Zigbee network starting to get flaky

I am a happy zha integration user but just recently I reached the 55+ device mark and things are starting to get “flaky” – just like issues I had with z-wave on my previous HomeSeer setup. Things were rock solid until just recently and the only things that have changed are that I’ve been migrating more devices from HS to HA, all zigbee.

I look at the “visualization” and it’s quite a mesh, so I’m curious if there’s a way to “re-establish” neighbor links, i.e. peers, with a specific device? I read through the docs and it seems like I should have been adding devices closer to their final locations vs. right next to the radio.

I’m hoping it’s not “remove the device by calling zha.remove and then re-add the device” but I can do that if needed for devices that are “flaky”.

When I say flaky I mean that the some random devices miss commands from the automations controlling them. In other words, sometimes a light stays on or off when an automation has clearly requested otherwise.

Some other notes about my setup:

  • I have several hard wired “routers” spread throughout the house
  • I use a lot of Moes quad button remote controls (battery powered but very reliable)
  • The brands I use are typically Sonoff, Aqara, Leviton, GE/Jasco, INNR, and Sengled.

Thanks in advance, and if it’s important I’m using the Nortek dual z-wave/zigbee controller. Here’s the zha data from it:

**PAN ID:** AAF1
**Extended PAN ID:** <hex code>
**Channel:** 15
**Coordinator IEEE:** <hex code>
**Network key:** <hex code>
**Radio type:** ezsp

Unfortunately I am unable to copy any text out of the terminal plugin so I can’t copy the tty serial ID here.

I also just added this to my configuration.yaml file to try and get additional log data:

    # zigbee logging entries
    # https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/zha
    zigpy: debug
    zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application: debug
    zigpy_deconz.api: debug
    zigpy_xbee.zigbee.application: debug
    zigpy_xbee.api: debug
    zigpy_zigate: debug
    zigpy_znp: debug
    zhaquirks: debug

Here are some things you may want to check:

  • Is your ZigBee coordinator on a USB extension so that it is kept away from your HA machine?
  • Is your ZigBee coordinator kept away from devices that may cause interference - like wi-fi routers?
  • What channels are being used by wi-fi networks in your home? What about the wi-fi networks of your neighbours? Do any of these interfere with the channels used by your ZigBee network?

You can download apps that will show the wi-fi channels in use around you. Remember that wi-fi channels and ZigBee channels use a different numbering scheme.

Agree on checking the network environment.

If it’s a recent issue, also examine what zigbee router devices were recently added.

I was stable for a long while, added a sonoff plug and a few days later started having issues. Removed the plug and all was well again.

I’m hesitant to assign blame solely on the plug, but for my particular set of devices, it didn’t mix well.

You don’t have to remove a device before re-pairing.