ITead’s “Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus V2” (model "ZBDongle-E") based on Silicon Labs EFR32MG21 radio SoC/MCU

Hedda · December 21, 2022, 11:11am

I believe that the old 9888010100045 (previous barebone Silabs EFR32MG21 based Zigbee 3.0 USB adapter from ITead uses the exact same SoC chip as the new ITead’s “Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus V2” (model “ZBDongle-E”) so the symptoms you describe will likely be due to the firmware version and build configuration rather than the hardware, and you should, in theory, be able to flash a firmware image meant for the old 9888010100045 dongle onto the new ZBDongle-E adapter and vice versa, (but do not hold me to that). Best to ask and confirm firmware compatibility with ITead/Sonoff:

ZBDongle FW + issue reporting → https://github.com/itead/Sonoff_Zigbee_Dongle_Firmware/issues

Unofficial 9888010100045 FW + discussion → https://github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware/issues/

Other realted unofficial firmware discussions → https://github.com/grobasoz/zigbee-firmware/issues/

https://github.com/itead/Sonoff_Zigbee_Dongle_Firmware/issues/15

github.com/itead/Sonoff_Zigbee_Dongle_Firmware

Confirm firmware image backward and forward compatibility with ITtead's old barebone Silabs EFR32MG21 based Zigbee 3.0 USB adapter (model 9888010100045) from ITead?

opened 11:08AM - 21 Dec 22 UTC

Hedda

@Daniel-zhan-itead Can you for reference confirm if firmware images for new ZBD…ongle-E is technically compatible with the old "9888010100045" dongle and vice versa? This was asked here -> https://github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware/issues/29 as well as in Home Assistant forum. ITead's no longer sold Zigbee 3.0 dongle barebone model "9888010100045" adapter (which did not tget the "Sonoff" branding) was also based on EFR32MG21 and therefor I just assumed that it should also work with the same firmware image files, however it PCB board maybe designed to use different pins? https://community.home-assistant.io/t/itead-zigbee-3-0-usb-dongle-stick-adapter-based-on-silicon-labs-efr32mg21/271144 https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=262086502015726 ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6320001/232785245-c15ee9cb-6c8b-4f55-82b3-fac30955a832.png) At least, back when the new “Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus V2” (model “ZBDongle-E”) was released I asked @Daniel-zhan-itead (product manager at ITead) about firmware compatibility with their old 9888010100045 (previous barebone Silabs EFR32MG21 based Zigbee 3.0 USB adapter from ITead) and got the reply that the pinout definition for the EFR32MG21 SoC chip on the new model ZBDongle-E board is exactly the same as the original first-generation barebone Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle model 9888010100045, but that that the new model ZBDongle-E adapter can still not use the exact same firmware images as their old barebone model 9888010100045 adapter, so I guess that must mean that they might not use the exact same EFR32MG21 SoC chip model or? ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6320001/232785426-d85541b2-2efb-49fc-a68c-21460d09b6c5.png) At least as far as I can tell the ZBDongle-E does use the exact same [EFR32MG21A020F768IM32 SoC ](https://www.silabs.com/wireless/zigbee/efr32mg21-series-2-socs/device.efr32mg21a020f768im32?tab=specs) used on their previous model 9888010100045 ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle, EFR32MG21A020F768IM32 is well as on CoolKit Technologies “SM-011 V1.0” module used in the ITead Sonoff ZBBridge Zigbee Bridge and in Tuya ZS3L and Tuya ZSLC5 SoC modules. That includes an 80 MHz ARM Cortex-M33 core, 768 kB Flash Storage, 64 kB RAM in a QFN32 package At the time when the ew “Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus V2” (model “ZBDongle-E”) was released I also asked @Daniel-zhan-itead at ITead about the default RF output power configuration and was told that the new ZBDongle-E adapter currently ships with Zigbee NCP 6.10.3 firmware that has enabled 20 dBm output RF power default, however, is not hardcoded in the firmware so users/applications can choose to lower output RF power if they want. In addition, got part of the Configuration Parameter values Table for Silicon Labs EmberZNet PRO Zigbee networking protocol stack: |Configuration Parameter|Value| | --- | --- | |EMBER_APS_UNICAST_MESSAGE_COUNT|32| |EMBER_PACKET_BUFFER_COUNT|250| |EMBER_NEIGHBOR_TABLE_SIZE|26| |EMBER_SOURCE_ROUTE_TABLE_SIZE|200| |EMBER_ADDRESS_TABLE_SIZE|32| It does not mention “Child Table Size” but I guess that is probably configured to 32 same as for old model 9888010100045 as per https://github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware/blob/4533c8daa1e571801a2c49dca8498a1b1b79f54f/firmware/Zigbee3.0_Dongle/EZSP/README.md or? ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6320001/232786353-b50558f7-c465-4fb6-9a65-e7a82dd06547.png)

https://github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware/issues/29

github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware

ZBdongle-E

opened 09:50AM - 27 Oct 22 UTC

closed 06:19AM - 03 Jan 23 UTC

XTimt

Hello. I have a problem updating the ZBDongle-E firmware, please help. root@…ubuntu-xt:~/elelabs-zigbee-ezsp-utility# python3 [Elelabs_EzspFwUtility.py](https://vk.com/away.php?to=http%3A%2F%2FElelabs_EzspFwUtility.py&cc_key=) flash -f data/ncp-uart-sw_7.1.1.0_115200.gbl -p /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITEAD_SONOFF_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_V2_20220718134126-if00 2022/10/27 09:59:59 Elelabs_EzspFwUtility: Generic Zigbee EZSP adapter detected: 2022/10/27 09:59:59 Elelabs_EzspFwUtility: Firmware: 6.10.3-41 2022/10/27 09:59:59 Elelabs_EzspFwUtility: EZSP v8 2022/10/27 09:59:59 Elelabs_EzspFwUtility: Launch in bootloader mode 2022/10/27 10:00:09 Elelabs_EzspFwUtility: EZSP adapter in bootloader mode detected: 2022/10/27 10:00:09 Elelabs_EzspFwUtility: Gecko Bootloader v1.12.00 2022/10/27 10:00:10 Elelabs_EzspFwUtility: Successfully restarted into X-MODEM mode! Starting upload of the new firmware... DO NOT INTERRUPT(!) send error: expected ACK; got b'\x18' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'\x18' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'\x18' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'\r' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'\n' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'S' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'e' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'r' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'i' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'a' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'l' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b' ' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'u' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'p' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'l' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'o' for block 1 send error: expected ACK; got b'a' for block 1 send error: NAK received 17 times, aborting. 2022/10/27 10:00:17 Elelabs_EzspFwUtility: Firmware upload failed. Please try a correct firmware image or restart in normal mode.

https://github.com/grobasoz/zigbee-firmware/issues/28

github.com/grobasoz/zigbee-firmware

Firmware compatibility with ITead's new “ZBDongle-E” Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus adapter based on the EFR32MG21?

opened 09:27AM - 07 Aug 22 UTC

Hedda

@grobasoz Can you tell if existing firmware releases are compatible with ITead'…s new “ZBDongle-E” that is also based on EFR32MG21 and is confusingly referred to as "Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus V2”. https://itead.cc/product/zigbee-3-0-usb-dongle/ ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6320001/208892658-daf63eef-d3fb-4aa5-a23d-e670fa207a0b.png) ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6320001/183284338-f3bb6c67-7e37-46c9-af05-6df99aba1290.png) As far as I can tell it does look like the ZBDongle-E uses the exact same [EFR32MG21A020F768IM32 SoC](https://www.silabs.com/wireless/zigbee/efr32mg21-series-2-socs/device.efr32mg21a020f768im32?tab=specs) used on their previous model 9888010100045 ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle. EFR32MG21A020F768IM32 is well as on CoolKit Technologies “SM-011 V1.0” module used in the ITead Sonoff ZBBridge Zigbee Bridge and in Tuya ZS3L and Tuya ZSLC5 SoC modules. That includes an 80 MHz ARM Cortex-M33 core, 768 kB Flash Storage, 64 kB RAM in a QFN32 package I guess that my question is if this new “ZBDongle-E” dongle board is probably pin-compatible with the first/old ITead barebone Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle (model "9888010100045"), as well as on CoolKit Technologies “SM-011 V1.0” (ZYZBP008) module used in the "ITead Sonoff ZBBridge Zigbee Bridge" as well as the unbranded ZB-GW04 USB dongle (a.k.a. "easyiot stick") ? https://github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware https://github.com/xsp1989/zigbeeFirmware/tree/master/firmware/Zigbee3.0_Dongle-NoSigned/EZSP Here is by the way link to FCC filing/report for the new “ZBDongle-E” (a.k.a. "ZBD-E" ) adapter which contains copy of the user manual + a lot more detailed + many more internal and external pictures: [https://fccid.io/2APN5ZBD-E](https://fccid.io/2APN5ZBD-E) [https://fccid.io/2APN5ZBD-E/User-Manual/User-Manual-6012461.pdf](https://fccid.io/2APN5ZBD-E/User-Manual/User-Manual-6012461.pdf) [https://fccid.io/2APN5ZBD-E/Internal-Photos/Internal-Photos-6012455](https://fccid.io/2APN5ZBD-E/Internal-Photos/Internal-Photos-6012455) [https://fccid.io/2APN5ZBD-E/External-Photos/External-Photos-6012451](https://fccid.io/2APN5ZBD-E/External-Photos/External-Photos-6012451) It at least looks to use the same [EFR32MG21A020F768IM32 (EFR32 Mighty Gecko Series 2) SoC](https://www.silabs.com/wireless/zigbee/efr32mg21-series-2-socs/device.efr32mg21a020f768im32?tab=specs) used on the first ITead Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle, as well as on CoolKit Technologies "SM-011 V1.0" module used in th ITead Sonoff ZBBridge Zigbee Bridge and in Tuya ZS3L and Tuya ZSLC5 SoC modules. It includes a 80 MHz ARM Cortex-M33 core, 768 Flash Storage, 64 RAM, in a QFN32 package, which radio has + 20 dBm maximum power output and receive sensitivity of -104 (250 kbps O-QPSK DSSS) dBm. There are further details and more users discussion here: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/itead-s-sonoff-zigbee-3-0-usb-dongle-plus-model-zbdongle-e-based-on-silicon-labs-efr32mg21-20dbm-radio-mcu-now-sold-for-19-99/442695 and here: https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/discussions/13373 ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6320001/182401298-a5477c23-6be3-4071-aeaf-e473091264df.png) |Feature/Model |ZBDongle-P|ZBDongle-E|9888010100045| | --- | --- | --- |--- | |Radio SoC/MCU chip|Texas Instruments CC2652P|Silicon Labs EFR32MG21|Silicon Labs EFR32MG21| |Zigbee Stack (Serial Interface Protocol API/CLI)|Z-Stack v3 (ZNP 3)|EmberZNet (EZSP v8)|EmberZNet (EZSP v8)| |Optional Zigbee Router firmware|Yes (9dBm firmware available from Koenkk)|Yes (20dBm firmware available from ITead)|Yes (20dBm firmware available from ITead)| |USB to UART/Serial Converter Chip|CP2102 or CP2102N|CH9102F|CH340| |USB EEPROM Product Description ID| SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus| SONOFF Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus V2|None (no USB chip EEPROM) |Home Assistant USB Auto Disovery|Yes|Not yet|Not possible| |Flow Control|None by default (Hardware flow control optional with alternative firmware and flipped dip-switch）|Software flow control|Software flow control| |RF Transmit Output Power |9dBm (firmware hardcoded), Max: 20dBm|20dBm (default)|20dBm (default)| |Antenna|External (rotatable and tiltable)|External (rotatable and tiltable)|Onboard circuit board antenna| |Enclosure/case|Aluminum all-metal shell casing|Aluminum all-metal shell casing|None| |Length|63mm|52mm|?| |Packaging|Retail-box with manual|Retail-box with manual|Anti-static bag only| |Home Assistant ZHA|Supported|Supported|Supported| |Zigbee2MQTT|Supported |Experimental support as still in development by zigbee-herdsman dev, see [https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman/issues/319](https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman/issues/319)|Experimental support as still in development by zigbee-herdsman dev, see [https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman/issues/319](https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman/issues/319)| |IoBroker|Supported |Experimental support as still in development by zigbee-herdsman dev, see [https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman/issues/319](https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman/issues/319)|Experimental support as still in development by zigbee-herdsman dev, see [https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman/issues/319](https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee-herdsman/issues/319)| |OpenHAB ZigBee Binding|Not yet, see [request](https://github.com/openhab/org.openhab.binding.zigbee/issues/605) and [discussion](https://community.openhab.org/t/discussion-about-texas-instruments-z-stack-3-0-and-cc2652-and-cc1352-zigbee-coordinator-adapters-with-openhab-zigbee-binding/129385)|Supported|Supported| |Domoticz Zigbee Plugin|Supported|Supported|Supported| |Jeedom Zigbee Plugin|Supported|Supported|Supported| By the way, news is that a similar Silabs EFR32MG21 SoC will also be used in the official "Home Assistant SkyConnect USB Stick", see: https://community.home-assistant.io/t/home-assistant-skyconnect-usb-stick-announced-will-be-compatible-with-both-zigbee-and-thread-including-matter-chip-over-thread/433594 You can submit your interest in the official "Home Assistant SkyConnect USB Stick" here if want to get mailed updates on that dongle: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScEjHSBJszUZfgO3MIDO51IHr3Oeohcs8BLpRIjY1liJ58IpA/viewform