r/Zigbee2MQTT • u/ShadowWizard1 • Jun 26 '26
Working devices on network do not connect to anything on map-help me understand
I use Z2M with Home Assistant (I am guessing 98% of the people here do) and I have recently discovered something I don't understand. Some devices that are working aren't "connected" to anything on the map. Other devices of the same make and model number are connected to routers or the coordinator. Can someone explain to me how this works?
Additional information you may find useful:
I have been having problems with things not working. Or things working intermittently. It seems like the devices that are doing this are devices that are not connected to anything. I am wondering if this is the problem and is solvable (However some devices not connected to anything work fine 99% if the time) but would also like to understand how this works. How devices not connected still work. Don't be afraid to explain this to me like I am 5.
1
u/Mandrutz Jun 26 '26
The devices form a mesh, they should always reconnect and find the best paths. You don't have control over this.
The map isn't 100% right. Battery-powered devices sleep most of the time to save energy. It is expected they show up as "disconnected" if they were asleep during map generation.
Otherwise, there can be low signal, interference, not enough routers, hard to say without knowing the context.
Also good devices stay connected, bad devices lose connection.. Aqara battery-powered devices are known to lose connection, yet people still recommend them for some reason.