Zigbee is used by the Philips Hue and Innr smart lights, using a Philips Hue bridge. Unfortunately that bridge does not work with other non-light type Zigbee devices. In order to be able to use Aqara Motion and Aqara Door/Window sensors, for example, it was necessary to look at other Zigbee coordinators / bridges. The recommendation was the Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 Dongle paired with the Zigbee2MQTT integration.
This guide on YouTube was used (Smart Home Junkie).
Update Sonoff Zigbee Dongle firmware
- Update firmware on the dongle
- Download updated firmware file
ncp-uart-sw_6.10.3_115200.gblfrom GitHub - On previous GitHub page download
nvm3_initfile.gbl - Download SecureCRT from VanDyke Software (had to register)
- Disassemble dongle, two small screws
- Hold down BOOT button on dongle whilst plugging in to USB port, red LED lights
- Run SecureCRT, at connection page setup:
- Port serial/dev/cu.usbmodem54F20151171
- Baud 115200, Data bits 8, Parity none, Stop bits 1, XON/XOFF ticked
- Click Connect, then press 1 to put software in Upload mode
- From Transfer menu, select Send Xmodem
- Select download file for firmware ***10.3 above, click Send
- On completion, press 1 again
- From Transfer menu, select Send Xmodem again
- Select download file for firmware ***initfile above, click Send
- On completion, disconnect dongle, and re-assemble
- Download updated firmware file
Enable USB Pass-through on Proxmox
- Pass through USB drive from ProxMox to Home Assistant (guide)
- In Proxmox go to VM for Home Assistant, select Hardware
- Click on Add button, and select USB Device from drop down
- Click Use USB Vendor/Device ID, select SONOFF device, click Add
- Choose device using ID as above
- Click Add to save the settings
Install Zigbee2MQTT
- Find ID for Sonoff dongle:
- In Home Assistant, go to Settings -> System -> Hardware, select All Hardware
- Search for sonoff, expand dialog, copy the /dev/erial/by-id/ element:
/dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITEAD_SONOFF_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_V2_20221201144923-if00
- Go to Settings -> Add-Ons, click Add-On Store
- At top RHS three-dots, select Repositories
- Copy repository link for Zigbee2MQTT Github, paste and click Add
- Refresh browser, search for zigbee, select, then click Install [not Edge version]
- Go to Configuration tab
- Under MQTT section (user/PW from MQTT section), add:
1 2 3
*server: mqtt://core-mosquito:1883 user: homeassistant password: [STRONGBOX]
- Under SERIAL section, add:
1 2
port: /dev/serial/by-id/what_was_copied_earlier adapter: ezsp
- Under MQTT section (user/PW from MQTT section), add:
- Click Save
- Back on Info tab, tick Watchdog, and Show in sidebar
- Press Start
- Check log to ensure everything goes well
Pair Devices with Zigbee2MQTT
- In sidebar, go to Zigbee2MQTT
- Click on Permit Join (All)
- Switch on device, e.g. Innr Light, to pair with Zigbee
- Click on blue icon by device (edit) to rename with Friendly name
- Click on link under Friendly name to get a whole host of info about device
- Need to do discover in Alexa for new devices to appear there
- Tips:
- Use a USB extension cable to reduce interference from host computer
- Pair all powered devices (e.g. lights) first, as they act as always-on routers extending the Zigbee mesh, then battery powered devices which are “edge devices” and cannot support the mesh
- Pair new devices near dongle then put back in proper locations
- If a device cannot be paired first time, try a second or third time