Make sure a device is not used as router

[bartkummel]

Hi,

I have a Zigbee bulb that is frequently offline. That is intentional. However, it is relatively close to my Zigbee coordinator. So it is frequently used as the first “hop” in the mesh network. Which means that if the bulb goes offline, the network sometimes is unresponsive for a while.

Is there a way to configure the bulb/network so that it is never used as a router in the mesh network? That would greatly improve the stability of my network.

Best,
Bart

[Hedda]

Not possible, see → Stop Zigbee Mains powered device from being a router? (ZHA)

Summary: You are using a Zigbee Router product in a way that it is not supposed to work; the possible resolution is to either replace it with another lightbulb product that is purposely designed to be a Zigbee End Device instead of a Zigbee Router device, or change the way you use your Zigbee Router lightbulbs by disconnecting any dumb switches and make sure they always have power.

I highly recommend that you also read and try to follow the advice/tips in these community guides:

Mains powered Zigbee devices that aren't routers

This is a wiki entry for the community to track which mains powered Zigbee devices are not routers. Sengled bulbs Most 2-wire dimmers/switches Zemismart switches Aqara FP1

Zigbee networks: how to guide for avoiding interference and optimize for getting better range + coverage

Who is this guide for? I have tried to make this guide to be a comprehensive collection of the most basic yet essential tips with a set of actions and best practice steps that should be applicable to all types of Zigbee setups, regardless of what type of Zigbee adapter/gateway/hub/bridge/devices that you are using, however, it has been written with a point-of-view in mind of Zigbee solutions that use a Zigbee Coordinator adapter locally via USB dongle/stick or remotely using a serial server ove…

Zigbee buyer's guide

Don’t forget that the first post in a community guide is a wiki - feel free to add to it or correct it. This guide was written with reference to: Core 2023.11.3 Supervisor 2023.11.6 Operating System 11.2 Frontend 20231030.2 Summary This post is aimed at newcomers to Zigbee - and possibly to Home Assistant - who have stumbled into the wild west of Zigbee devices and manufacturers. It does not recommend particular products; instead it advocates a cautious approach to buying. When it comes t…

Not many people know that... A random collection of Zigbee trivia

Don’t forget that the first post in a community guide is a wiki - feel free to add to it or correct it. This guide was written with reference to: Core 2023.12.3 Supervisor 2023.11.6 Operating System 11.2 Frontend 20231208.2 Some subjects come up quite a lot... That map [That map...] The ZHA “network visualisation” was originally a dashboard card. It was absorbed into ZHA and the card is now deprecated, but the repository is still on Github. The lines on the map show every route between …

Migrating from a Philips Hue Bridge to the ZHA (Zigbee Home Automation) integration

Don’t forget that the first post in a community guide is a wiki - feel free to add to it or correct it. This guide was written and tested these versions but should also work similarly with later versions: Home Assistant 2023.8.4 Supervisor 2023.09.2 Operating System 10.5 Frontend 20230911.0 - latest Background Until recently Philips Hue devices have been controlled locally through a bridge, but the company has now started asking users to open a cloud account, which will ultimately hold det…

[bartkummel]

Thanks for your extensive and clear reply. I’ll see if I can get rid of the dumb switch as soon as possible.

[povlhp (Povl H. Pedersen)]

I have current IKEA LED2003G10 and LED2004G8 white spectrum bulbs.
They have shitty 20201111 firmware with no updates available. They act as very bad routers.

They will drop the route to battery powered devices and the dashed line in the z2m map will disappear. My battery powered devices would take 5s+ to get ready if using those crappy bulbs. Replacing with other updateable ikea bulbs and all works perfect.

At least I can flash alternate firmware on my sonoff ZBMINI which are shipped as routers but with only weak client chipset