None of my three have ever joined as a device, but that's okay. My OCD can't handle devices that don't have activity. Heck, I even keep my virtual switches warm with a daily refresh. 
Don't worry. You are not alone. 
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Hi all
Not sure if anyone knows the answer to this, I have the 3 button grove dev board with my XBee module sitting on it and was wondering what the commission button does and when is it used, if at all?
I’ve had a look over the manual for the XBee and it looks like you can press the button to add new devices to the zigbee network. Have I interpreted that right? Does pressing that button make it easier for a new device to associate with the XBee? As in, can you press the button and add new devices without needing to do device discovery from HE?
Also when do people generally use the reset button or user button?
So, I tried to wire my Xpee 3 up in my garage to act as a repeater for my ST arrival sensor. It seemed to work for a couple days but then just stopped. Obviously I can't run any scans of it while it's out there, since I don't have it hooked to my PC. When I pulled it down and brought it back to my PC, I found that it was still on my HE zigbee network because I was able to map the network immediately. And if found all my devices including my arrival sensor just fine. I'm wondering if anyone knows why that might happen.
Also, I've noticed that even if I have the Xbee powered on, nothing ever repeats through it. Even if I add a zigbee device to HE while the Xbee is on and the device is right next to it, it never joins through the xbee. I'm able to map the whole network and the Xbee shows up in XCTU as a repeater. Now, in HE it only shows as a device. Do i have to assign a different driver for devices to repeat through it?
Chiming in here as I've been following and using this for a while. First, this thread is awesome and really provides all the details needed. It's also long. Months ago when this thread started I ordered the parts from the original post. Ordered 2 of the ebay boards and 1 of the xbees with external antenna XB3-24Z8ST. Then just recent purchased one of these (thanks for that link BTW)
I have the original attached to the computer which is at a far end of my house. It's in a small plastic box and double sided taped to the back of my monitor with the antenna sticking up. Honestly, this can talk to everything in my entire house with the power it has. However I just added the 2nd one in my garage which is at the other side of the house. In a post above it mentions that you can actually talk to the 2nd one without it being connected to the computer through XCTU which is absolutely correct (and the reason I ended up getting #2). Now I can map the entire network and talk/update both units with only 1 being connected to the computer.
I bring this up because I saw a few posts about not wanting to put them in places that's it's hard to connect a computer to them. You don't need to. You do need 1 connected to your computer, then the others can be adjusted controlled remotely. You do need to attach them to your computer for initial setup, but that's it. Just hoping this helps someone else.
Now if we could just get a solution similar to this for zwave to make it this easy...
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This is the only tool for Z-Wave I have tested
There is another similar but you need to use a rPi with a custom software and a special USB stick or a special module from the same company that created the software.
https://z-wave.me/z-way/download-z-way/
https://z-wave.me/products/razberry/
Good luck.
did anyone see these on ebay? i just ordered one. its $15 for a used s2 pro and it says the guy has 500 of them!
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Yes, the problem with it is it uses an special antenna connector and it will not give you the mesh map, it will repeat in your network but it will not map it.
I believe it could be easily modified to add an antenna like this one
oh it wont map?? i didnt know there were some that didnt map... although i guess thats ok since i already have one that maps so i could just use that one for mapping and this one for repeating only.
I have several old routers and wifi cameras that have a similar looking connectors (pictured below) for their antennas and i was planning on trying that. That will allow me to use a 2.4ghz wifi antenna and get even more range(if its the same connector).
Yes, that antenna works with the xbee.
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When you say you can update both of them, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean you can change the settings for the device from the first? I thought the device had to be discovered by XCTU in order to change the device settings. Of course it will find the 2nd one in the map, just like every other zigbee device. But i was unaware that the serial console worked over zigbee as well.
This is the one I actually received. Different model #
Edit:
Works great as a repeater and scanner! Used the 6.99 amazon usb board. All in for $22. Not bad.
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Yep, that's exactly what I mean.
Setup both via PC first. Then you need one connected to PC and run XCTU. Once connected to #1, click the button to "Discover radio nodes in same network" circled in red. It might take a few minutes but eventually it should find #2. Then add it. It will shows up as a "remote module" as you can see above. Now the settings to the right...are the settings for #2.
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did you ever figure this out? I have one doing this now.
as for zigbee/zwave I never understand I guess because zigbee is SO much faster/more reliable in my house than zwave. But I guess others have it differently.
I second the motion with zigbee being faster/reliable, at least at my house. Can't ever use z-wave for light automation, too slow, outside of a single aeon micro switch I have that is fast.
Anyway don't worry about the xbee finishing intializing, there isn't any driver or fingerprint, best you'll get is a generic "device" anyway. Just take the 16 & 64 bit address and manually add a device in HE, name it whatever. Even without completing intialization it still routes, like a champ !
You can also get the 64 bit address from XCTU and use that to create your generic device in HE
I reset and rebooted a thousand times and finally got it to work (route). I wasn’t systematic about it due to frustration so I won’t be able to much help in what I did to resolve.
Typically for me when the Xbee works, it generally works! I want to be clear, without Xbee my Xiaomi and other Zigbee devices would lose connection every few days. With Xbee, it would last about a month before something hiccups.
I have switched over to Z wave plus monoprice sensors for windows and doors and Zooz 4 in 1 motion sensors. I have gone down from 27 Zigbee devices to 7. The system now has been rock solid and have never lost a connection so far over 2 months.
I agree Zwave plus devices are slower than Zigbee and Xiaomi devices and I miss the compact size of the Xiaomi. But for my situation , zwave seems to make my HA much more reliable, and that is important to me. I am spending less time with HA now since I feel much more confident.
My situation may not be reflective of others, but I am leaning to only buying zwave moving forward.
I did not know you could do this!!! Mine would stick on initalizing but never add a device. Eventually it did. I rolled back the firmware to the 003...can't be sure that's what made it eventually show up as device. Wish i would have known the manual trick! next time.
I believe you 100%, that's the funny part to me. Every house seems different. Zigbee in my house is instantaneous and 100% reliable. Can't say the same for zwave. So clearly different houses = different RF patterns.
I have mostly Xiaomi sensors (for me they are solid) and a few of the monoprice 4in1 sensors. The 4in1 sensors eat batteries like crazy, and they are so slow to report motion.
@Ryan780
Were you able to find what is wrong? I have same problem. 2 xbee's, one works just fine, second works for a few days , then just stops repeating.... Went through all settings, same for both...
Nope. Can get my xbee to repeat at all.
