#SLZB-06 as Thread border router jams 2.4 GHz WiFi?

1 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

ashen parrot
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Just wanted to chime in with my observation.
I have Unifi AP with 2.4 GHz WiFi, optimized for IoT. It works great, having >40 clients.
Recently I bought some Thread devices from IKEA. For the border router I used SLZB-06 (regular) that I had in a drawer. It worked pretty well, and I placed it near my PoE switch to power. The Unifi AP happened to be 50-60 cm from SLZB-06 antenna.
Almost immediately I started to notice frequent disconnections on my Shelly PM. It was available in network (responding to ping etc.), but unavailable in HA and in Shelly app. Reconnecting it from Unifi controller dashboard worked for 10-15 minutes, then Shelly was going unavailable again.
At first i thought it's dying device. Curiously, no other WiFi devices like Govee or ESP32 had same problems. So I was blaming that on Shelly. But yesterday I moved SLZB to different room (to increase signal strength there) - and Shelly disconnections stopped all along.

I don't think it's simple coincidence, given that Thread is also 2.4 GHz, and SLZB has pretty powerful transmitter.
Thoughts, comments?

tulip wagon
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if you have the output power maxed on the SLZB (20 dBm) and it's on the same frequency as your 2.4 GHz network, then yes, it can definitely interfere

ashen parrot
tulip wagon
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no clue sadly as I don't use Thread

waxen mulch
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Move all the Wi-Fi 2.4ghz to channels 1 or 6, then get the thread channel to 25 and you will be fine. Zigbee and thread use the same 2.4 spectrum channels, so the recs work for both.

https://www.metageek.com/training/resources/zigbee-wifi-coexistence/

MetaGeek
ZigBee and Wi-Fi Coexistence

ZigBee transmits on the same part of the 2.4 GHz spectrum as Wi-Fi, and when both protocols are transmitting at the same time, it causes interference that can damage the quality of the Zigbee signal. In this lesson, we’ll cover how to design a network for Wi-Fi and Zigbee to peacefully coexist.

dreamy ridge
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theres some things you can do regarding channel selection - make sure that the wifi and thread channels have no or minimal overlap - and it should be a lot better

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(guides for zigbee vs wifi interference also apply to thread, since they use the same channels)

ashen parrot
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I know about interference. I know how to choose WiFi and Zigbee channel. But I don't know how to choose Thread channel. Anyways, problem solved so far. My WiFi is on channel 6. Zigbee is on 11.

ashen parrot
dreamy ridge
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From the thread integration, there's a three dot menu on the thread border router with some actions, which includes the ability to change the thread channel

ashen parrot
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Thanks! It's 15 for me. Not that bad for WiFi channel 6....

fading cradle
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@ashen parrot I understand that your device is powered by PoE. Does the RCP data pass through USB or through the IP network via the RJ-45 port?

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According to tests, not using USB mode results in additional latency and therefore transmission errors.

ashen parrot
dreamy ridge
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Yeah, just be aware that using serial over ethernet for the thread radio isn't recommended, because it's very sensitive to timing. whether that will cause problems for you will depend on many factors.

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(it's better to run the entire thread border router remotely, rather than have a network link between the border router software and the radio)

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at some point it might be possible to use an SLZB-06 as a standalone thread border router… but there's a lot of work that needs to be done :(

ashen parrot
dreamy ridge
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for sure, my main thread border router is actually running on an esp32-s3 (with an esp32-h2 for the radio)

ashen parrot
ashen parrot
dreamy ridge
ashen parrot
dreamy ridge
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if you have a spare raspberry pi, that's another option. The way I recommend turning those into a thread BR is to install HAOS and the openthread border router add-on onto the pi, and use a usb connected radio. (Easier to use HAOS+add-on rather than try to set it up yourself)

brave wraith
undone shuttle
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Trått

brave wraith