USB dongle vs Pi modules and device brand

Hardware
1

Hi All,

Looking at Sonoff devices and I have a Rapsberry Pi4b without any dongle installed yet and am interested in using Zigbee. Ideally I would like to use a Raspberry Pi module like Raspbee ii but none of the Sonoff devices are listed as compatible.

Does it really matter which Zigbee dongle module I use? I might use Sonoff but then may use Aqara devices, etc. I just want to have the best compatibility and not have to worry.

Might be a dumc question but I am doing my research before I move into my house and start installing a bunch of devices all over the place.

Best!

2

My advice, use zigbee2mqtt and one of these coordinators. https://www.tubeszb.com/

Yes the coordinator matters immensely.

3

I agree on the recommendation about Zigbee2mqtt, but if you live in EU the tubezb coordinators can be expensive (I paid almost as much for VAT and ‘custom declaration costs’ as I paid for the coordinator)

So in that case look for one that ship from the EU from this list :

1 Like
4

Thank you both. The Tubezb are out of stock from what I can see anyway but yes I am in Europe.

Sonoff has a dongle available that I was looking into. Would it work with other product such as Aqara for example?

5

if it is the sonoff CC2531, don’t waste your time and money on it. It comes with outdated firmware, and the CC2531 is a bad coordinator anyway.

6

That’s the one… I’ll pass then and revisit the list you had sent earlier?

Any experience with the Pi modules vs USB dongles?

7

Usb dongle or ethernet connected is the way to go.

8

I’ve bought around 6 or 7 Sonoff devices and found them to be flaky and of questionable quality. A couple of others have said the same. I think the problem has been cheap Chinese junk so, essentially, throwing money away on rubbish.
After buying from other sources, I am now disinclined to buy cheap on Aliexpress or eBay from a Chinese seller.

9

Thank you for the honest feedback. Any brands you recommend looking into then (even if not using Zigbee)?

10

if you want a bargain :

That is the good one.

11

But has a strange 21 direct child limit, as against, say, tubes 50.

12

@Jaguaza

Jaguaza 11 hours ago

Author

But I imagine that it will be limited to 20 children as sonoff says on its website.

@Koenkk

Koenkk 11 hours ago

Maintainer

I’m not sure why they say that, CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_coordinator_20210120 doesn’t have such limit. I will ask them

13

That could be promising. I was looking into the HUBs a bit more but a universal dongle seems to be the way to go indeed. Will have to see when/if it is available in Europe.

14

Would it means you could only connect 20 devices to it? That sounds pretty useless if you can´t connect more than 20 devices, no?

15

See here for an explanation about direct children and total devices:

16

Thank you. Much to learn I see. Really hoping from what I am reading that CHIP/Matter will simplify things just too bad it is not available yet.

17

I know I have posted this before, but you made me do it again :slight_smile: