Zigbee network is not "meshing" correctly and devices do not respond

Configuration Zigbee
1

Hi all

So, I have a rpi5 with a Zonoff zigbee USB dongle.
It is connected to a USB 2.0 port using a shielded extension cable.
I have strategically placed routers all over my house, the greatest distance between two routers is about 5 meters, some with a ceiling/floor in between, but not all, most are line of sight.
I’m using the ZHA integration with mostly default configurations.
I have tried many different channels.
I completely turned off my 2,4GHz WIFI, a little spills over from the neighbors but nothing crazy.
I rebooted, repaired many devices a few times.
Every router is always turned on.

And yet, my network is barely working. Devices further away take ages to respond, if at all.

The connections the network takes make very little sense to me, it changes a bit every day but stays roughly the same for weeks now. Take a look at the screenshot I took (ONLY the grey arrows represent the connections zigbee actually makes, the rest is drawn in!):

Screenshot_20260126_205019-1
Screenshot_20260126_205019-11131×880 160 KB

LQI is very inconsistent and devices that are far away get very bad LQI. Look at this example of a device that is relatively far away from the coordinator, but very close to other routers (which have similar graphs):

562×349 37.3 KB

Then there are the routers that are close to the coordinator. They only get around 100, not 255 (this one is about 2m away, direct line of sight):

562×349 26.1 KB

What in the world am I doing wrong?
Thanks in advance!

2

Perform an energy scan in ZHA by navigating to Settings → Devices → Your Dongle → ⋮ menu → Download diagnostics

Choose the best zigbee channel based on this.

If possible perform the energy scan at a number of locations in your house to check for interference.

Also what devices are you using as routers?

3

Thanks for the reply.

Sure, here is the diagnostic data:

{
  "home_assistant": {
    "installation_type": "Home Assistant OS",
    "version": "2025.10.0",
    "dev": false,
    "hassio": true,
    "virtualenv": false,
    "python_version": "3.13.7",
    "docker": true,
    "arch": "aarch64",
    "timezone": "xx",
    "os_name": "Linux",
    "os_version": "6.12.34-haos-raspi",
    "container_arch": "aarch64",
    "supervisor": "2026.01.1",
    "host_os": "Home Assistant OS 16.2",
    "docker_version": "28.3.3",
    "chassis": "embedded",
    "run_as_root": true
  },
  "custom_components": {},
  "integration_manifest": {
    "domain": "zha",
    "name": "Zigbee Home Automation",
    "after_dependencies": [
      "hassio",
      "onboarding",
      "usb"
    ],
    "codeowners": [
      "dmulcahey",
      "adminiuga",
      "puddly",
      "TheJulianJES"
    ],
    "config_flow": true,
    "dependencies": [
      "file_upload",
      "homeassistant_hardware"
    ],
    "documentation": "https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/zha",
    "iot_class": "local_polling",
    "loggers": [
      "aiosqlite",
      "bellows",
      "crccheck",
      "pure_pcapy3",
      "zhaquirks",
      "zigpy",
      "zigpy_deconz",
      "zigpy_xbee",
      "zigpy_zigate",
      "zigpy_znp",
      "zha",
      "universal_silabs_flasher"
    ],
    "requirements": [
      "zha==0.0.73"
    ],
    "usb": [
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "EA60",
        "description": "*2652*",
        "known_devices": [
          "slae.sh cc2652rb stick"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "EA60",
        "description": "*slzb-07*",
        "known_devices": [
          "smlight slzb-07"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "1A86",
        "pid": "55D4",
        "description": "*sonoff*plus*",
        "known_devices": [
          "sonoff zigbee dongle plus v2"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "EA60",
        "description": "*sonoff*plus*",
        "known_devices": [
          "sonoff zigbee dongle plus"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "EA60",
        "description": "*tubeszb*",
        "known_devices": [
          "TubesZB Coordinator"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "1A86",
        "pid": "7523",
        "description": "*tubeszb*",
        "known_devices": [
          "TubesZB Coordinator"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "1A86",
        "pid": "7523",
        "description": "*zigstar*",
        "known_devices": [
          "ZigStar Coordinators"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "1CF1",
        "pid": "0030",
        "description": "*conbee*",
        "known_devices": [
          "Conbee II"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "0403",
        "pid": "6015",
        "description": "*conbee*",
        "known_devices": [
          "Conbee III"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "8A2A",
        "description": "*zigbee*",
        "known_devices": [
          "Nortek HUSBZB-1"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "0403",
        "pid": "6015",
        "description": "*zigate*",
        "known_devices": [
          "ZiGate+"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "EA60",
        "description": "*zigate*",
        "known_devices": [
          "ZiGate"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "8B34",
        "description": "*bv 2010/10*",
        "known_devices": [
          "Bitron Video AV2010/10"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "EA60",
        "description": "*sonoff*max*",
        "known_devices": [
          "SONOFF Dongle Max MG24"
        ]
      },
      {
        "vid": "10C4",
        "pid": "EA60",
        "description": "*sonoff*lite*mg21*",
        "known_devices": [
          "sonoff zigbee dongle lite mg21"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "zeroconf": [
      {
        "type": "_esphomelib._tcp.local.",
        "name": "tube*"
      },
      {
        "type": "_zigate-zigbee-gateway._tcp.local.",
        "name": "*zigate*"
      },
      {
        "type": "_zigstar_gw._tcp.local.",
        "name": "*zigstar*"
      },
      {
        "type": "_uzg-01._tcp.local.",
        "name": "uzg-01*"
      },
      {
        "type": "_slzb-06._tcp.local.",
        "name": "slzb-06*"
      },
      {
        "type": "_xzg._tcp.local.",
        "name": "xzg*"
      },
      {
        "type": "_czc._tcp.local.",
        "name": "czc*"
      },
      {
        "type": "_zigbee-coordinator._tcp.local.",
        "name": "*"
      }
    ],
    "is_built_in": true,
    "overwrites_built_in": false
  },
  "setup_times": {
    "null": {
      "setup": 0.0001135189999956765
    },
    "01K6MJZ1FK6BHKP4N3JNZDZ7XH": {
      "wait_import_platforms": -0.5982468600000175,
      "wait_base_component": -0.0006260930000223652,
      "config_entry_setup": 13.442816153999985
    }
  },
  "data": {
    "version": 1,
    "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
    "nwk": "0x0000",
    "manufacturer": "Texas Instruments",
    "model": "Coordinator",
    "friendly_manufacturer": "Texas Instruments",
    "friendly_model": "CC2652",
    "name": "Texas Instruments CC2652",
    "quirk_applied": false,
    "quirk_class": "zigpy_znp.zigbee.device.ZNPCoordinator",
    "quirk_id": null,
    "manufacturer_code": 0,
    "power_source": "Mains",
    "lqi": null,
    "rssi": null,
    "last_seen": "2026-01-27T03:37:38.362408+00:00",
    "available": true,
    "device_type": "Coordinator",
    "active_coordinator": true,
    "node_descriptor": {
      "logical_type": "Coordinator",
      "complex_descriptor_available": false,
      "user_descriptor_available": false,
      "reserved": 0,
      "aps_flags": 0,
      "frequency_band": 8,
      "mac_capability_flags": 143,
      "manufacturer_code": 0,
      "maximum_buffer_size": 80,
      "maximum_incoming_transfer_size": 160,
      "server_mask": 11265,
      "maximum_outgoing_transfer_size": 160,
      "descriptor_capability_field": 0
    },
    "endpoints": {
      "1": {
        "profile_id": 260,
        "device_type": {
          "name": "IAS_CONTROL",
          "id": 1024
        },
        "in_clusters": [
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0000",
            "endpoint_attribute": "basic",
            "attributes": [
              {
                "id": "0x0004",
                "name": "manufacturer",
                "zcl_type": "string",
                "value": "Texas Instruments"
              },
              {
                "id": "0x0005",
                "name": "model",
                "zcl_type": "string",
                "value": "Coordinator"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0006",
            "endpoint_attribute": "on_off",
            "attributes": []
          },
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x000a",
            "endpoint_attribute": "time",
            "attributes": []
          },
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0019",
            "endpoint_attribute": "ota",
            "attributes": []
          },
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0501",
            "endpoint_attribute": "ias_ace",
            "attributes": []
          }
        ],
        "out_clusters": [
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0001",
            "endpoint_attribute": "power",
            "attributes": []
          },
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0020",
            "endpoint_attribute": "poll_control",
            "attributes": []
          },
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0500",
            "endpoint_attribute": "ias_zone",
            "attributes": []
          },
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0502",
            "endpoint_attribute": "ias_wd",
            "attributes": []
          }
        ]
      },
      "2": {
        "profile_id": 49246,
        "device_type": {
          "name": "CONTROLLER",
          "id": 2080
        },
        "in_clusters": [
          {
            "cluster_id": "0x0000",
            "endpoint_attribute": "basic",
            "attributes": []
          }
        ],
        "out_clusters": []
      }
    },
    "zha_lib_entities": {},
    "neighbors": [
      {
        "device_type": "EndDevice",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Off",
        "relationship": "Child",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0xA4C1",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 1,
        "lqi": 170
      },
      {
        "device_type": "EndDevice",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Off",
        "relationship": "Child",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0xA4C1",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 1,
        "lqi": 170
      },
      {
        "device_type": "EndDevice",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Off",
        "relationship": "Child",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0xA4C1",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 1,
        "lqi": 170
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0xCF4E",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 115
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0xC381",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 2
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0x0C1E",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 83
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0x08ED",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 37
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0xA1E6",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 125
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0xAA9F",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 1
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0x5FB7",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 84
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0x6A9C",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 1
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0x3F12",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 8
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0x20DD",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 6
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0x2F6E",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 1
      },
      {
        "device_type": "Router",
        "rx_on_when_idle": "Unknown",
        "relationship": "Sibling",
        "extended_pan_id": "**REDACTED**",
        "ieee": "**REDACTED**",
        "nwk": "0xA3D1",
        "permit_joining": "Unknown",
        "depth": 255,
        "lqi": 0
      }
    ],
    "routes": [
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0x2F6E",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0x08ED",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0x3F12",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0x5FB7",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xAA9F"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0x6A9C",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xC381"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0xAA9F",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0xC381",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xC381"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0x0C1E",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xCF4E"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0xCF4E",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xCF4E"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0x6348",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0xA3D1",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0x20DD",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0xA1E6",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      },
      {
        "dest_nwk": "0xE51A",
        "route_status": "Active",
        "memory_constrained": false,
        "many_to_one": false,
        "route_record_required": false,
        "next_hop": "0xA1E6"
      }
    ]
  },
  "issues": []
}

Now how do I chose the best Chanel with that? So far I have tried Chanel 25, 11 and a few others that the “smart” option configured automatically, don’t remember which these were.

I can perform the scan somewhere else later when I’m home again.

And as routers I’m using many different devices, mostly EGLO lights and some other ZigBee Relais. I doubt that all of them would act as the perfect routers, but none of them feels like too much.

Also, something that makes me a little suspicious is that the RSSI value of all my devices is unknown, is that normal?

4

For anyone stumbling upon this in the future, I managed to solve it by switching to zigbee2mqtt. I have no clue why, maybe because I re-did the entire network, but it works well now.