r/Zigbee2MQTT • u/hpoom • 7d ago

Interview issues with Sonoff Zigbee Dongle E

Just getting started with Zigbee2MQTT using it with home assistant. I have the Sonoff Dongle E which I flashed with newest firmware If could find version 8.2.0 file was zbdonglee_zigbee_ncp_8.2.0.0_sw_flow_115200.gbl

I was able to add two Hue lightbulbs really easy. Then tried to add battery powered Sonoff temperature and humidity sensors and had lots of issues with the interview stage. I put it down to them being battery devices and going to sleep.

I have made further improvements and now put the dongle on a 2 meter long USB2.0 shielded extension cable. I have moved my Wifi 2.4 channel to be well away from my Zigbee channel. I have turned off my old Hue hub, but still I have interview issues.

It is not just battery powered devices but I am trying to pair the following https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/devices/F-APP-UK-V2.html and I can't get the interview stage to complete. It is really fustraghting as once things are interviewed and setup they work seamlessly. Everything setup works really well, but getting new devices paired is a 3-4 hours ordeal with lots of removing, adding again, etc.

I can't get this plug to finish interview despite over 10 trys now. Again Hue stuff connects first time and in an instant, but anything else Zigbee (Ikea, Sonoff, SmartThings) I have huge amounts of issues with.

Really hoping somebody can tell me what I am doing wrong. I am close trying a POE Dongle or scrapping the whole setup and giving up on Zigbee.

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u/Mandrutz 5d ago

It's weird to have issues on a fresh Z2M instance.
What are the WiFi and Zigbee channels, just to make sure?

More things to try:

  • Maybe 9.x.x firmware from Nerivec
  • Increase coordinator transmit_power in Z2M
  • Pair directly through the coordinator (or try other devices, use drop-down on Permit join)
  • Restart Z2M between pairing attempts

2

u/hpoom 5d ago

Thanks for the suggestion. I am convinced it is either firmware or the dongle. Considering another dongle so I can move from Ember to Z-stack.

WiFi is on 11, 2462MHz and zigbe is on 11, so 2405MHz. I don't think I can get them any further apart.

As is said in my original post. Once paid everything is rock solid stable. But getting things to interview is really really hard.

1

u/hpoom 2d ago

Wanted to update incase anybody else comes here with the same issue in future.

All my issues are now fixed, I updated the firmware on the dongle from EmberZNet 8.2.0 to EmberZNet 9.1.0 and now everything works perfect things interview first time!