Are Ikea Zigbee devices still ok?

Hardware
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2

It’s complicated! :man_facepalming: :face_with_symbols_over_mouth: :man_mage:

  • The battery life issue with the older Tradfri 5-button remotes was fixed with new firmware on ZHA some time ago.

  • RODRET 2-button remotes are indeed a beast to pair :face_with_symbols_over_mouth:, but work very well on ZHA with the blueprint IKEA Rodret Dimmer Controls (ZHA/Z2M).
    The ability to easily configure tap, long press, and double tab actions is very nice, as is the magnetic base.

    • My first RODRET took a couple of days to persuade to pair. Yes, DAYS.
    • A second batch bought today are similar - one paired after about 30minutes of using a watch to count Press 8 for >10S as the manual says. The LED should flash, but it never does.
    • Placing the remote in the destination location doesn’t work. Next to the coordinator (Yellow) has worked once today only in about 20 tries with two devices.
    • The old Tradfri devices sometimes worked from a lab PSU set to 1.5V suggesting pairing drained the AAA cell, but standard (1.5V) and NiCd (1.2V) cells don’t seem to make a big difference.
    • Even a factory reset (quick-press the pairing button 4 times (within 5 seconds)) seems difficult to trigger - the LED should pulse for a few seconds.

  • I also bought a 4-button STRYBAR remote which seemed to pair after “only” 15minutes, but I’ve not looked for the triggers: it produces, nor a blueprint yet.

My experiments today have been trying to vary conditions to see if there is a method which is more likely to pair.

The best I can come up with is:

  • Battery OUT, wait 5 minutes (ideally, go away and try several hours later)
  • Locate the IKEA remote next to the coordinator.
  • Set HA ZHA / Z2M to (+ Add Device)
  • Insert fresh cells, alkaline probably better than NiCd / NiMh (as higher voltage).
  • Use a watch to count (say) 12S pressing the pair 8 button
  • See if the LED flashes - it should, but seldom does!
  • (don’t pair near Zigbee bulbs - IKEA firmware has a habit of direct to device pairing, ignoring the coordinator, meaning you need to reset the bulb AND the remote.)

It appears trying again and again decreases success - try again another day, and a RODRET might pair immediately! No, no firm idea why. Battery discharge?

Thankfully, battery changing seems less likely than a TRADFRI to disappear from the network.

Any one got any more insights into IKEA RODRET / STRYBAR pairing?

If this helps, :heart: this post!

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