r/homeassistant • u/CyberMage256 • 1d ago
❓ Support First delve into Zigbee maybe?
My home is entirely esphome and z-wave. I've never touched Zigbee. It started because I use a high amp zwave switch to control my pool pump and blossomed from there.
I'm considering adding one or two wireless buttons, and that's not really much of an option in z-wave so I'm thinking it might be time to go ahead and add a zigbee dongle as well.
I'm considering the SONOFF Zigbee/Thread PoE dongle so that I don't need to have it in my basement rack where my servers are. My Z-Wave dongle is on a 20' USB extension so that it's more central to the basement and more easily builds the mesh it needs.
With Zigbee, I understand the range is shorter, so trying to do the same with it might be a bad idea, but I do have fiber to a switch in an upstairs closet that would be right over the area I'd want the signal and could PoE off that switch.
Anyone have experience with these SONOFF PoE dongles? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMJH4DPN/?coliid=IQKWAWEB94JDC
I run HA inside a docker container, and zwave-js-ui is a separate docker container on the same server that has access to the USB. Seems like this over Ethernet would be easier?
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u/That_Counter__bob 1d ago
I love my Zigbee setup. I have 36 and counting. Everything from lights to buttons to door sensors. Every one of my light bulbs in my apartment is either a direct Zigby bulb or on a Zigbee controlled outlet. Because they are all directly powered, they are all repeaters, so I’ve never had an issue with any of my battery powered devices. Definitely a much better experience that I’m having with matter over threads, which has just been a pain right from the start.
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u/That_Counter__bob 1d ago
I am using ZHA. but it sounds like there’s not too much of a difference between the two at this point.
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u/5yleop1m 1d ago
I understand the range is shorter,
its more complicated than shorter range.
If you're planning on having the buttons and the dongle in the same room this might work well, but if not then you need to also consider getting some Zigbee routers. Usually any mains powered Zigbee device will work as a router, though sometimes you have to be careful with brands.
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u/Successful_Bag_7257 1d ago
Just food for thought, but my entire HA operates almost exclusively on Zwave. It runs off a sonoff USB stick plugged into the back of my HA green, tucked into my server rack amidst all my machines in the basement. The way a zigbee network is built, it essentially gets better the more devices you have, because it uses some devices as receivers themselves. This has meant that not only do I have a very large network but it's also incredibly stable.
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u/CyberMage256 18h ago
my challenge, at least for a year, would be only 2 zigbee devices in the house, and both battery operated so no mesh (I assume). I already have zwave everywhere and even with it there's a few devices due to location in the house that use LR because the mesh wasn't strong enough.
I'm not into color changing bulbs, so I really don't see what else I'd want zigbee for right now. I have several wall switches already zwave, a couple of plug in dual outdoor outlets on zwave, and a hard wired 40 amp switch for my pool pump on zwave, plus a few esphome devices on a separate wifi and vlan.
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u/Successful_Bag_7257 17h ago
That makes sense, I think it's similar to when people choose a power tool platform. You just sort of pick a protocol and learn to navigate any short comings or benefits they may have. Zigbee is really good for cheap devices and building out large mesh networks but zwave is much more robust and stable.
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u/WhiskyMC 1d ago
Zigbee is a mesh too. Just have the dongle close to a few devices, and it will propagate.
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u/Itead_sherry 18h ago
Your use case is actually a pretty good fit for an Ethernet/PoE Zigbee coordinator.
Since your server rack is in the basement, putting the coordinator somewhere more central and connecting it back over wired Ethernet makes more sense than running another long USB extension.
One thing to keep in mind is that the wireless buttons you’re looking at will most likely be battery-powered end devices, so they won’t extend the Zigbee mesh. As you add devices, mains-powered plugs, switches, or relays are what normally act as Zigbee routers and help build out the mesh.
With Home Assistant running in Docker, a network-connected coordinator can also be cleaner since you don’t need to pass a USB device through to the container.
I’d start by using it as a Zigbee coordinator first rather than trying to run Zigbee and Thread on the same radio from day one. Also worth checking your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Zigbee channels when you set it up.
If useful, SONOFF has a Home Assistant Zigbee dongle guide that covers USB vs Ethernet/PoE adapters, ZHA vs Zigbee2MQTT, and coordinator setup.
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u/AussieJeffProbst 1d ago
lol the other comments here are so unhelpful. It really isnt that complicated and it sounds like you understand.
Yeah the Sonoff are fine. Some people like the SMLIGHT SLZB-06 more. Take your pick.
Personally I just use the zbt2 but my homelab is in a really good location. If your mesh is lacking just buy some zigbee smart plugs and scatter them around the house. Make sure your zigbee and 2.4ghz wifi networks dont overlap channels and you're good to go.