I'm confused as heck here. I have a Sonoff ZBDongle-E (V2 model) which has a bit of a range problem. I need to have that on the third floor, and the Zigbee stuff is on the first floor. I have an IKEA Trådfri range extender right below it on the second floor. I have had problems with a Tuya TS011F_plug_3 loosing connection maybe once a month and needing to be unplugged and replugged to get back on the network. So I bought a larger 2.4gHz antenna, the 55 cm version of this one:
But the LQI actually became lower. I had 236 with the original antenna and now I have 216. Is that in any way, shape or form logical?
Same happened to me with BLE: when using bigger antenna whole thing became worse. One of the problems is that bigger antenna also receives other signals better, so we get more noise, thus worsening whole situation.
Best permanent solution is to install a router in between. That's what i did for my ZigBee devices and i have no problems. You can flash another ZBDongle to router, or, newest esphome now supports ZigBee, too, on some esp32 models (like C6 i think).
Thanks! Problem is that there is nowhere to put a Pi between there. I need my Pi's to be accessible from one place, since we rent out parts of the house. The IKEA Trådfri extender was the only thing I could put in between. But I guess I'll have to settle with the small antenna and just hope that the Tuya won't fall out that often.
Well, i guess that one of options is to get ESP, possibly with built-in battery management, get a decent size lithium battery and a solar panel, flash it with newest zigbee support and you have stand-alone mini device which can be installed (almost) anywhere.
I need all my sending hardware to be accessible from the part of the house we keep, so that's a no go as well, I'm afraid. Took me weeks to make the renters understand that the IKEA Trådfri was not a spying device and should be kept plugged in... But they pay well and always on time.
Sometimes antennas off Aliexpress dont resonate at the correct frequency range. When you buy antennas that claim 5dB gain it generally means laterally at the expense of above you.
Well, that's a bummer... in this case pretty much only thing left is experimenting with directional antenna. Since zigbee runs on wifi frequencies the selection is pretty big, i guess
(or, more expensive option: to switch all things to wifi? Wifi has bigger power thus better range.)
@Protoncek I hate Zigbee, it's total black magic to me. Z-Wave I can understand... But the only insurance accepted lock here in Norway with a physical key option (the key is totally necessary when renting out) is a Zigbee from Easy Code. I love the ID Lock Z-Wave lock, I have two of those in my own appartment in the house and in my cabin, but they don't have the physical key option. Which means that I only use them in places where I have a second way in, through a patio door with a physical key.
@LiQuid_cOOled The Wifi routers are on the other side of that 30 cm thick timber wall, using channels 1-3, while I have channel 25 on the Zigbee, I believe that should be as recommended.
@tom_l Yeah, the problem is I don't need more devices. I have the Trådfri extender/router and the Tuya 16 ampere plug-in switch, both really only to get the lock to work. Here's my network map:
The two other battery powereddevices, the temp sensor and the door sensor, work even if the "Varmtvannsbereder" (water heater 16 amp Tuya) is gone, the lock "Dør nede" does not. No idea why, but it won't work reliably on the IKEA Trådfri, which is exactly in the middle between the coordinator on the second floor and the devices on the ground floor.
Oof. That's not helping. 30 cm through wood? Not even slowing down. Might as well be standing nest to the cruise ship as it blows it's horn. (relative stringth v zigbee)
Generally, me too. All my devices are wifi, only thermometers are BLE. But why i have zigbee then? Similar case as yours: i decided for electronic TRV's on my radiators and Sonoff's were pretty cheap and generally they are pretty well accepted. Sadly they are only ZigBee. There are wifi models from other companies available, but some tests show pretty short battery life of those.
Regarding your antenna position: i'd place it somewhat furher away from mains cables. Also, i'm not sure that lying at the floor is "ok"... ?
So basically I should either accept the occasional dropout from the plug-in switch or throw Zigbee out the window and annoy my renters with a door that doesn't unlock automatically when they come to it. Moving stuff is as I said not an option, and buying even more Zigbee stuff I don't need for the one thing I do need is not going to happen either. I may experiment more with the larger antenna the next time I'm in the house, in July, but for now I will leave it with the smaller one.
Btw is that a bulldog you have as your avatar, @LiQuid_cOOled? We are downsizing and will be getting a continental bulldog or an old tyme English bulldog in the future.
