Advice on Zigbee range extending

dturgel · April 27, 2021, 12:14pm

@mrneutron awesome, thank you!

Hedda · April 29, 2021, 11:31am

Again, hope https://github.com/home-assistant/home-assistant.io/pull/15789 will be reviewed/accepted.

tennbaum · July 2, 2021, 1:10pm

hey all

i would love just some verifications b4 i go out and spend money on the wrong thing.

I have “sonoff zha bridge” flushed with tasmota, and connected to my HA.

i too have coverage problems, and understand that some “always powered” devices will probably fix it.

so basically 3 questions (not sure if it maters, but as i said - i have a the sonoff zha bridge flushed with tasmota as main zha hub):

will the “sonoff zigbee basic” that r mentioned here solve my problem?
i was planing on buying the 'tuya" smart plugs from aliexpress, but If i understood correctly they might not be compatible with all zha sensors/products (most of mine are from sonoff)?
unfortunately, ikea tradfri are not sold here.
will another sonoff zha gateway (with/without tasmota firmware) be a better solution?

thanks!

Valter_Nascimento · August 22, 2021, 2:01am

Does anyone know if the Zigbee Module USB Dongle can work as repeater without connect in HA or any computer? Just the dongle and the power supply?

francisp · August 22, 2021, 2:10am

Yes. Just plug them in a phone charger.

walaj · August 23, 2021, 2:26am

can a coordinator act just as a repeater?

francisp · August 23, 2021, 3:00am

In short : no

mrneutron · August 23, 2021, 3:59am

There is a different firmware you need to load if you want the TI-based USB devices to behave as a repeater (router), rather than the coordinator.

Look here, and click on the Router version of the Z-Stack firmware:

Load that firmware into the TI CCxxxx chip on the USB device.
Follow the link to loading firmware I posted, earlier in this thread:

THEN, your USB device will act as a repeater (router).

Burningstone · August 25, 2021, 1:46pm

A non-zigbee smart plug can’t extend the range of the zigbee network, a zigbee smart plug doesn’t need internet.

So why do you need an internet booster?

francisp · August 25, 2021, 3:22pm

He joined 3 hours ago, posted this 3 hours ago and read 6m. A spammer ?

walaj · August 26, 2021, 6:37am

given the link, I suspect yes.

tom_l · August 26, 2021, 6:57am

Dunno. That was an iffy one. Have decided to err on the side of caution. Thanks for the report.

Hedda · August 26, 2021, 2:15pm

Yes they can but need to first flash the correct “Zigbee router” firmware for your Zigbee USB adapter.

You can now do this with both Texas Instruments and Silicon Labs based dongles with the right FW.

github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware

[REQUEST] Firmware image pre-configured to make ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle and SM-011 based adapters into a dedicated Zigbee Router device?

opened 09:55AM - 23 Apr 21 UTC

closed 04:16AM - 05 Sep 22 UTC

Hedda

@xsp1989 How about a separate firmware image pre-configured to make it into a Zi…gbee Router device? The purpose of such a separate pre-configured firmware image would so that any user can flash it to ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle or SM-011 based adapters and that would by default without any more configuration be optimized to act as a dedicated Zigbee Router device. The point of such a pre-configured firmware image is so the users can buy additional ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongles and SM-011 based adapters together with spare USB-chargers make those into dedicated Zigbee Router devices (that work similarly to the "**IKEA Trådfri Signal Repeater E1746**" product), meaning that that can be paired by simply enabling paring-mode using just a button pressing combination. https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/tradfri-signal-repeater-30400407/ https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/p/tradfri-signal-repeater-80424255/ That is, with an optional firmware that is already pre-configured as a dedicated Zigbee Router all the end-user needs to do is: 1. Flash the pre-configured "**Dedicated Zigbee Router Device**" firmware image to the ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle. 2. Plug-in the ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle into any USB charger. 3. Initiate paring-mode by quickly pressing the "boot" button three times (3 times within a time frame of 3 seconds). 4. LED light blink constantly to indicate that it has initiated pairing-mode (and it should stay in that pairing-mode for 60-second before it ends pairing-mode, meaning that pairing-mode would only be enabled for 60-seconds allowing the user that window to enable join mode on the coordinator side). 5. If the paring is successful then LED light stays in ON mode to indicate that the device is paired and is powered on. To reset the device to its "default settings" 1. Power-cycle it (by either pressing "reset" button or by unplugging the device from the USB charger and replugging back in). 2. Within 60-seconds after power-on; quickly press "boot" button six times (6 times within time frame of 3 seconds after powered). Real-world scenario; Buying additional ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongles and use with spare USB-chargers a dedicated Zigbee Router devices (some times also referred to as "range extender") to place around your house could be a good way for new Zigbee users to gain greater area coverage right upfront in large houses if they as a start want to begin by adding a bunch of battery-operated sensors which do not act as Zigbee routers themselves. ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6320001/115856541-edcbba00-a42c-11eb-86ca-688d573eace0.png) ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6320001/115853529-8fe9a300-a429-11eb-9dc6-ccfb478f5a6f.png)

arpitchopra · October 6, 2021, 2:21am

Late to the party here folks, but, I’m planning on setting up a Zigbee network in my home with the following details:

Total length of the house end to end is 17m
Using sonoff CC2531 USB dongle as the coordinator right in the middle of the house
Aqara motion, door and temp sensors throughout the house. Approximately 15 in number
Zigbee wall switches (with neutral wires) - approximately 20 in number. I have tested that these do act as repeaters for the motion sensors (and for other similar switches too)

My question is, is there a limit to the NUMBER of devices in my Zigbee mesh (or the number of hops to and end device) when using the sonoff cc2531 dongle?

nicolae.fratila · October 6, 2021, 2:25am

Yes, about 30 devices.
Better to use Conbee 2 stick

francisp · October 6, 2021, 3:32am

Better use a CC2652x

walaj · October 6, 2021, 5:34am

unless you have powered routers/repeaters… each router will increase the total number of zigbee devices supported by your mesh…

So you should be able to given the use of the wall switches

arpitchopra · October 6, 2021, 6:20am

THANK YOU!! This is a key point here. I will have powered switches which DO act as repeaters/routers. I have connected 4 of them - 2 Chinese made 3 gang devices and 2 Sonoff ZBMinis in my home as a POC/test scenario and can see them act as repeaters/routers in the ZHA Visualization tab.

Another few questions:

What is the recommended distance between CC2531 dongle and the “first” switch (nearest to it)
What is the recommended distance between the repeaters/routers themselves (switches)
Is there a maximum hop value in the network to reach the coordinator? Ex: What if there is a chain of 4 switches (routers) between the endpoint and the coordinator? Will that work?

francisp · October 6, 2021, 6:38am

If you want to stick to the CC2531, I recommend to use the source routing firmware, and to pair all your routers first, before pairing your sensors.

From the FAQ :

I read that Zigbee2MQTT has a limit of 20 devices (when using a CC2531), is this true?

Definitely not! Example given: the default Zigbee2MQTT CC2531 firmware indeed supports 20 devices connected directly to the coordinator. However, by having routers in your network the network size can be extended. Probably all AC powered devices e.g. bulbs serve as a router, you can even use another [CC2530/CC2531 as a router] (which has a limit of 21 devices).

When using the default Zigbee2MQTT CC2531 coordinator firmware + 2 CC2531 routers your device limit will be:

Coordinator: 15 - 2 routers = 13
Router 1: 21
Router 2: 21
Device limit of 55 devices

arpitchopra · October 6, 2021, 7:13am

Thank you @francisp

Another few questions (same as what I asked above):

What is the recommended distance between CC2531 dongle and the “first” switch (nearest to it)
What is the recommended distance between the repeaters/routers themselves (switches)
Is there a maximum hop value in the network to reach the coordinator? Ex: What if there is a chain of 4 switches (routers) between the endpoint and the coordinator? Will that work?