CC2531 USB dongle + Sonoff Zigbee Bridge. Gateway vs Coordinator

Configuration Zigbee
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Hi all,

I have used a CC2531 USB dongle in my HA for long with the ZHA integration. The range is not really good so I just got the Sonoff Zigbee Bridge in the house.

Does the SZB need to be flashed? I want the USB Dongle to be the Gateway and the SZB to be a coordinator to add range.

Thanks for the advice :slight_smile:

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In Zigbee terminology, there is no such thing as a gateway (although IKEA calls there coordinator a gateway)
I think you want your ZbBridge to be the coordinator, and your CC2531 to be a router ?

In that case: flash the CC2531 with the router firmware, and if you want to use the ZbBridge with ZHA, flash it with Tasmota.

Be advised: using the ZbBridge as coordinator is not advised.

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Hi @francisp.

I clearly have missed the right wording (trying to at least).

The USB Dongle is on my server and is the main integration - I was just looking for a way to extend the range and bought the Sonoff Zigbee Bridge.

If I should get away with the CC2531 altogether it is fine - and I can just use the bridge when flashed.

I will read through your link.

THANKS!

Update: I see the Bridge has caused some issues especially when the Wifi is not strong

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Difference between an end device, a router and a coordinator :

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must use a USB extension cable, the more zigbee devices you add the stronger the mesh network will become.

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Did you make any progress in improving your Zigbee range by using the bridge instead of the dongle? I have a similar experience but I started off with the bridge and thought that I might get better connectivity with the dongle only to discover that the experience was significantly worse. I’m not considering flashing the bridge so that I can use it with Z2MQTT as a coordinator and using my dongle as a router.

Just out of curiosity, how many Zigbee devices would be considered a robust mesh system? Currently, I have 27 Zigbee devices but of those, 20 are end devices.

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Just wanted to add an update to my Zigbee experience. I have been experimenting with different ZB devices and controllers over the past 6 months and I think I have finally arrived at a solution that appears to be robust.

While I had initially started off with the Sonoff Zigbee wifi bridge, I switched over to the Sonoff USB dongle for better integration with HA. The majority of my ZB devices had been split between two manufacturers: Sonoff and Sengled. I have recently added a number of Ikea Tradfri devices and I now have a total of 35 devices, 11 of which have repeater functionality built in (compared to 7 previously).

To create a stronger mesh system, I first moved my pi and ZB dongle to a more centralized location. I then added repeating devices to strengthen areas that had weaker signals. I have read but cannot confirm that ZB is a “healing” system where overtime, it develops and learns how to best create a network. I can report that while initially I had devices that frequently lost its connection, this is less and less the case. In almost every situation, the device that loses a connection is one that does not repeat. I have read mixed reviews of Ikea Tradfri devices but in my experience, they are the most consistent ZB devices in my system. I would not recommend Sengled devices not only because they do not repeat but because they seem to integrate better with the Sengled ZB hub and less so with external hubs. I would say to do your research with Sonoff devices. I had purchased two of the mini-l modules only to learn that they do not repeat. Their ZB plugs are affordable enough that one could easily purchase a few of those and scatter them around just to strengthen a network.

I have two Sonoff ZB wifi bridges sitting around. I had hoped to flash them and convert them into repeaters but sadly the USB to TTL adapter I bought was dead on arrival. When I have time, I’ll probably buy a few more to finish the job.

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