Here is my question: Can an Echo Plus act as a repeater for two mesh networks? If not, just the first one it sees? If that is the case, how can you get it to switch networks.
Some background, both the Amazon forum and here dance around those questions but are never right on the mark. I have Abode with a number of Zigbee devices. I am adding Hubitat and have 3 devices so far. I have used the Alexa skill App to add those devices to Alexa and voice control works fine. I have a bunch of Echo's but just one Echo Plus. So, is that Plus doing anything for my Hubitat Zigbee and/or how do I get it to act as repeater for my new Hubitat network? Thanks
Larry
No.
The Echo Plus' zigbee radio is flashed to function as a coordinator. So it cannot be joined as a zigbee router (repeater) to a Zigbee network created by another coordinator, such as Hubitat (or, for that matter, Abode).
And since there is no way to flash different firmware on the Echo Plus' zigbee radio, there is no way to use it as a repeater for any network.
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Thank you for the crystal clear answer.
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You're welcome. A zigbee device can be configured, by means of its firmware, as one of three things:
- A coordinator, of which there is only one per zigbee network.
- A router, which is a repeating device that also has another function - eg. as as outlet. There can be many routers per zigbee network. Routers are typically line-powered, although there are exceptions.
- An end-device, which is a non-repeating device that communicates with the coordinator either directly or via a router. End-devices are typically sensors and are typically battery-powered.
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