Root Cause Analysis

The issue was traced to two factors:

1. USB 3.0 interference with the Zigbee dongle (2.4GHz noise)
2. Insufficient mesh coverage - only end devices, no routers

Solution Implementation

Step 1: USB Extension Cable

Moved the Zigbee dongle 1m away from the server using a USB 2.0 extension cable. This eliminated the 2.4GHz interference from USB 3.0 ports.

Step 2: Strategic Router Placement

Placed IKEA repeaters at:

• Hallway junction (central hub)
• Garage entrance (bridge to problem area)
• Kitchen (high-traffic area for sensors)

Step 3: Network Reconfiguration

# Zigbee2MQTT configuration
advanced:
  channel: 15  # Less crowded than default 11
  transmit_power: 9
  network_key: GENERATE

Step 4: Monitoring Setup

Added Prometheus metrics for network health monitoring with alerts for dropped devices.