So i have a need to create multiple zigbee networks, i started to implement zigbee2mqtt and both the devices i tried were not supported , with my previous zha they were OK so i want to use zha not z2m
I was asking Ai about this and, because i mentioned i had a usb dongle rather than the ip zigbee devices it suggested using remote ha. When i asked previously in the forum there was no suggestion of this by actual smart people , so is this a bad idea, is it going to be a millstone of maintenance for me or some restriction i dont know of?
I already have a docker in each location to run my zwavejsui , so adding an ha container with a zigbee dongle is probably quite easy . The setup of the remote ha seemed ok, i hope it can handle two remote HAs.
z2m does not support the two of my devices that I have tried - so since I want them in two locations I cannot use z2M in either of the locations - so I need two ZHA -
They are on the same property - they are large steel sheds about 100m apart - there is nothing , except cattle in between so I can’t put devices in between (cattle will rub against them and I’ll prbably plough them in )
I did try and follow the add support - but it confused me
So it seems to require it installed on both ends - since my slave end is a docker container - not HAOS - it doesnt support apps - so no custom repository interface and now I cant work out how to add a custom repository for the integration - if thats what I really need of course
I’m not saying I don’t believe you, but this would be the first time I’m hearing of a device which is supported in ZHA but not in Z2M.
Post the model number & manufacturer ID. You’re probably 1 line away from getting support for them in Z2M.
EDIT:
Your only other post regarding zigbee mentioned that you have 2 SLZB-06. The smart people were smart enough to not suggest using it via its usb port, since you’d need separate hardware to run it on. Connecting it via network is the most straightforward step & does not require separate hardware, especially since your other post only mentioned Z2M & had no mention of multiple ZHA installs.
i was actually saying smart people for real. Everyone has been very helpful
Originally i had two zha integrations running as ha detected the second slzb06 and said let’s connect it. This seemed to kill everything and then i found is unsupported when i asked on her. I’ve been trying to resolve the issue
Posting the device sounds easy but all i got in z2m was unsupported device with no other info
Ive killed that app now so i can’t post anything
But your disbelief is noted.
Ive also got the community supported fronius modbus app. It now seems unsupported, as its broken for a few weeks now. So I’m not particularly keen on using any non official ha apps like z2m
These are the two devices - an Aoara on the left and something else on the right - I did see the right hand one posted somewhere else saying did anyone get this working
This is what z2m showed me (I’m a bit pendatic about backups - so I restored this to get this so these are actually not connected over zigbee anymore )
This is where I had connected two of the switch and one of the USB thing
Ok AI says
Zigbee2MQTT and ZHA handle device support very differently:
Z2M: Requires a specific definition file (converter) for every single Zigbee device. If a manufacturer changes a device’s firmware or releases a new model, Z2M will not recognize it until a new converter is added.
ZHA: Defaults to basic Zigbee specifications. It utilizes “quirks” to format data when a device doesn’t follow the standard, allowing it to often detect unknown devices with basic functionality while waiting for full support.
So this seems to indicate any standard compliant device will work with ZHA but only specifically supported device will work with Z2M.
The triple usb switch has also been supported since at least a year & a half. I know because I own that exact model.
Something went wrong when you were trying to pair the devices & they weren’t recognised correctly. I’m suspecting interference issues since that’s the most obvious one.
PS - your AI is wrong. Both ZHA & Z2M behave the same way in supporting devices. Their only difference is the codebase & database, but a quirk & converter are essentially the same thing.
Fair enough, , the remote ha is not great, i find it strange that it talks about doing this for zwave when zwave has a very good solution using zwavejsui containers, I’m giving up on remote ha anyway
Thinkingout loud
The zigbee devices seemed cheaper and more options, but ive failed in the four or five rebuilds
Now, if interference is that much of a problem, then its seems it will be unusable for me. Zwave is running fine in the same room as are all the esphomes and other wifi
I need all local as we have lots of internet outages, i have two satellite links and mobile if i need, and they still drop out. Tuya wifi devices seems to be becoming harder to do that with.
Matter maybe but otherwise its zwave and or esphome custom devices
Ah well , i think i should cut my losses and abandon the zigbee devices
