I have spent weeks trying to setup a Home Assistant Green with a ZBT-2 to connect to IKEA new Matter/Thread devices but it’s just a pain. It works, but only on occasion. After a lot of work with the horrible Google Play Services required to add the devices, I have managed to add all devices. If the devices are placed within a few meters of the ZBT-2 it works, but only every now and then. The devices constantly becomes unavailable. Before I just give up, I wanted to ask if someone actually has got this to work or if it’s a lost cause as the implementation (in HA, Open Thread Border Router, Matter, IKEA, ZBT-2 ???) is just to poor so it cannot be expected to work.
First, I’ve zero experience with Thread and have no intention of gaining personal experience unless Zigbee is deprecated, which doesn’t appear to be the case any time soon.
With that said, just using my lived tech experience and what I’ve learned reading, Thread uses 2.4Ghz bands, just like WiFi and Zigbee. Make sure the Thread band you’re using isn’t interfering with your WiFi router/AP (vice versa).
Also, like Zigbee, Thread has router devices and end devices. Router devices will re-emit the radio signal, boosting the mesh capability of the Thread network, making for a much more stable network. End devices are low powered (typically battery powered) devices that do not re-emit the radio signal, so it’s important to have several router devices spread across the home for stable coverage.
Those are the two things I’d be looking to ensure/improve before abandoning your desire. Good luck.
Many thanks Matt! I have bought 8 IKEA smart plugs that should work as Thread routers and placed within a small area of a wood house with thin walls - only a few meters between the smart plugs but if I’m lucky around half of them manage to connect to each other…
Not sure about the 2.4 Ghz band, yes my wifi is using this and I have to have it to support some devices so can’t turn it of. I do have Zigbee devices as well but need to keep them so not sure what I can do to stop the 2.4 networks interfering with each other. It would be good to know if anyone actually have the IKEA Matter/Thread devices working with ZBT-2 directly without issues/loosing connectivity all the time.
Check this link out. There’s a channel map on that page. Make sure the WiFi, Zigbee, and Thread channels you’re using are not overlapping. If they are, change them so they’re not. If you have your WiFi router radio set to auto, STOP IT! lol. That’s a no-no. Force the channel to 1, 6, or 11.
At my home, I have Zigbee channel 25, which barely interferes with WiFi channel 11. My WiFi router and AP’s (I have WiFi mesh with 4 AP’s) use channels 1, 6, and 11 spread out respectively with lowered transmit power on the radios. What I do is overkill for the size of my home, I know lol, but I have my reasons. It works for me and it’s stable. Thread uses the same channel scheme as Zigbee.
@Matt - I’m speechless. After weeks of tearing my hair and insane discussions with moronic AI you solve my problem in a minute. I just changed my wifi channel from auto to 1 and immediately the whole Thread network and every Matter device in it works like a clock.
You have saved my sanity - I thank you so very much!
Fine, until your neighbour either side does the sane thing, and then you are back to square one.
There are phone apps that can show you which WiFi channels are congested. I use an Android one called WiFi Analyser. Your router should pick the least congested channel during power up - not all do.
As @mmstano suggested, careful channel planning can help congestion and interference, but there are external factors that can throw that out the window if unanticipated.
Having a peek at the 2.4gHz band on a SDRadio can be frighteningly enlightening.