I recently setup my ZigBee network in Home Assistant, using a Conbee III with deConz on my Synology NAS.

I purchased a few Aqara Temperature sensors and a couple of Mini Switches.

I was able to get them to pair just fine, but they won’t remain online for more than a couple days. They then drop off and I can’t even reconnect them easily. I need to try to pair them again like 10 times before they come back online.

At this point I don’t know if the problem is my network, the Conbee III, deConz, or the Aqara devices.

I don’t know much about ZigBee, but a couple things that I tried so far were:

  1. Use a USB extender instead of connecting the Conbee III directly to my NAS.
  2. Bring the devices as close a possible to the gateway. I don’t have a big home, so I don’t think distance is a factor here, but still, I put of the sensors right next to the gateway, and it would still drop after a while.

Do you have any hints on things to try to get this fixed, or at least identify the problem?

  • CondorWonder@lemmy.caEnglish
    1·
    5 days ago

    How is the link strength for the devices? Do they still drop off if you leave them right by the controller? If you’re just getting started I’m guessing you don’t have a strong mesh yet with plugged in devices to provide routers to the network.

    My experience is that some manufacturers are better at following the spec and devices work better or worse based on that.

    • MrKurtz@lemm.eeOPEnglish
      2·
      5 days ago

      How can I check the signal strength for the devices? Indeed these are my only devices on the network. No routers.

      One of the sensors is a couple meters from the controller, direct line of sight… And still drops. Does it need to he closer?

      • CondorWonder@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        5 days ago

        I don’t know deConz but ZHA shows RSSI on the device in home assistant, and you can see RSSI in the Zigbee2MQTT UI list of devices. I’d assume it’s something like that in deConz.

        I’d say if the device is closer to the controller then I’d suspect the devices. Do you have any other devices yet or just the Aquara sensors? It’s possible they work better through a Zigbee router too so you can try connecting them via one.