I have a couple of Aeotec 6 repeaters and have had zero luck with them. I have a couple of Z-wave locks, one of which has always been 'challenging', a Schlage FE599. I have experimented extensively with placing the Aeotecs around the house, at all distances from the lock and from the hub. Never once has any device in my Z-wave network routed through them. I get that Z-wave routes aren't easily predicted or controlled, but I would expect that over the months I have tried strategically locating the range extenders and occasionally running a Z-wave repair, some device somewhere on the network would hit one of them. As of now, I am just as well off putting these things in a drawer as I am with them added to my hub.
Any thoughts on this will be greatly appreciated.
What version is your HE hub?
Was your investigation triggered by mesh instability? If so, then you're better off taking them out. If you have no issues, then I wouldn't bother making any changes.
FWIW, mine were used on the C-5, C-7, and C-8. Obviously they were used more on the C-5; my C-7 had an external antenna, as does the C-8.
My experience with the Aeotec Range Extenders is the same as the OP. Could not get any device to route through them... Ever. They are junk.
FWIW, I've long had 4 RE7s (but not 6s) and they've each routed stuff at one point or another over the years. They don't get as much action on the C8, but I still get a device go through one of them occasionally.
They're strategically placed in my mesh to provide a backbone - if they get routinely used, cool; if not, they're available to help as needed.
I have 2 RE7s and 3 RE6s (small but odd shaped house). They definitely get used. Comes down to where they're placed vs where they might be needed.
Same here - really bad experience with them too. Created noise - pulled them and converted to a HE Version C8 and my zwave network works like never before. 138 devices, the external antennas connect direct from the HUB to all devices without hops. Before, 1/3 of the devices made one or more hops. Much faster - it eliminated annoying latency issues completely. Easy upgrade if you arent on a C8 yet.
I've been using a Aeotec plug instead of the repeater. It repeats z wave plus is a smart plug and a USB charger.
Definitely helped a flakey dead spot with my heating controls.
Or maybe not junk, but your mesh is strong, the hub is placed in a central location, with solid backbone repeaters already in place, so the other devices don't need to use them 
My experience was similar to @aaiyar . Ever since my C7 antenna mod, 99% of devices are direct connect. Before that the Aeotec repeater didn't seem to be a favorite.
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