Can USB 3.0 interference cause a Zigbee dongle to fail completely? | Home Assistant | Page 1

trim adder May 28, 2025, 12:36 AM

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Just got a SONOFF ZBDongle-P and I'm having a hell of a time getting it working. I think I am doing everything right but every time the software fails to connect, whether that's ZHA or Zigbee2MQTT, even though the USB device is visible to the Raspberry Pi host device.

So my two theories are:

The Pi's USB 3.0 ports are causing massive interference, so much so that the dongle is made non-functional.
The dongle is defective.

Could it be as simple as being caused by interference? Do I need to buy a USB 2.0 extension, or do I need to return my possibly defective device? Thanks in advance.

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 12:52 AM

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHqZhNcFEvA

YouTube

Home Assistant

Demo: Zigbee interference caused by USB 3.0

USB 3.0 can cause your Zigbee devices to fully stop functioning. In this video we show this by moving a Zigbee device and Zigbee adapter next to USB 3.0 port and cable.

The demo is done with a Home Assistant SkyConnect and IKEA Tradfri remote but this affects all Zigbee sticks and devices.

To avoid interference, use a shielded USB 2.0 extensio...

▶ Play video

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Is it connected with an extension cable?

trim adder May 28, 2025, 12:56 AM

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vale onyx Is it connected with an extension cable?

No. But could the interference be so great that it's entirely non-functional without an extension cable?

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 12:56 AM

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See linked video. Unless you mean the USB device isn't detected at all.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 12:57 AM

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vale onyx See linked video. Unless you mean the USB device isn't detected at all.

It's detected by the Pi as a USB device but fails to configure with ZHA

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 12:58 AM

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What's it say exactly?

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:00 AM

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vale onyx What's it say exactly?

Just "Failed to connect"

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:00 AM

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That's quite vague. I don't use ZHA myself but there should be some logs somewhere that are more verbose.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:02 AM

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Well I also tried it with Zigbee2MQTT and got:
error: z2m: Error: USB adapter discovery error (No valid USB adapter found).

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:02 AM

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You'd usually give it the /dev/serial/by-id/ path: https://github.com/Koenkk/zigbee2mqtt/discussions/24364

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:03 AM

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I have in the config

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:04 AM

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I added a link above. Make sure not have have both running at the saem time though.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:05 AM

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My config just says:
serial:
port: >-
/dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0:/dev/ttyACM0

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:05 AM

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Try to add adapter: zstack as it mentions. The P model's chip uses that.

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Make sure ZHA is disabled when testing Z2M.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:08 AM

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I'm getting:
[2025-05-28 02:07:59] error: z2m: Error: Error: No such file or directory, cannot open /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0:/dev/ttyACM0
[2025-05-28 02:07:59] error: z2m: Failed to start zigbee-herdsman
[2025-05-28 02:07:59] error: z2m: Error while starting zigbee-herdsman

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:09 AM

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Remove the /dev/ttyACM0.

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Try

readlink -f /dev/serial/by-id/*

via the SSH addon to check the path again.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:11 AM

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vale onyx Try ```bash readlink -f /dev/serial/by-id/* ``` via the SSH addon to check the p...

The path I get when doing this is: /dev/ttyUSB0

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:12 AM

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ls -l /dev/serial/by-id/ then. It's a symlink to there and I wasn't sure it would resolve it. I can't test the command since I use a ethernet coordinator 😄

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:12 AM

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The response says:

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total 0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 13 May 28 00:39 usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0 -> ../../ttyUSB0

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Thanks for all your help with this, I appreciate I'm taking up a lot of your time.

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:14 AM

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Try adding this in the serial section

adapter: zstack
port: /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0

Don't worry, we're here to help.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:17 AM

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I'm still getting very similar errors:

[2025-05-28 02:16:20] error: z2m: Error while starting zigbee-herdsman
[2025-05-28 02:16:20] error: z2m: Failed to start zigbee-herdsman
[2025-05-28 02:16:20] error: z2m: Check https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/guide/installation/20_zigbee2mqtt-fails-to-start_crashes-runtime.html for possible solutions
[2025-05-28 02:16:20] error: z2m: Exiting...
[2025-05-28 02:16:20] error: z2m: Error: Error: No such file or directory, cannot open /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0

Zigbee2MQTT fails to start/crashes runtime | Zigbee2MQTT

Zigbee to MQTT bridge, get rid of your proprietary Zigbee bridges

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:18 AM

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Strange. Did you unplug or re-plug the stick while HAOS was already running? I've seen it have issues with hot plugging things.
See if it works after a reboot.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:19 AM

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This is all in Docker containers on RPi OS. Rebooting now.

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:19 AM

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Wait a minute then.

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I need to see your docker compose file for Z2M.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:21 AM

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I have a single file for my whole home automation stack

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version: "3.8"

services:
mosquitto:
image: eclipse-mosquitto:latest
container_name: mosquitto
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "1883:1883"
- "9001:9001"
volumes:
- ./config:/mosquitto/config
- ./data:/mosquitto/data
- ./log:/mosquitto/log

homeassistant:
container_name: homeassistant
image: ghcr.io/home-assistant/home-assistant:stable
restart: unless-stopped
privileged: true
network_mode: host
volumes:
- /home/mj/homeassistant/config:/config
- /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
- /run/dbus:/run/dbus:ro
environment:
- TZ=Europe/London
devices:
- /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0

esphome:
image: ghcr.io/esphome/esphome
container_name: esphome
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
- ./esphome/config:/config
- /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
ports:
- "6052:6052" # ESPHome dashboard accessible at http://<host>:6052
privileged: true # Required for USB flashing
environment:
- TZ=Europe/London

zigbee2mqtt:
container_name: zigbee2mqtt
image: koenkk/zigbee2mqtt
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
- /home/pi/docker/zigbee2mqtt/data:/app/data
- /run/udev:/run/udev:ro
ports:
- "8081:8080"
devices:
- /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0:/dev/ttyACM0
environment:
- TZ=Europe/London

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:21 AM

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I only need the Z2m section but please use code blockks so I can read that properly.

sick shoreBOT May 28, 2025, 1:21 AM

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To format your text as code, enter three backticks on the first line, press Enter for a new line, paste your code, press Enter again for another new line, and lastly three more backticks.
```yaml
example: here
```
Don't forget you can edit your post rather than repeatedly posting the same thing.

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:22 AM

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My bad. HAOS is so common that it's just always assumed to be used unless mentioned otherwise: https://analytics.home-assistant.io/
If you use docker containers you need to give it the device first. In your case you mapped your USB device to /dev/ttyACM0 so use that path instead.
Note that devices is not needed if you have privileged.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:22 AM

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zigbee2mqtt:
    container_name: zigbee2mqtt
    image: koenkk/zigbee2mqtt
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - /home/pi/docker/zigbee2mqtt/data:/app/data
      - /run/udev:/run/udev:ro
    ports:
      - "8081:8080"
    devices:
      - /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0:/dev/ttyACM0
    environment:
      - TZ=Europe/London

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:24 AM

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Try this then in configuration.yaml

serial:
    # /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0:/dev/ttyACM0
    port: /dev/ttyACM0
    adapter: zstack

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:29 AM

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Seems like progress! I'm now getting. ```
[2025-05-28 02:28:31] info: z2m: Starting zigbee-herdsman (4.0.0)
[2025-05-28 02:28:31] info: zh:zstack:znp: Opening SerialPort with {"path":"/dev/ttyACM0","baudRate":115200,"rtscts":false,"autoOpen":false}
[2025-05-28 02:28:31] info: zh:zstack:znp: Serialport opened
[2025-05-28 02:28:31] info: z2m: zigbee-herdsman started (resumed)
[2025-05-28 02:28:31] info: z2m: Coordinator firmware version: '{"meta":{"maintrel":1,"majorrel":2,"minorrel":7,"product":1,"revision":20240710,"transportrev":2},"type":"ZStack3x0"}'
[2025-05-28 02:28:31] info: z2m: Currently 0 devices are joined.

It's failing to connect to my MQTT broker but that's fine, I can sort that on my own.

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:30 AM

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Yay. You should be able to use

mqtt:
    server: 'mqtt://mosquitto:1883'

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:33 AM

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Hmm yeah I'm still getting

[2025-05-28 02:32:04] error:     z2m: MQTT failed to connect, exiting... (getaddrinfo ENOTFOUND mosquitto)

even when I update the port in my config

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:34 AM

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Can you share the compose file in full?

sick shoreBOT May 28, 2025, 1:34 AM

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Please use a code share site to share code or logs, for example:

https://dpaste.org/ (select YAML for the language, and consider picking a longer expiry)
http://pastie.org/ (select YAML for the language)
https://paste.debian.net/ (you guessed it, select YAML as the language)

Please don't use Pastebin, since it can randomly add spaces to the main view. Please also don't share text as images since it makes it harder for people to help you. Remember that others may have colour blindness, impaired vision, etc.

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:34 AM

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Usually containers in a compose file can communicate with each other by their name. Seems like mosquitto cannot be resolved in your case.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:35 AM

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version: "3.8"

services:
  mosquitto:
    image: eclipse-mosquitto:latest
    container_name: mosquitto
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "1883:1883"
      - "9001:9001"
    volumes:
      - ./config:/mosquitto/config
      - ./data:/mosquitto/data
      - ./log:/mosquitto/log
      
  homeassistant:
    container_name: homeassistant
    image: ghcr.io/home-assistant/home-assistant:stable
    restart: unless-stopped
    privileged: true
    network_mode: host
    volumes:
      - /home/mj/homeassistant/config:/config
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
      - /run/dbus:/run/dbus:ro
    environment:
      - TZ=Europe/London
    devices:
      - /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0

  esphome:
    image: ghcr.io/esphome/esphome
    container_name: esphome
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - ./esphome/config:/config
      - /etc/localtime:/etc/localtime:ro
    ports:
      - "6052:6052"  # ESPHome dashboard accessible at http://<host>:6052
    privileged: true  # Required for USB flashing
    environment:
      - TZ=Europe/London

  zigbee2mqtt:
    container_name: zigbee2mqtt
    image: koenkk/zigbee2mqtt
    restart: unless-stopped
    volumes:
      - /home/pi/docker/zigbee2mqtt/data:/app/data
      - /run/udev:/run/udev:ro
    ports:
      - "8081:8080"
    devices:
      - /dev/serial/by-id/usb-ITead_Sonoff_Zigbee_3.0_USB_Dongle_Plus_b0a87974ac6bef118046a1adc169b110-if00-port0:/dev/ttyACM0
    environment:
      - TZ=Europe/London

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:36 AM

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Perhaps network_mode: host of HA interferes here in some way. Not sure. Otherwise compose creates a network between all containers.
I guess you can also just use the ip of the pi instead of mosquitto.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:44 AM

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I'm now getting these errors:

[2025-05-28 02:42:56] error:     z2m: Error while starting zigbee-herdsman
[2025-05-28 02:42:56] error:     z2m: Failed to start zigbee-herdsman
[2025-05-28 02:42:56] error:     z2m: Check https://www.zigbee2mqtt.io/guide/installation/20_zigbee2mqtt-fails-to-start_crashes-runtime.html for possible solutions
[2025-05-28 02:42:56] error:     z2m: Exiting...
[2025-05-28 02:42:56] error:     z2m: Error: SRSP - SYS - getExtAddr after 6000ms
    at Object.start (/app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/utils/waitress.ts:67:23)
    at /app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/adapter/z-stack/znp/znp.ts:256:45
    at Queue.execute (/app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/utils/queue.ts:36:26)
    at Znp.request (/app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/adapter/z-stack/znp/znp.ts:249:27)
    at Znp.requestWithReply (/app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/adapter/z-stack/znp/znp.ts:228:34)
    at ZnpAdapterManager.parseConfigNetworkOptions (/app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/adapter/z-stack/adapter/manager.ts:526:63)
    at ZnpAdapterManager.start (/app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/adapter/z-stack/adapter/manager.ts:58:38)
    at ZStackAdapter.start (/app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/adapter/z-stack/adapter/zStackAdapter.ts:142:49)
    at Controller.start (/app/node_modules/.pnpm/zigbee-herdsman@4.0.0/node_modules/zigbee-herdsman/src/controller/controller.ts:133:29)
    at Zigbee.start (/app/lib/zigbee.ts:70:27)

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Is there a chance this would be easier if I try restoring my HA setup from a backup within a fresh install of HAOS?

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I didn't realise I was making such an error by using Docker

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:47 AM

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Hard to say. I use docker myself in production and prefer it.

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I'm not familiar with that specific getExtAddr error.
Are you sure the ZHA integration is disabled?

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:49 AM

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100%, it was never enabled because it could never complete setup

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I'm just about at my wit's end with this. If I can't get Zigbee working then HA is useless for me.

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:51 AM

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Just to make sure, can you try to stop the homeassistant container for now?

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If that still does not work I'd recommend you stop both and flash the coordinator with the newest coordinator firmware.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:53 AM

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Just tried that and it seems to have resolved the adapter errors but now I'm back to

[2025-05-28 02:52:14] error:     z2m: MQTT failed to connect, exiting... (connect ECONNREFUSED 192.168.1.42:1883)

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:54 AM

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It's possible you didn't configure mosquitto for listening properly.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:54 AM

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I think the issue is with Mosquitto, I will troubleshoot this myself as I have already taken up far too much of your time. Thank you for your help, I do believe you've solved my adapter issue which has made things so much easier.

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 1:55 AM

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I have a mosquitto.conf that looks like this

listener 1883
log_timestamp_format %Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S
allow_anonymous true

The compose like this

services:
    eclipse-mosquitto:
        container_name: mosquitto
        restart: always
        ports:
            - '1883:1883'
            - '9001:9001'
        image: eclipse-mosquitto
        volumes:
            - './mosquitto.conf:/mosquitto/config/mosquitto.conf'
            - './data:/mosquitto/data'
            - './log:/mosquitto/log'
        healthcheck:
            test: ["CMD-SHELL", "netstat -ltn | grep -c 1883 || exit 1"]

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Not very secure but that should work.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 1:59 AM

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Thanks, that should help. I might need to sleep before finishing this off so apologies if I don't let you know tonight how it goes.

trim adder May 28, 2025, 2:23 AM

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vale onyx Not very secure but that should work.

It's finally working, thank you for all your help.

I don't suppose you would know how to get my SONOFF SNZB-02D temp/humidity sensor appearing correctly in HA? By default, all the atrributes are showing but with no data.

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lol scratch that, it's working now

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thanks again for all your help, do you have a fav charity I can chuck £10 at as thanks?

vale onyx May 28, 2025, 2:27 AM

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No. Just pay it forward and help someone else.

#Can USB 3.0 interference cause a Zigbee dongle to fail completely?