How can I actually debug matter/thread issues? Aqara U200 + conbee II with thread firmware

Configuration Matter/Thread
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1

I am trying to configure first device (Aqara U200) with HA WITHOUT using boarder router from apple/google/aqara etc but using an USB stick (in my case - conbee ii with thread software

https://smarthomescene.com/guides/how-to-convert-your-conbee-ii-stick-into-a-thread-border-router/

I was trying half of the night yesterday… first tried using iphone, but then I found an info that iphone works only with apple boarder routers - I switched to android with companion app. I did all prereqs I found so companion app has credentials synced on android, thread network is preferred, I’m using 2,4Ghz, I’m clicking „set” button on the u200 etc etc

According to smlight docs I found that lists steps when adding the device to the thread/matter, I should have these steps

Connecting to device...
Generating Matter credentials...
Connecting device to network...
Checking network connectivity...
(This step time-outs with an error which says “Can’t connect with the Thread network ha-thread-1b97”)
Connecting device to Home Assistant... (I’m not reaching this step)
Device connected! (I’m not reaching this step)

I wonder how to find out where is the problem, I couldn’t find a proper logs with explanation what is happening, is it U200, is it something else…

regards

Mariusz

2

Hi, I have a similar problem. I guess that’s because I am running HA in Docker. What is your installation method? I have gave up. I will probably migrate my PI installation to mini PC (VM) in near future.

3

I’m on a VM on QNAP NAS, so it’s a supported config. For a container based, it’s usually because of IPv6 and bridge config I guess, not the problem in my case

4

Same problem here. HAOS on a Proxmox VM

Trying to pair the U200 with HA using the thread border router addon and an nRF52840 stick.

Stuck at ‘checking network connectivity’ step.

Other device (Aqara P2 Door sensor) pairs without problems using the OTBR Addon, but not the U200.

  • Tried using two different Android phones (not iOs available)
  • Tried both connected to 5 Ghz and 2,4 Ghz Wi-Fi
  • Tried both from HA “Add new matter device” and directly scanning the QR code, also tried from the google’s pop-up.
  • Tried resetting the lock from the keypad, also tried removing the battery and installing it again.
  • Tried with the last stable firmware of the lock, tried also with the last beta firmware.

As with the phone seems impossible to debug:

  • Tried local commisioning from the matter addon, using a BT stick.

    The device joins the thread mesh but the matter addon fails to reach the device by network (mDNS timeout).

    Seems like the device (or the OTBR addon) doesn’t advertise the device, I can’t discover any _matterc._udp from my phone when pairing.

All of these things makes me think it’s a device problem but… The device is pairing succesfully with a Google Nest Hub thread mesh.

So:

  • HA, nRF52840, OTBR and Matter addons configuration seems OK as the Aqara P2 pairs succesfully.
  • Network configuration seems OK as both aqara P2 (using HA) and aqara U200 (using Google Nest) pairs succesfully.
  • Device (U200 Lock) seems OK as it pairs using Google Nest.

Don’t know what to try next…