How do I change a ConBee II channel?

deCONZ General Support
1

Hi,

I have tried everything I can to change the channel of my ConBee II (based on responses to googling). None of them seem to work so I was wondering if someone from deConz would be able to instruct me on the “official” way to set the ConBee II Zigbee channel.

I need to get the device off of channel 15 and, preferably move it to channel 25 or 26.

I have upgraded the device to the latest firmware: deCONZ_ConBeeII_0x266f0700.bin.GCF

I am using the ZHA integration in Home Assistant and to all intents and purposes, everything works, but I am getting a lot of device disconnects and on investigation channel 15 sits in the WiFi band I am using, so I would like to move the Zigbee channel. I used to use a Hue Hub that was set to channel 25 and never had any connectivity issues with that.

For reference, I have tried the following:

  • Using the marthoc/deconz latest docker container
  • Using a Windows machine and the latest version of the deCONZ software (deCONZ_Setup_Win32_V2_12_03.exe)
  • Using some raspberry pi cli tools

When using the docker container the USB device kept disconnecting while trying to update the channel list, so I gave up with that approach.
When using the raspberry pi cli tools I could never get confirmation that the channel had changed, so gave up with that.
When using the Windows software the channel change appears to work (according to the deConz Windows software), but when plugging the ConBee II back into my Home Assistant server and checking the debug output it is still using channel 15.

2021-08-10 09:48:19 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Read parameter current_channel response: [15]

Is there an “official” method for changing the channel?
Also, if multiple channels are selected in the Network Settings dialog. How does Home Assistant know which channel to use?

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I have spent over two weeks now, trying to sort this out.

2

As far as i know, there’s a bug Channel change above 15 apparently not possible with FW 26390500 · Issue #5169 · dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin · GitHub

Channel changes shouldn’t be done in deCONZ but by the software using (ZHA in this case).

@ChrisHae might be able to answer this properly.

3

Thanks for the quick response @Mimiix
I haven’t been able to get any information on how to change the channel using ZHA. That’s why I’m having to resort to using deConz as I had read that the channel settings are stored in the device and HA will just use what it reads out of the device config.

1 Like
4

As far as i know, there’s a bug Channel change above 15 apparently not possible with FW 26390500 · Issue #5169 · dresden-elektronik/deconz-rest-plugin · GitHub

This bug is for RaspBee1 and for an old firmware so it shouldn’t concern this issue.

I have just tested the channel change with a ConBee2 and FW 266e0700 in deCONZ myself and it worked without problems.

I would recommend to just choose one channel in the channel list in deCONZ and then press ‘save’ and ‘done’. Then you have to press ‘leave’ and ‘join’ on the top bar in deCONZ. You can validate the channel change when you press the ‘read’ button in the deCONZ network settings.

When HA still shows another channel then maybe there is a configuration file in HA that changes the channel back to 15 ? I’m not so familiar with it.

And please note that when the coordinator changes the channel it takes a while till all other devices have adapted to the new channel.

5

ZHA is smiliar to how Z2M uses the Conbee.

6

Thank you @ChrisHae

I have followed your instructions to the letter and can confirm that Home Assistant now recognises that the channel has changed and is using it :slight_smile:

2021-08-10 11:42:15 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Read parameter current_channel response: [26]

I did not leave the network before, so maybe this is what was required for the change to be saved.

Devices have just started re-appearing on the network, so the channel change has been recognised by them too :slight_smile:

Appreciate the help. Wish I had posted here two weeks ago!

7

@WizBangCrash did you do anything else to trigger the devices to actually change to the new channel? I’m also having the same problems with occasionally devices disconnecting/not responding. I’m also using ZHA. In the configuration.yaml I have the channel set to 25 but looking in the logs it used 11. so then I cam across this post and now I actually see it in the logs as channel 25! However, I’ve waited for 20 minutes now but still no devices are online.

@ChrisHae do you have any tips?

The log is available here; https://file.io/YtUfbXMgZaMb
They are basically filled with entries like below. But the strange thing is if you look in the logs you see at a certain point a lot of channel configuration entries and confirmations that the devices are online again.

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [homeassistant.components.zha.entity] light.werkkamer_spot_2: polling current state

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application] Sending Zigbee request with tsn 187 under 188 request id, data: b'00bb000000'

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Command Command.aps_data_request (20, 188, 0, <DeconzAddressEndpoint address_mode=2 address=0x0B52 endpoint=11>, 260, 6, 1, b'\x00\xbb\x00\x00\x00', 2, 0)

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] APS data request response: [2, <DeviceState.APSDE_DATA_REQUEST_SLOTS_AVAILABLE|2: 34>, 188]

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Device state changed response: [<DeviceState.128|APSDE_DATA_REQUEST_SLOTS_AVAILABLE|APSDE_DATA_CONFIRM|2: 166>, 0]

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Command Command.aps_data_confirm (0,)

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] APS data confirm response for request with id 188: d0

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Request id: 0xbc 'aps_data_confirm' for <DeconzAddressEndpoint address_mode=ADDRESS_MODE.NWK address=0x0b52 endpoint=11>, status: 0xd0

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application] Error while sending 188 req id frame: TXStatus.NWK_ROUTE_DISCOVERY_FAILED

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy.device] [0x0b52] Delivery error for seq # 0xbb, on endpoint id 11 cluster 0x0006: message send failure

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application] Sending Zigbee request with tsn 189 under 190 request id, data: b'00bd000000'

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Command Command.aps_data_request (20, 190, 0, <DeconzAddressEndpoint address_mode=2 address=0x0B52 endpoint=11>, 260, 8, 1, b'\x00\xbd\x00\x00\x00', 2, 0)

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] APS data request response: [2, <DeviceState.APSDE_DATA_REQUEST_SLOTS_AVAILABLE|2: 34>, 190]

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Device state changed response: [<DeviceState.128|APSDE_DATA_REQUEST_SLOTS_AVAILABLE|APSDE_DATA_CONFIRM|2: 166>, 0]

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Command Command.aps_data_confirm (0,)

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] APS data confirm response for request with id 190: d0

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Request id: 0xbe 'aps_data_confirm' for <DeconzAddressEndpoint address_mode=ADDRESS_MODE.NWK address=0x0b52 endpoint=11>, status: 0xd0

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application] Error while sending 190 req id frame: TXStatus.NWK_ROUTE_DISCOVERY_FAILED

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy.device] [0x0b52] Delivery error for seq # 0xbd, on endpoint id 11 cluster 0x0008: message send failure

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application] Sending Zigbee request with tsn 191 under 192 request id, data: b'00bf0008000700030004000240'

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Command Command.aps_data_request (28, 192, 0, <DeconzAddressEndpoint address_mode=2 address=0x0B52 endpoint=11>, 260, 768, 1, b'\x00\xbf\x00\x08\x00\x07\x00\x03\x00\x04\x00\x02@', 2, 0)

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] APS data request response: [2, <DeviceState.APSDE_DATA_REQUEST_SLOTS_AVAILABLE|2: 34>, 192]

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Device state changed response: [<DeviceState.128|APSDE_DATA_REQUEST_SLOTS_AVAILABLE|APSDE_DATA_CONFIRM|2: 166>, 0]

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Command Command.aps_data_confirm (0,)

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] APS data confirm response for request with id 192: d0

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Request id: 0xc0 'aps_data_confirm' for <DeconzAddressEndpoint address_mode=ADDRESS_MODE.NWK address=0x0b52 endpoint=11>, status: 0xd0

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application] Error while sending 192 req id frame: TXStatus.NWK_ROUTE_DISCOVERY_FAILED

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy.device] [0x0b52] Delivery error for seq # 0xbf, on endpoint id 11 cluster 0x0300: message send failure

2021-09-08 10:12:05 DEBUG (MainThread) [homeassistant.components.zha.core.channels.base] [0x0B52:11:0x0300]: failed to get attributes '['color_mode', 'color_temperature', 'current_x', 'current_y', 'color_loop_active']' on 'light_color' cluster: [0x0b52:11:0x0300]: Message send failure

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Device state changed response: [<DeviceState.128|APSDE_DATA_REQUEST_SLOTS_AVAILABLE|APSDE_DATA_CONFIRM|2: 166>, 0]

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Command Command.aps_data_confirm (0,)

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] APS data confirm response for request with id 184: d0

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Request id: 0xb8 'aps_data_confirm' for <DeconzAddressEndpoint address_mode=ADDRESS_MODE.NWK address=0xf8f7 endpoint=11>, status: 0xd0

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application] Error while sending 184 req id frame: TXStatus.NWK_ROUTE_DISCOVERY_FAILED

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy.device] [0xf8f7] Delivery error for seq # 0xb7, on endpoint id 11 cluster 0x0008: message send failure

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.zigbee.application] Sending Zigbee request with tsn 193 under 194 request id, data: b'00c10008000700030004000240'

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] Command Command.aps_data_request (28, 194, 0, <DeconzAddressEndpoint address_mode=2 address=0xF8F7 endpoint=11>, 260, 768, 1, b'\x00\xc1\x00\x08\x00\x07\x00\x03\x00\x04\x00\x02@', 2, 0)

2021-09-08 10:12:08 DEBUG (MainThread) [zigpy_deconz.api] APS data request response: [2, <DeviceState.APSDE_DATA_REQUEST_SLOTS_AVAILABLE|2: 34>, 194]
8

Hi @X1pheR ,
You’re right. My original post was too early after changing the channel. Not all my devices came back by themselves. I found my Aqara sensors to be the worst. I had to go around and (short) press the button on each of the aqara devices.
Even then, not all came back. I gave them all an hour and then put HA in discovery mode and (long) pressed the buttons. Each one showed up in the discovery and “remembered” its HA configuration.

My Hue devices all (except one) came back after about 2-3 hours. The one sensor that didn’t return needed to the re-paired. Which was a pain as it was mounted in a difficult place to get to :slight_smile:

Since changing the channel I have very few devices falling off the network and rejoining. Maybe 1-2 a week as compared to 5-10 a day before the channel change.

Hope this helps.

9

@xipher @WizBangCrash I think this is best asked at the ZHA support channels.

10

@WizBangCrash thanks. I switched back after 20 min so I’ll try again when everybody is not home :wink: Thanks for replying. I really hope you get the zigbee experience 100% stable. That’s what I’m looking for. The wife and kids don’t accept that it just doesn’t work sometimes. And it should of course.

@Mimiix you are completely right. Sorry and will do. I just saw a similar problem and didn’t knew the forum was here. And it looks like you guys are stepping up big time and are very active in development and help. Makes me wonder if I should go back to deconz from ZHA :thinking::sweat_smile:

11

Makes you Wonder? I think the answer is pretty clear :wink: :smiley:

1 Like
12

Hey guys,

also want to change the channel from 11 to 25 or 26.
Which one is prefered?
I have hue, ikea, aqara, Paulmann & Ledvanced devices.

thx