this post was submitted on 20 Nov 2025
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Should I get a ZBT-2? (lemmy.ca)
submitted 1 month ago by GreatBlueHeron@lemmy.ca to c/homeassistant@lemmy.world
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I've been running Home Assistant for a while and have wifi, zwave and zigbee networks. My zigbee is on a ZBT-1. I was happy until this week.

I bought some ESP32-C6 development boards to learn about ESP32 etc. with the goal of making some zigbee lock sensors (mechanical switch to report if a deadbolt is closed).

When I put the sample zigbee code on the board it won't connect to the network from my study, but if I take it closer to the coordinator it will connect and it continues working if I take it back to my study. The desk in my study is only about 16' from the coordinator but it is through 3 wood framed, gyprock lined, walls.

I know the answer is "probably, maybe", but I'd be interested in any insight people have about optimizing Zigbee networks. I could remove one of the walls from the equation by using a longer USB cable and bringing the ZBT-1 out of the utility closet? I already have routers close to 2 of the 3 doors I want to put my sensors in - I could maybe add a Zigbee lamp near the 3rd location?

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[–] CondorWonder@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 month ago

A strong mesh is a better way to go to me - ensuring you have a mesh of router devies between the coordinator and the end device has worked well to ensure that no matter where the device is it works. A better antenna may help but all it takes is a glitch like your 2.4 wifi moving to overlap with the Zigbee range and the device drops out.

I have a tubesb Zigbee device with an external antenna and I’m not sure I’ll benefit from the ZBT2 but the 2.4ghz band is very busy here. I’m tempted to try it and see if it makes any difference. I find my Zigbee network ‘slow’ - like sensor updates take 1-2 seconds before HA receives them.