[zigpy-integration] ConBee and RaspBee (deCONZ based Zigbee Coordinators) support via zigpy-deconz

[Hedda]

Suggest you next consider implementing ConBee and RaspBee (deCONZ based Zigbee Coordinators) support via zigpy-deconz:

https://github.com/zigpy/zigpy-deconz

This radio library for zigpy uses the deCONZ serial protocol for communicating with ConBee, ConBee II (ConBee 2), RaspBee, and RaspBee II (RaspBee 2) adapters from Dresden-Elektronik/Phoscon.

Posted a sponsoring suggestion to a dresden-elektronik deCONZ Serial Protocol and ConBee and RaspBee firmware developer:

dresden-elektronik/deconz-serial-protocol#17

dresden elektronik / Phoscon currently sell their widely popular ConBee II USB stick and RaspBee II Raspberry Pi Shield Zigbee Coordinator adapters. Note that they have sold ConBee and RaspBee branded Zigbee adapters for many years and have done such a to newer chips in the past but as a I understand it their deCONZ Serial Protocol that the zigpy-deconz library uses is backwards compatible with the older ConBee and RaspBee adapters.

manup (Manuel Pietschmann) from dresden elektronik / Phoscon could maybe arrange sponsoring of ConBee II hardware to you?

https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/deconz-serial-protocol

https://phoscon.de

By the way, manup posted positive replies to similarly HW donation requests in dresden-elektronik/deconz-serial-protocol#2

Hopefully he is willing to make similar donations of new ConBee II (ConBee 2) / RaspBee II (RaspBee 2) to all of you in this project.

Tip would be that the best way might be if you yourself send an e-mail to "Manuel Pietschmann" [email protected] (a.k.a. @manup on GitHub) and summerize "Zigbee for Domoticz" plugin and the idea of supporting deCONZ Serial Protocol adapters like ConBee II and RaspBee II via zigpy and zigpy-deconz libraries (plus add your fellow plugin developers to copy on that e-mail).

PS: Nice to hear about initial beta support for Silabs EZSP Zigbee Coordinators via zigpy in addition to Texas Instrument ZNP!

https://github.com/zigbeefordomoticz/Domoticz-Zigbee/tree/beta6#tested-hardware-zigbee-adaptersdonglesstickskeys

https://github.com/zigbeefordomoticz/Domoticz-Zigbee/commits/beta6

[pipiche38]

@puddly do you plan to have the new radio api implemented as well for deConz ?

[pipiche38]

For information, I had already a Conbee II which was kindly shipped 2 years back when doing the first zigpy investigation.

I would say, thanks to zigpy library as I did the first integration is almost 2 hours of work and was able to get ConBee II connected.

Unfortunately for now, the Permit to Join mode doesn't happen. need to investigate

@manup (Manuel Pietschmann) We will investigate in our side, and I'll come back to you via email.

In between what is the way to get the ConBee II upgraded ? (I'm running right now 26580700 Firmware ) ? I do not have Windows system. hope that is possible

Still interesting to see @manup answer as regards to the existing Domoticz Plugin for deCONZ

[puddly]

do you plan to have the new radio api implemented as well for deConz ?

It's already done: zigpy/zigpy-deconz#172

what is the way to get the ConBee II upgraded ?

https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin/wiki/Update-deCONZ-manually
https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/gcfflasher

[pipiche38]

Looks that we need to wait for zigpy/zigpy-deconz#172
And I'm also looking to get respons from @manup as there is an existing Domoticz plugin for deCONZ ( https://github.com/Smanar/Domoticz-deCONZ )

[Hedda]

what is the way to get the ConBee II upgraded ?

https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin/wiki/Update-deCONZ-manually

https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/gcfflasher

GCFFlasher update on Linux -> http://ronhks.hu/2021/04/22/conbee-2-firmware-upgrade-on-ubuntu/

GCFFlasher update in Docker container -> https://github.com/marthoc/docker-deconz#updating-conbeeraspbee-firmware

GCFFlasher update on Windows -> https://flemmingss.com/how-to-update-conbee-conbee-ii-firmware-in-windows-10/

Also see changelog -> https://github.com/dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin/wiki/Firmware-Changelog

While not technically required it is highly recommended that users often upgrade deconz firmware on ConBee or RaspBee.

PS: Dresten Elektronik also (strongly) recommend using a long USB extension cable connected to a USB 2.0 port due to EMF/EMI:

https://phoscon.de/en/conbee2/install#connection

[manup]

As far as I understand @Smanar 's Domoticz plugin is communicating with deCONZ REST-API. In comparison to HA this is like the HA deCONZ integration https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/deconz in contrast to ZHA which can can talk to ConBee firmware via serial protocol.

[Hedda]

As far as I understand @Smanar 's Domoticz plugin is communicating with deCONZ REST-API. In comparison to HA this is like the HA deCONZ integration https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/deconz in contrast to ZHA which can can talk to ConBee firmware via serial protocol.

Yes correct, just the same as the deCONZ integration Home Assistant the Smanar Domoticz-deCONZ communicate via deCONZ REST-API, (and not via deCONZ Serial Protocol like zigpy-deconz). As such Smanar's deCONZ Plugin for Domoticz is dependent on the deCONZ application (closed source propriatory software by Dresden Elektronik) to control and set up the Zigbee network.

In contrast, both the ZHA integration for Home Assistant and the Jeedom Zigbee Plugin, as well both as Zigbee2MQTT and IoBroker, instead only use the deCONZ Serial Protocol via either zigpy-deconz or zigbee-herdsman respectivly as their dependency, and as such they use direct serial-communication to the deCONZ firmware running on ConBee/RaspBee adapters with just the deCONZ firmware and are not in any way dependent on the deCONZ application software at all.

@manup Other than the deCONZ application software not being open source I personally think the main downside from ConBee/RaspBee adapters end-users point-of-view is that the two different methods do not support the same backup format and as such it is not easy for users to migrate between different implementation without having to manually repair all their Zigbee devices. I however beleieve that problem could however be solved by Dresden Elektronik could add support for the new "Open ZigBee Coordinator Backup Format" to deCONZ application software and/or deCONZ REST-API plugin, as this new "Open ZigBee Coordinator Backup Format" is now supported by those other mentioned implemenations, including ZHA integration for Home Assistant, Jeedom Zigbee Plugin, Zigbee2MQTT, and IoBroker,. Check out -> https://github.com/zigpy/open-coordinator-backup

[zigbeefordomoticz]

as of now and based on the integration work done with the nea-radio-API , I see the following major show stopper to push the deConz integration to production

• [zigpy-integration] - deconz serial line not stable #1104 Serial line seems not stable. they are several reset of the serial line along a day. The zigpy-deconz layer is doing the reconnect, but this look suspicious.
  2022-03-23 00:49:36,904 ERROR :Lost serial connection: device reports readiness to read but returned no data (device disconnected or multiple access on port?)

• [zigpy-integration] - how to force a new network with deCONZ #1089 not able to form a new network

• [zigpy-integration] - wiser thermostat with deCONZ do not behave correctly #1090 not able to add EndPoint

• Availability of new Radio API New radio API zigpy/zigpy#848

We are awaiting the sample , so the other team members will be able to test and improve

cc: @Hedda , @puddly , @manup

[pipiche38]

short update

• - [zigpy-integration] - deconz serial line not stable #1104 @deufo who is also testing the ConBee II now, is not having serial line stability issues. May be mine is related to the old Conbee (from 2 years back).
• - [zigpy-integration] - how to force a new network with deCONZ #1089 Forming a new network is now closed

open issues are

• - [zigpy-integration] - wiser thermostat with deCONZ do not behave correctly #1090 Not able to add Coordinator EndPoints (lack zigpy-deconz api)
• - [zigpy-integration] - changing channel seems not working with deconz #1120 Not able to change Network Channel via the Network Update Request ( Cluster 0x0038)
• - New radio API zigpy/zigpy#848 Availability of new Radio API

cc: @Hedda , @puddly , @manup

[pipiche38]

zigpy-deconz maintenance and development seems quiet limited as zigp-zigate.

For now, not sure that deconz will go live on stable

[pipiche38]

awaiting for the upcoming new-radio-API.

[pipiche38]

release on the beta6 branch for now, for futur launch to stable. But deConz considered ready with minor limitation

• no channel change possible
• no support of Wiser/Livolo ... until new firmware release