Issues with ZigBee network - any help appreciated!

Configuration Zigbee
1

Hi there,

I have a fairly simple ZigBee setup for my HA in my apartment. I mainly have wired ZigBee light switches, smart wings blinds and some sensors.

Unfortunately I don’t have too much experience debugging issues with ZigBee and home assistant so bear with me. I’m happy to provide more detail if needed.

At first around 6 months ago the system worked fairly well. Then every now and then the whole ZigBee network would not be working, sensors lights and all.

Now it’s reached a point where the blinds are almost always unavailable or if they seem available they fail to respond.

I have tried reconfiguring devices and the ZigBee controller. Restarting and updating HA. And repairing devices. Also making sure devices are charged.

The blinds always work when using the remote. Just not on HA with ZigBee

I’m running out of ideas of how to diagnose or improve the issue, so would really appreciate some help from the community. I’m happy to provide any more info if it would help.

Thanks in advance!

2

How many router devices and how many end devices?

1 Like
3

Also, if it changed suddenly, check interference with your (or a neighbours) 2.4GHz WIFI.

4

Hi Jack!

Here are some images of the zigbee devices, integration home and the network:
From the network it would appear I have 12 end devices and 7 routers as well as the coordinator.

Zigbee network
Zigbee network1420×1093 232 KB

Zigbee devices
Zigbee devices1241×1239 65.5 KB

Zigbee dash
Zigbee dash986×419 17.3 KB

5

It sounds as if you have always needed one or two more routers and small changes have made things slowly worse.

As @jchh says, it could be your neighbour has a new broadband provider, but it could be something as simple as adding a Bluetooth proxy near one of the Zigbee devices. Everything’s competing for bandwidth.

More routers is the first thing to try - you can get small USB devices which don’t do anything else.

1 Like
6

Don’t use these.

I don’t know if the situation has improved with firmware updates lately, but those were known to “blackhole” messages for non-Tuya devices in the past. Essentially, they were doing the opposite of what they were supposed to do and dropping messages instead of forwarding them.

Still searching for the original source, but it’s mentioned here and here

EDIT: found the source

2 Likes
7

These https://vi.aliexpress.com/item/1005005271016330.html flashed with the new router firmware from Nerivec are much better routers.

8

Thanks for the advice. I looked into what channels I was on:
WiFi router → 2.4Ghz Channel 8
Zigbee Coordinator → Channel 15

I moved the WiFi so it is now:
WiFi router → 2.4Ghz Channel 13
Zigbee Coordinator → Channel 15

Hopefully this reduces any interference from within my household.

When I change this do I need to ‘refresh’ my Zigbee network in any way?

Thanks

9

As long as you don’t change your Zigbee channel nothing to do on the Zigbee side.

10

I have left the network for a few days to see how it does with the channel changes. I have also looked into the Zigbee routers, but I am surprised I need them since my apartment isn’t that large.

I am still seeing my blinds go unavailable despite the change. See the network image below:

image
image1507×1095 271 KB

11

The blinds without a line could do with a router nearby.

12

One thought: Do you have any zigbee devices that can have their power shut off? For example, bulbs in a lamp that has a physical switch? If so, when the physical switch is turned off the network will lose links. Those should be repaired automatically after a while, but it may take time.
-David