays/missed commands to lights, etc. The ConBee is on a long USB extension cable, my ZigBee channel is reasonably clear, and HA is running as an ESXi virtual machine, so don’t think the issues lie within HA or are interference-related, FWIW.

Given I have a SkyConnect arriving soon, I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to split the network to hopefully improve or resolve some of these issues.

My current thoughts are that I will split as follows:

  1. “Mains-connected network”
  • SkyConnect / ZHA (so I can use its dual radio functionality for Matter support in the future too)
  • all mains-connected devices (so, devices which typically act as repeaters too, albeit often of unknown quality)
  • initially will be about 20 devices, but will increase to around 40 as I finish smart-ifying my lighting over the coming months
  • Eventual network will be largely “Nue” smart downlights + wall switches (limited ZigBee options in the Australian market - although these do seem to work well after months or testing), about 5 Ikea globes, and a few misc devices (e.g. Samsung smart plug)
  1. “Endpoint network”
  • ConBee II / Deconz or Z2MQTT
  • all battery-operated devices, supported by 5x Ikea Tradfri signal repeaters (2x downstairs along with the ConBee + 3x upstairs, which should put every device within 10m of a repeater or the ConBee on the same floor)
  • initially will be about 70 devices, but will increases to around 110 over coming months
  • Most of the devices (now + in the future) are Aqara motion, contact, temp/humid & water leak sensors. Although there is / will be around 30 other misc devices too - Aqara blind motors, Sonoff sensors of various sorts, 4 Ikea “remotes”, 5 Aqara buttons, etc.

A couple of questions - the reason for this post:

  1. Thoughts on whether I’m better off using the SkyConnect or the ConBee for the mains-connected network, or vice versa? Any pros/cons/issues either way?

  2. For whichever network utilises the ConBee II, would Deconz or Z2MQTT likely be a better choice? I have no experience with either. From some reading I get the sense that Z2MQTT might be a better in general, but not sure if that’s necessarily correct nor whether the fact it’s a ConBee means I should lean in the Deconz direction regardless.

  3. Any other general thoughts / comments / criticisms of my plan?

Thanks in advance.