Change HAOS Wired to WiFi for better positioning? Good idea? | Home Assistant | Page 1

vestal stirrup Nov 26, 2025, 6:13 AM

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Hi everyone, I'm troubleshooting my zwave mesh network after updating my Aeotec Z-Stick 5+ to the new ZWA-2 because things are less stable now. I've rebuilt all my routes one by one and still have some slow connections (and a couple of new 4 hop nodes after the rebuild!). I have my Pi4 in the office (one corner of the house) next to my workstation, router, etc., with wired ethernet. I'm wondering if it would be better to move the Pi to a more central location using a WiFi connection to the router instead. I have no wifi devices on my HA network, only ZW and a couple of Zigbee LED lights, so the wifi would only be used for connection to the router (and remote access).

Is this a good idea? Is connecting your Pi to the router via WiFi a bad idea?

brittle rose Nov 26, 2025, 6:19 AM

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if you are running haos on the pi, wifi is no-go. (servers dont like wifi 🙂 )

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all usb dongles should be connected with a usb extension cable and connected to usb2.0 port. Pi is really active with interference

vestal stirrup Nov 26, 2025, 6:22 AM

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brittle rose all usb dongles should be connected with a usb extension cable and connected to ...

Check on the usb dongles. Although I do have my ZWA-2 plugged into the usb hub where the Z-Stick 5+ was, but perhaps I should plug it into the usb 2.0 port on the Pi directly, since it has a long cord already. ?

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And I hear ya on the wifi. I guess I'll have to figure out a way to run a cable somewhere more central.

brittle rose Nov 26, 2025, 6:23 AM

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always use 2.0 port.

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exept for ssd use etc.

vestal stirrup Nov 26, 2025, 6:24 AM

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Is the controller tied to a particular usb port when installed, or just the device id? IOW can I just move it?

brittle rose Nov 26, 2025, 6:25 AM

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i would set those devices up by device id instead of port

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device id dont change, ports can

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so with device id, you can pull usb and put it on diff usb with no problems

vestal stirrup Nov 26, 2025, 6:28 AM

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I kind of remember that now. zw control panel settings are showing the following:

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/dev/serial/by-id/usb-Nabu_Casa_ZWA-2_80B54EE779B4-if00

brittle rose Nov 26, 2025, 6:28 AM

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looks good to me

vestal stirrup Nov 26, 2025, 6:29 AM

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Cool! Thanks mate! BTW, have you noticed the ZW JS UI being slow and unresponsive at times?

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I'm on windows, running the latest firefox and sometimes it is unresponsive and I have to close the tab and reopen it, and then it is fine. Can't tell if it is Firefox or the UI?

brittle rose Nov 26, 2025, 6:30 AM

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but unreliable network is commonly caused by interference, especially the usb3.0 port and pi wifi causing this. If thats solved with extension cables responsivness will increase

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if checking, always use chrome/edge browser, maybe even with incognito/private mode to rule out browser issues

vestal stirrup Nov 26, 2025, 6:33 AM

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Eee, I avoid Chrome and hate Edge, so... 😐 I do use private mode in FF. May some extension. I'll look at that. Also, I don't have anything plugged into either USB3 port on the Pi and WiFi is disabled. I've minimized traffic as much as possible, and most of my problems seem to be with battery devices at the extremes.

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I've moved the ZWA-2 to the USB2 on the Pi and things are still working. Yay. So I'll see if that helps.

brittle rose Nov 26, 2025, 6:34 AM

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only chrome/edge will work. e.g. firefox and esp flashing is no-no

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a lot of issues have already been solved by using those browsers if having issues. just to rule out browser related stuff

vestal stirrup Nov 26, 2025, 6:36 AM

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I'll take a look at that as well. Thanks again!

brittle rose Nov 26, 2025, 6:37 AM

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one more thing, you can expand the network coverage by adding lightbulbs or powerplugs that can act as repeater in zwave

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np

#Change HAOS Wired to WiFi for better positioning? Good idea?