As more users upgrade from older hubs to the C-8 Pro, we want to highlight an issue that can occasionally affect Zigbee migrations and share a few best practices that can help ensure a smooth transition.
Before Attempting Migration
Before performing a hub migration, verify that the Zigbee radio on the new hub is fully operational:
- Navigate to Settings > Zigbee Details
- Confirm that the Zigbee radio status displays ONLINE
Don't ignore the channel 20 Recommendation
If your Zigbee network is currently operating on channel 20 (the default channel used by many older hubs), we strongly recommend changing to a different Zigbee channel before performing the migration.
While most migrations complete successfully, moving away from channel 20 beforehand has helped avoid issues in some environments.
After changing channels, allow sufficient time for battery-powered devices to reconnect and for the mesh to stabilize before proceeding with the migration.
If the Zigbee Radio Shows OFFLINE After Migration
In rare cases, the Zigbee radio on the destination hub may appear OFFLINE after the migration completes.
If this occurs:
- Perform a complete power cycle of the C-8 Pro:
- Navigate to Settings > Shut Down Hub
- Wait for the red LED to illuminate
- Unplug power from the hub for at least 30 seconds
- Reconnect power and allow the hub to fully boot
- After the hub has restarted, access the Hubitat Diagnostic Tool and use the Reset Zigbee Radio option found under Advanced. Refer to the Hubitat Diagnostic Tool documentation if you need assistance accessing the tool.
- Once the reset is complete, navigate to Settings > Zigbee Details.
- Verify that the Zigbee radio status shows ONLINE and that a valid Zigbee channel is displayed.
- If the Zigbee radio is operating normally, restore the migration backup again and repeat the migration process.
- After the restore completes, return to Settings > Zigbee Details and confirm that the Zigbee radio remains ONLINE before allowing devices time to reconnect to the mesh.
Additional Recommendations
- Always create a fresh local backup before starting a migration.
- Avoid making Zigbee configuration changes during the migration process.
- Allow your Zigbee mesh time to settle after migration, especially if you have many battery-powered devices.
- If you encounter issues, gather diagnostic information before repeatedly attempting migrations, as this can make troubleshooting easier.
Most migrations complete without incident, but taking a few minutes to verify the Zigbee radio status beforehand can help avoid unnecessary downtime and make the upgrade process much smoother.
Thank you for helping us improve the migration experience for everyone.