Setting up Matter/Thread Network

[snow frigate]

Like many here, I'm going to grab some of the new Ikea Matter devices and had some questions about how best to handle them.

COORDINATOR
I have around 60 Zigbee devices connected via a ZBT-2 currently. Obviously there's no MultiPAN on it, but I still have an OG SkyConnect lying around. Would my best bet be to grab another USB2 extension cable and connect that/set it up as a Thread coordinator?

RANGE/REPEATERS
As my primary network is Zigbee, I obviosuly don't have any repeaters for Matter yet. What have people found to be the most reliable repeaters? And what do people find Matter's effective range to be? Is it similar to Zigbee?

NETWORK INTERFERENCE
My Zigbee network is currently set up on Zigbee channel 26. I can't find much concrete documentation on which channels/bands Matter devices use. Am I likely to find any interference with my existing Zigbee network?

[abstract zodiac]

you can use the skyconnect (aka ZBT-1) with an extension lead as a thread coordinator. (or you could get a 2nd ZBT-2)

you should keep the zbt-1 and zbt-2 at least 25cm away from each other (2 wavelengths at 2.4ghz).

I believe zigbee and thread use the same channel bands so use different ones (ideally with some space inbetween) and you should be fine.

hopefully someone else can jump in the question about thread routers/repeaters.

[spare juniper]

I am US based so recs are from that market.

Range/repeaters - My current recommendation are Onvis Matter over thread Smartplugs updated to firmware 1.4.0 that gets them to Matter 1.4/thread 1.4, also inexpensive. Ikea smartplugs are even cheaper and also should be Matter 1.4/thread 1.4 but I don't have any personal experience with them.

Zigbee and thread use the exact same range of channels and the same effective distance/range

Isolate wifi to channels 1 and 6 (only 20mhz wide) then Zigbee on channel 26 and thread has channels 20-25 to pick among
(https://silabs.scene7.com/is/image/siliconlabs/co-existence-channels?$LargeFullBleed$)
https://www.silabs.com/wireless/wi-fi/wi-fi-coexistence

[snow frigate]

Oh excellent, SilLabs have updated their iconic blog. Great tips thanks. Should have mentioned that I'm in Australia so my mains-powered options for repeaters are pretty limited. IKEA haven't even released their sockets here.

In fact, I don't think IKEA has any matter repeaters :/ Their bulbs aren't even available.

[cursive sable]

Their bulbs would serve as repeaters as well though

[old ocean]

May I ask how to specify the channel for the thread adapter? I have looked at the SkyConnect, OTBR, and Matter condfiguration pages, but can't find any reference to any channel selection. I can see my thread channel to be set at channel 15, my 2.4GHz wifi is channel 1, and the zigbee adapter uses channel 26. My zigbee devices are disconnecting every day and it's very unreliable.

[twin timber]

the IKEA ALPSTUGA (air quality monitor) is actually a thread router, might be something to look at if you want some sensors anyways.

@old ocean please start your own thread if you have your own questions. But you can change the thread channel via the Thread integration in HA; click the menu beside the thread border router in the list.

[old ocean]

OK, I will, but the option is not there to change the channel. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked.

[twin timber]

what are you using as a thread border router? home assistant is able to change channel on OTBR, including both its add-on and external OTBR, but other vendors might not provide public APIs to do it.

[old ocean]

I'm using the usual Open Thread Border Router addon in HA and the SkyConnect device as the thread radio.

[twin timber]

make sure to open the menu beside the border router, not the one in the top-level thread integration page with the network name.

[old ocean]

there is no "edit in yaml" option.

Sorry about the Swedish menu.

[twin timber]

wrong integration. you want the Thread integration.

[old ocean]

Same thing, no yaml option.

[twin timber]

click the gear icon to open the correct screen

[old ocean]

Thanks, that gave me the option to change the channel.

[twin timber]

(going to the thread integration from the new Settings → Thread link should take you directly to the correct screen)

you can also use the ⓘ icon to see the current channel.