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

The Aeotec Range Extender Zi is an unassuming yet effective gadget that serves as a powerful ally for anyone looking to expand their Zigbee-based wireless network. At first glance, this device impresses with its minimalistic design, a discreet plug-in unit that promises to wipe out those frustrating dead spots in your network coverage. Setup was a breeze with my existing Zigbee hub (Aerotec SmartThings). The extender paired almost instantly, and from that moment, it was all smooth sailing. Once plugged in, the device diligently does its job, without any need for user intervention. It's a classic case of 'set and forget', something every busy homeowner would appreciate. The real charm of the Aeotec Range Extender Zi, though, lies in its efficacy. The persistent network gaps that once plagued my home are now a thing of the past. I could bridge connections between floors, extending the network reach even to the farthest corners of my property, including my once out-of-reach garage. Despite its compact size, the Range Extender Zi delivers a punch when it comes to performance. Reliable and unobtrusive, it plugs directly into an outlet while still leaving the other port accessible. I have two of these extenders now, and they've been working flawlessly, ensuring uninterrupted Zigbee connectivity throughout my home. To those grappling with inconsistent connections or facing network dead zones, I highly recommend the Aeotec Range Extender Zi. With its easy setup, reliable performance, and affordable price point, it's a simple yet highly effective solution to enhance your Zigbee network coverage. Remember, a robust smart home network is key to an efficient smart home system. So, why not give your network the boost it needs with the Aeotec Range Extender Zi? If you found this review insightful or it helped guide your decision in any way, please take a moment to mark it as 'helpful'. It would be greatly appreciated and can assist others in finding the information they need. Happy smart-homing!

Added it easily to my Home Assistant and it seems to be performing well, good connectivity and good battery life. Easy to set up also. Range seems to be okay but I live in a small condo so square footage is not a huge limiting factor for me. It works with both Homey Pro and Home Assistant but you can only control it from one or the other, which is normal for all ZIGBEE devices. I also like that it is not battery powered, and I had an empty wall socket where I could plug it in and leave it there, so it worked for me in that sense as well. Cannot speak to the durability but I hope it will last.

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.

This thing works very well. I even found that unplugging and plugging back in a few minutes later, it remembers the network settings and re-pairs immediately. The functional portion of this device from that perspective is great. Now, the downsides. First, cost. This is expensive for what it is. A short-range Zigbee radio repeater. That's it. Second, range. The range on this is meh. Then again, consider the fact that Zigbee hub ranges are always meh to begin with, and this really should not be a surprise to anyone. However, that said... yes, it does work. It's just finicky when it comes to placement. Experimentation may be required. In my case, third location was a charm. You are obviously limited in placement to where you have an outlet. If you think about line-of-sight and imagine Zibgee radio signals travelling in a straight line and not performing well through walls, you'll get the hang of it quickly.

A must have for any person facing issues with the zigbee connectivity for smart home devices. Easy to install by scanning with your gateway, and viola! Definitely recommended.

Awesome for the wifi issues

I needed to extend my zigbee network to reach some devices further away from my Home assistant system that were intermittently dropping off. After setting this up nearer the problematic devices, I haven't had a problem since.

Zigbee is generally a poor quality network so this helped stabilize things for me. Using hubitat C7.