Best Z-wave Setup (hardware and software)

Configuration Z-Wave
1

Hi I recently cut over from Smartthings, and very glad I did, but looking for anyway to improve my zwave network.

I have RPi 4B 8gb and a NortekUSB Zwave/Zigbee stick for hardware.
I have 26 devices on Z-Wave JS. Both HA and Z-Wave JS are on the latest stable versions.
I won’t go into my devices, and perhaps they are the problem as there is a mix of versions/ages of devices, primarily Levitron wall switches and outlets.

I find myself constantly fighting the health of my switches and zwave network. Switches will just stop responding. There are a couple in particular but they actually are newer Levitron switches.

This is my question:

What is the strongest configuration for a zwave network, with the strongest set of tools for resolving and troubleshooting zwave issues?
I’m just running the basic setup and I see there are different ways to break it out (Zwave2MQTT?). Can I break the zwave stuff out on a seperate RPi (I have a spare)? I only want to do that if it really stands a chance of making things better.
Or is there a more reliable USB stick other than the one I’m using?
I’m fine with upgrading my old switches, but want to understand why I need to do so if that is the route as new switches aren’t cheap.

Thanks for any insight anyone has…

2

There’s lots of things that can help… The first is using an extension cable and / or USB hub connecting your coordinator stick to a Rpi. Are you directly plugged into your Pi?

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3

Yes, USB is directly in the Pi.

4

See tons about improving the network by separating the USB stick from Pi using an extender (though if you go over a certain distance the USB voltage drops so that can be an issue?). Thank you for opening my eyes to that. I’ll look around I’m sure I have a USB extender in my mess of cables.

I wonder if one of these would help?

5

I use a 2m long extension.

You shouldn’t need a Z-Wave extender because you said you have light switches and outlets which act as repeaters already.

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6

Mine (Zooz 7 stick) is on a small powered USB2 hub (to avoid the issues with Usb3 and Zigbee) that’s on a 1m extension cable. Rock solid.

Under the hood ZWave sticks all use the same Silicon Labs chipsets - so one is rarely better than another. Sure, maybe minor antenna differences but that’s usually not the issue.

Id find a USB hub and do it asap.

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7

thanks. found an extension cable and put it on there, ordered powered USB hub. we’ll see what happens.

8

Is there an easy way to move devices from one controller to another?

Thanks

9

As long as your controller is based on SiliconLabs 500 chipsets or newer, yes.

In Zwavejs2mqtt it’s as simple as performing an NVM backup from the UI and restoring it on your new controller.

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