Running the C8 Pro. Is there a maximum number of Zigbee Devices that can be added to the hub? (Buttons, outlet plugs, and some Zigbee bulbs, etc).
I've tried to add 3 additional Sengled Zigbee bulbs to my already Zigbee bulb set up and only 1 of them will add. I'm near 30 Zigbee devices and am wondering if the reason it won't successfully add is that I may be at the max limit?
Take a look at this.
https://docs2.hubitat.com/en/how-to/build-a-solid-zigbee-mesh"
30 isn't anywhere near the limit of Zigbee.
Did you try the alternative pairing methods in the Zigbee pairing screen, like without repeaters and so on?
What channel and power level is your Zigbee on?
Is the hub close to your Wifi router or other potential wireless interference?
You could also do a hub shut-down to clear/restart the hub antennas (Zigbee and Z-Wave). Settings>Shutdown, and then when the red light appears pull power, wait about 10s, then plug in again.
Well, it is if he does not have any devices that act as Zigbee repeaters. If he’s using a bunch of Sengled bulbs, which are designed to NOT be Zigbee repeaters.
Ah, good catch.
Maybe @user3704 can clarify their mix of Zigbee devices, and whether they have repeaters.
I have 1 device that serves as a repeater. Sometimes it has about 4 bulbs connected through it when I view the device graph, and sometimes it has none like the current photo shows.
Yes, My hub is within 15 -20 feet of nearly all devices. Furthest items are 35 feet away from a very centralized hub location in my residence
So without more repeater devices, is there a max qty of items? What are the other benefits of adding a few more repeaters if in my house layout distance from the hub is never an issue?
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Per the Hubitat document linked above, the max is 32 directly attached non-repeater (“End Devices”).
Add a few repeaters and the Zigbee network can grow very large, if desired.
These may help thinking about Zigbee repeaters:
https://community.hubitat.com/t/most-popular-switches-and-dimmers-in-2023/129352/17
If you don't need/want any mains powered switches, plugs, etc., you can also add dedicated repeaters, both of below work well:
The "repeater" terminology gets applied to both Z wave and Zigbee mains powered devices, but Zigbee repeaters serve an additional purpose: they're true routers (not just passive signal extenders) for each end device that is joined to them . Zigbee end devices cannot discover routes and have no routing table, so they need a dedicated parent router to do that on their behalf; they also require the parent to store and forward each message that they transmit or receive. This dependency persists until that end device leaves the network -- which can happen if it disconnects from the mesh and rejoins via another router; but that should be an infrequent event in a stable network .
This requires dedicated storage buffers for each end device to reside in the parent router-- even when the parent is the hub. Hence the end device capacity limitation (which unfortunately isn't obvious, as it varies with the router implementation and storage needs of the joined child devices) .
When an end device attempts to join the mesh, routers in range (including the hub) which have the capacity to host an additional end device will announce this; otherwise the join will fail...
Usually it's safe to assume an end device capacity of a half dozen or so child devices per router (the C-8 /C-8 Pro can obviously accept more) , but it's hard to generalize.. Adding more routers should ensure device joins won't fail due to child table limits as well as offloading the hub from processing tasks on behalf of its own joined child devices.
Wow Tony.... that was a great explanation. Mind if I follow up with a question? Obviously I am over the 32 Device limit of my C8 Pro. I'm looking at two separate ways to get around this... and note that the physical space/distances of my residence can VERY easily be covered by 1 single C8 Pro hub. Could you offer a suggestion on which choice below makes more sense?:
I already own another C8 Pro that I bought off Facebook Marketplace. It's plugged and in fully updated to the latest firmware... (I got it for steal at $30 from a guy who got it as a gift but had no idea what it was or its real value.) I'm not yet using it with any Devices or Apps installed and it is not yet connected to my main daily use C8 Pro network. To get around my 32 end devices issue with no dedicated repeaters serving as routers as you describ. I was thinking of connecting this extra C8 Pro for a 2 Hub Mesh.... essentially adding another 32 slots for Zigbee devices, and then splitting up all of my end devices between the 2 connected hubs based on their closest hub.
OR - Option 2: I could buy 1 or 2 Sonoff Zigbee antenna repeaters to serve as a parent/true routers (I think that's the correct wording for their role) to expand how many end devices can be placed in my Mesh... knowing that over the coming years I'll be adding a few more end devices.
As far as the stability, speed and maintenance of my network/mesh.... is one of these 2 options more advisable?
Lastly, mind if I send you a direct message through here with another question or two about 2 Hub Mesh transitions.... it appears your knowledge level is "Expert" and I'd like a little more off line Mesh advice. May I DM you?
So it is fair to say that adding a device can sometimes cause a wave of disarray until things have settled out due to no fault of it's own?
When "hard to pair, always pair close to the hub to get it to join" advice is given for a device....what happens if the Hub is already at capacity of device number/load?
Thanks for sharing your knowledge in this area.
Though I'd probably go the Hub Mesh route if it were me (it doesn't require buying anything and will do what you need it to) adding a dedicated device would certainly be easier. Maintenance with an added repeater is a non-issue as well. I doubt you'd notice any performance difference.
Feel free to DM me (full disclosure: my experience with Hub Mesh is limited to using it for a while with the C-3 and C-7 a couple of years ago. Currently I just run the C-3 which is doing everything for me at the moment).
Well, it shouldn't really.. at least this hasn't been my experience with Zigbee on C-3 & C-7.
C-8 might be another story, depending on what devices in play. Pre-Zigbee 3.0 devices might be less likely to support Trust Center Link key updates (after initially joining using the well known TC link key) which I suspect might contribute to the 'drop off the mesh after joining' issues that have been reported.
Simply get a few zigbee outlets for behind couches or what have you.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FJ5LHSN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Or maybe a couple of zigbee nightlights
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FJ5LHSN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Download the Hubitat app
