Zigbee network problem.

[EddyG]

I have the following problem.
I have a battery operated switch in my Garage.
I have several Bulbs and Outlets nearby that function also as router.
I have a Bulb in the Hallway that is more that twice the distance away from the switch in the Garage.
Still the switch connects to that Hallway bulb with a link-quality of 31 and sometimes less.
And that does not always function properly.

How can I force the switch to connect to a device nearby to get a better link-quality?

[pipiche]

I don't know which Gateway you are using, but if you are using Zigate, you can via the Web Admin page of the ZiGate you can enable pairing on a specific router and then start the pairing process of your end device.

[EddyG]

I am using a USB connected CC1352P_2 on my Raspberry.
I have Zigbee2MQTTAssistent to check on / control the network, but that does not have such an option.
Normally in a mesh network this should be solved by the network it self.
So I don't understand why this happens and how it could solved.

[Dave21w]

You are not alone, I have the same issue using a Conbee II (with deCONZ, Phoscon and the deCONZ plugin for domoticz) I also have an Ikea router and a CC2531 flashed as a router. In my garage I have 3 zigbee devices, door contact, temp+hum sensor and a vibration sensor, also in my garage I have the cc2531 with an external antenna, all three sensors connect directly to the conbee in the house despite the router being less than 2 metres from them, because of the 2531's ext antenna the signal at the house is strong but the three devices are weak and sometimes drop off - I've given up trying to persuage them to connect to the router

[Jan Jansen]

I have placed a xiaomi window / door sensor in the shed. It worked fine, but the connection to the coordinator was weak. That's why I placed a cc2530 + cc2591 router between the coordinator and the sensor. The sensor did not immediately look for the easy way. The sensor did this after it was paired again.

[Thorgal789]

Lol, devices always prefer direct connection, but there is a tips with Xiaomi, they never (nearly) change their parent.

So you can include the device close the router you want (and put the router far away from the gateway if needed), wait for a complete inclusion (during the firsts hours Xiaomi devices are "strange" so wait for some hours), and after the device will only use this router.

And same, if you put the router after the device was included, is useless.

[EddyG]

That's not completely true. I always include my devices near my controller (max. 3 meters away) and place them afterwards somewhere else.
Half of those are Xiaomi devices.
If they are placed way further (approx. > 5 meters direct line) they always find a router like a bulb or powerplug to connect to.

[Thorgal789]

That's not completely true. I always include my devices near my controller (max. 3 meters away) and place them afterwards somewhere else.
Half of those are Xiaomi devices

It s a rely bad method, especially with xiaomi, like I have said, during the first hours after the inclusion Xiaomi devices are "strange", so you can have miracles, but the method is not good, for all zigbee devices the inclusion is made at definitive place.

[EddyG]

So what you are saying is that you have to exclude en then include again if a device changes it place/position?
That's strange for a mesh network.
What happens if a router dies, do you have to excluded and include the connected devices, just to make sure that devices take an other route?
I tought that is what a mesh network is for -> automation of those handlings.

FYI -> https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/issues/396

[Thorgal789]

Xiaomi is not zigbee
Xiaomi (nearly) don't change parent, if a router used by xiaomi die, the device leave, mesh not working for them

So what you are saying is that you have to exclude en then include again if a device changes it place/position?

For Xiaomi yes, but don't need exclude (it s useless), just re-include, if you don't do that, can explain your problems

[EddyG]

After a lot, and I mean a lot, try and error, I managed to get the switch connected to an IKEA E1603 outlet with a linkquality of 94.
It is working perfect now.
I did a lot, so I am not sure what did the trick. It seems that holding the switch much more then the 5 sec. did it, but again I am not sure.