Hey everyone, I’m currently working on expanding my Zigbee network with some Aqara window and door sensors. I’ve been using a Sonoff ZBDongle-E 3.0 with the latest firmware and a few NOUS A1Z plugs, which have been working perfectly so far. The LQI values are consistently strong, even across different floors, which is great. However, when I tried adding the Aqara sensors last week, things got a bit tricky.
Initially, I couldn’t get the sensors to pair properly until I connected them directly to the coordinator. Now, while they do work, the connection is sporadic—some sensors only send data occasionally, which isn’t ideal for reliable automation. For instance, the sensor at my front door is inconsistent, and the kitchen sensors often drop out. All of them have LQI values below 100, which I suspect is part of the issue.
I was hoping the sensors would connect to nearby NOUS plugs instead of the coordinator, but that hasn’t happened. I’ve included a screenshot of my current mesh setup, and I’m wondering if there’s something I’m missing in terms of configuration within Zigbee2MQTT. Is this a known issue, or are there specific settings I should adjust to improve the mesh and ensure all sensors connect optimally?
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s successfully integrated Aqara sensors into a similar setup or has tips for optimizing Zigbee mesh performance. Maybe there’s a way to force the sensors to connect through the plugs instead of the coordinator, which would distribute the network more evenly. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!