Aeotec Range Extender Zi - Zigbee Network Extender - Improves Range and Stability of Zigbee Network

This was the perfect solution to my problem. I have an automation setup in Home Assistant to show the status of today's USPS mail delivery on our "smart home" dashboards. Our mailman arrives anywhere between 1:00pm-9:00pm (it's very inconsistent).To accomplish this, I originally connected a Z-wave door sensor to the mailbox door - I was hoping to extend the range of our Z-wave network to the mailbox from our garage (it's an "indoor" extender, so it's inside my garage - not on an outdoor plug). The automation worked, but only about 10% of the time. So that was no-good. I want it to work 100% of the time, of course...otherwise, what's the point?So, instead, I purchased this ZigBee Range Extender Zi from Aeotec and placed it on the exact same power outlet that I'd tried the Z-wave range extender; and used an Aqara ZigBee door sensor that I already had on hand inside the mailbox. This product does truly extend the range of my Zigbee network all the way out to my mailbox. And it works like a charm! I just had to make a quick change to the trigger for my "The mail has been delivered" automation I'd previously setup. I haven't had it fail on me once, even with the significant distance to the mailbox. Now we get an audible alert when the mail is delivered, as well as a notification on the dashboard that shows that the mailbox door has been opened.I know ZigBee and Z-wave devices can act as a hub for their own network as long as they are powered, but I wanted to get a product that does the absolute best job, and I'm confident that I now have that with the Aeotec Range Extender Zi.The Rage Extender Zi is a highly recommended solution to extending your ZigBee network's range.

I read that this was one of the more highly recommended rage extenders for home assessment, and I have found that it works great. It does really extend range in my house, and it integrates in a very compatible way, and lots of other zigbee devices connect through it with no problem. It's also easy to reset to factory settings and set it up again if you ever need to do that, The indicator light around the button on the bottom of the unit flashes in a way where it's easy to know what's happening as you set it up or reset it. I would give it 6 stars if I could.

Installed easy. Immediately noticed improvement in my outside zigbee devices.

Works great!

Works as advertised

Did the job perfectly! seems I have a dead zone or interference in the middle of my basement. one of these installed upstairs took over and made my Zigbee Network stable in the basement! within a few hours Home assistant was much happier with connectivity, reliablility, and speeds on the basement devices.

I may change this review later as I’m still refining my Zigbee mesh, and its current position low to the ground might also be the reason.But for the hype it was given I don’t really think it adds as much as they claim. Now I’m already running a custom built EFR32MGM21 PoE running as my main coordinator. Even with its power and reach I was still loosing alot of end points that were not easily accessible. This runs a similar chipset with and EFR32MG21 per there specs and I’m still getting dead zones. I was impressed that a lot of the devices that were already repeaters but had other functions like my LEDVANCE bulbs. And the RSSI and LQI all looked great. But I’m still getting Aqura Windows/Door, Water, and a Temp Sensors drop from the mesh again and again. Even though the all say Zigbee 3.0. They all don’t cut the grade.So I’m going to say this is probably worth the money as it can hold and repeats a lot of sensors. I would like to see some ESPHome.io and Home Assistant support as well. But over all it has made things better. I still have a higher gain antenna for my coordinator which is going in the rafters. But I also need it to reach around 2 acres of land and under my house where our Well Main Shut off valve is which I’ll be putting in when I get the chance. It too runs on Zigbee so we’ll see how that works. Eventually I’ll try and review what I can as far as Zigbee and its standard as we move into the more Matter based devices as well. But if your anything like me. You won’t be happy until you have your holodeck and a computer that actually talks back and is relevant.I may test it at a different plug and circuit and see if that makes a difference and will try and update with those resultsOne thing that I thought was interesting although I haven’t tried it is a little nub with a screw hole in it. It’s plastic so I can’t see how it would do anything running it to the wall plate screw other than to secure it in place so it doesn’t get knocked out. That if it works will push this up to the 5 start level for anyone who has pets or little ones.