# Best Zigbee USB dongle **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-Topic\ **Created:** [February 14, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639 "2025-02-14T21:24:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Henk\_Renting](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/henk_renting/32/87634_2.png) [@Henk\_Renting](https://community.homey.app/u/Henk_Renting)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/1 "2025-02-14T21:24:02Z")
Homey is a great platform and still a fan, bit I am getting a bit fed up with all Zigbee problems… Which Zigbee USB dongles can you recommend for adding to my Synology NAS with Docker? I would like to create a more stable Zigbee network (unfortunately outside Homey) and add the devices in that Zigbee network to Homey, so I can make use of Homey’s flows and integrations for those devices. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 9:59pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/2 "2025-02-14T21:59:38Z")
[Sonoff ZB Dongle P](https://opencircuit.nl/product/sonoff-zigbee-3.0-usb-dongle-plus) or [-E](https://opencircuit.nl/product/sonoff-zigbee-3.0-usb-dongle-plus-zbdongle-e). They go for around €21,50 I use the E version with the zigbee2mqtt add-on at Home Assistant, 100% happy with it. > [@Henk\_Renting](#): > > Just to add Zigbee devices for adding those to Homey for it’s flows and other apps? I don’t follow you here 🤷‍♂️😉☺ ---
**Author:** ![Henk\_Renting](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/henk_renting/32/87634_2.png) [@Henk\_Renting](https://community.homey.app/u/Henk_Renting)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/3 "2025-02-14T22:09:04Z")
> [@Peter\_Kawa](#): > > I don’t follow you here I would like to create a more stable Zigbee network and add the devices in that network to Homey to be able to use Homey’s flows and integrations. Will update my post to be a bit more clear, sorry. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![OH2TH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/oh2th/32/111414_2.png) [@OH2TH](https://community.homey.app/u/OH2TH)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 4:17am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/4 "2025-02-15T04:17:11Z")
This one isn’t USB but still an excellent one [SLZB-06 Zigbee Ethernet PoE USB LAN WIFI Adapter](https://smartlight.me/smart-home-devices/zigbee-devices/smlight-slzb-06en) and there are newer versions also. You would still need [Zigbee2MQTT.io](http://Zigbee2MQTT.io) running in a container and configure the SLZB on coordinator mode. Also a MQTT broker is needed. Bith can be a container in your Synology. That is the way I have also. If I remember correctly Synology removed access to USB for containers. Finally install [Zigbee2MQTT App for Homey | Homey](https://homey.app/a/com.gruijter.zigbee2mqtt) and presto, you get all devices and any groups you have setup in the z2m container. Scenes are not support by the Homey app, which would be really nice to have thou. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 5:58am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/5 "2025-02-15T05:58:14Z")
> [@OH2TH](#): > > If I remember correctly Synology removed access to USB for containers. These drivers can be used to get serial USB devices (which most Zigbee dongles are) working again in DSM: [GitHub - robertklep/dsm7-usb-serial-drivers: Synology DSM 7 USB serial drivers](https://github.com/robertklep/dsm7-usb-serial-drivers/) ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 6:23am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/6 "2025-02-15T06:23:43Z")
I would buy one with a CC2652 chip on board, like the Sonoff Zigbee Dongle **P** (not the **E** ). A lot of dongles that use an EFR32 suffer from the same problems that Homey has (which also uses that chip), including instability (which, for some reason, for most people happens only after a while of use, not initially). It feels like it’s basically an eternal beta product. ---
**Author:** ![Henk\_Renting](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/henk_renting/32/87634_2.png) [@Henk\_Renting](https://community.homey.app/u/Henk_Renting)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 9:11am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/7 "2025-02-15T09:11:12Z")
Hmmm, what would be the disadvantages of buying the Sonoff P version instead of the newer E version, @robertklep? You would expect Sonoff wouldn’t issue an updated dongle for nothing. Are the problems still there and not solved with firmware updates? Do you have any problems with the E version, @Peter_Kawa? The fact that my Homey has the same chip makes me a bit hesitant about buying a dongle with the same chip. Why would you rather choose a LAN version, @OH2TH? Just for more flexibility in placing it anywhere in your home network, or are there more factors to consider? It would also force connecting by Zigbee2MQTT and rule out Home Assistant (directly, and sharing those devices with Homey), I suppose? ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 9:14am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/8 "2025-02-15T09:14:30Z")
> [@Henk\_Renting](#): > > Hmmm, what would be the disadvantages of buying the Sonoff P version instead of the newer E version, @robertklep? You would expect Sonoff wouldn’t issue an updated dongle for nothing. There are no disadvantages, the Dongle P is widely considered to be much better than the E. The E isn’t so much an updated version of the P, it’s a different device with a different Zigbee chip. The E version also supports Thread, which the P doesn’t. ---
**Author:** ![OH2TH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/oh2th/32/111414_2.png) [@OH2TH](https://community.homey.app/u/OH2TH)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 9:14am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/9 "2025-02-15T09:14:49Z")
Placement flexibility indeed and you can connect to Homeassistant if you want and share the device to Homey from there. Second is that it’s RF coverage quite good. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [February 15, 2025, 2:48pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/10 "2025-02-15T14:48:02Z")
> [@Henk\_Renting](#): > > Do you have any problems with the E version Hi Henk, Valid question, I wouldn’t dare to recommend it if it were a lousy dongle 😉. Robert alr explained the differences, hence I also recommended the P model. Maybe the P is the smarter choice? I’ve had one situation where zigbee2mqtt couldn’t communicate very well with the dongle, because of a major software rewrite. Rolling back to my cloned VM saved me there. It took a while for the developers to catch and fix the issue. It works fine again with the latest z2m version + dongle firmware. It’s rock solid. Btw, for Thread I use the [SkyConnect dongle](https://www.home-assistant.io/connectzbt1/) for use with Matter devices. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2025, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/12 "2025-02-20T20:35:39Z")
Hello Henk, I can’t compare, but I run Z2M as H.A. add-on and I’m 100% happy with it. I use the H.A. as virtual machine config from [this howto](https://community.homey.app/t/honeywell-t6-pro-zwave-help/114693/5). which has several advantages imho: - hardware issues, or -upgrade: just clone the VM and start it anywhere else (pc, laptop, mini pc, thin client) - you can use a cloned VM as a test machine. When things goes south, delete it, and just start the ‘main’ VM → Not all my zigbee devices like that, I’ve to re-add those Advantages of running H.A. as well: - Z2M blends in with H.A. very well - Because you have MQTT already running for Z2M, you can have selected or all of your Homey devices available in H.A. That offers possibilities for (optional: login-free) web based dashboard(s). Which can run in almost any browser, even as casted website to a Ggl Hub. - With the H.A. community app, you can go as far as you like, and when a matching device lacks, you can create it yourself with a so called ‘custom device’. I must say, both developers of the Homey Zigbee2mqtt and H.A. community apps are very active and open to suggestions. Feel free to read my [tutorial](https://community.homey.app/t/tutorial-pro-how-to-integrate-home-assistant-with-homey-pro/92641) to integrate Homey and H.A. ---
**Author:** ![B3rt](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/b3rt/32/9435_2.png) [@B3rt](https://community.homey.app/u/B3rt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 11:36am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/13 "2025-06-15T11:36:55Z")
I am also gonna move several zigbee devices from Homey to my HA, but Homey will stil be my main automation controller. So automations are done in Homey… I already use HA (running a pi4+ssd) and Homey together, HA for dashboard and better/more device intigration and homey for automation etc. To get zigbee support I want to use zigbee2mqtt i HA, but I am doubting between the sonoff dongle P or E dongle. I want to use zigbee2mqtt, not ZHA and use it with my mqtt broker running on my NAS. Which of the 2 dongle is the best choise?!? (reason for switch is failing zigbee connection reguarly in Homey, specially with aqara devices) ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 11:41am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/14 "2025-06-15T11:41:27Z")
I would personally go with the P, not the E, reason being that the latter has the same Zigbee chip as Homey that has been giving a lot of people a lot of issues, not just with Homey but on other platforms too. Granted, these issues are being worked on and there’s new firmware being released often, but I’ve been using a P for a couple of years now and I’ve had zero issues with it. I’m also lazy and don’t want to update the firmware of my Zigbee dongle every few months (with the potential of it bricking and/or breaking things). ---
**Author:** ![Henk\_Renting](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/henk_renting/32/87634_2.png) [@Henk\_Renting](https://community.homey.app/u/Henk_Renting)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2025, 12:05pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/15 "2025-06-15T12:05:05Z")
I can confirm Roberts findings. I have the Sonoff P version dongle and have never had a better Zigbee network since. Superstable and no problems whatsoever. It’s been the best upgrade for my domotica ever since I started with Homey. ---
**Author:** ![Henk\_Renting](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/henk_renting/32/87634_2.png) [@Henk\_Renting](https://community.homey.app/u/Henk_Renting)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 8:47am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/16 "2025-07-26T08:47:55Z")
Any help, tips and experience with moving to a Sonoff UTP Zigbee dongle? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/1/a/1ad908aa3de9f99d42f900f5a9afed5f36ce3183.jpeg) I am using the Sonoff Zigbee Dongle P for a while now and extremely happy with it! Zigbee devices have never been more reliable! Weakest link is my Synology NAS though. I use Zigbee2MQTT in a Docker container on that Synology. But Synology has removed native USB support, so every time I restart my NAS I have to manually add the USB support for the connected USB Zigbee dongle again. There should be ways to schedule that after every restart, but unfortunately I never got that working. That is why I am considering moving to the SLZB-06 Zigbee Ethernet Adapter. Do you guys have experience in moving from a working Zigbee2MQTT configuration to another UTP dongle? Any tips or considerations? Found a good manual [HERE](https://smarthomescene.com/reviews/smlight-slzb-06-zigbee-poe-coordinator-review/) but it doesn’t show what to do in the Zigbee2MQTT interface or Docker yaml configuration… And: I see multiple versions of this dongle. Want to keep it to the CC2652 chip. Do you have experience with the newer CC2652P7? ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Kawa](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/peter_kawa/32/173848_2.png) [@Peter\_Kawa](https://community.homey.app/u/Peter_Kawa)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 12:23pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/17 "2025-07-26T12:23:28Z")
Just wondering, Henk, how many times a year do you need to restart a NAS? I can’t remember when mine was restarted last. (I do understand it’s a pain in the ass to have to manually add USB support after each reboot) ---
**Author:** ![OH2TH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/oh2th/32/111414_2.png) [@OH2TH](https://community.homey.app/u/OH2TH)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 2:25pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/18 "2025-07-26T14:25:40Z")
Here’s my docker ```auto services: zigbee2mqtt: container_name: zigbee2mqtt environment: - TZ=Europe/Helsinki group_add: - dialout hostname: z2m.oh2th.fi image: koenkk/zigbee2mqtt pull_policy: build network_mode: bridge ports: - 8638:8080/tcp restart: unless-stopped user: 1008:1008 volumes: - /volume2/docker/zigbee2mqtt/data:/app/data ``` And if I remember correct the SLZB-06 actually will give the z2m sample comfiguration. ---
**Author:** ![Henk\_Renting](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/henk_renting/32/87634_2.png) [@Henk\_Renting](https://community.homey.app/u/Henk_Renting)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 3:03pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/19 "2025-07-26T15:03:04Z")
Thx, @OH2TH! That seems straightforward. Do you have the SLZB-06 or the P7 version? ---
**Author:** ![OH2TH](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/oh2th/32/111414_2.png) [@OH2TH](https://community.homey.app/u/OH2TH)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/20 "2025-07-26T15:05:17Z")
SLZB-06 is the model. Got it a couple of years ago to replace hue bridges. ---
**Author:** ![Henk\_Renting](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/henk_renting/32/87634_2.png) [@Henk\_Renting](https://community.homey.app/u/Henk_Renting)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639/21 "2025-07-26T15:10:18Z")
Thanks, thinking of that one or the slightly newer SLZB-06P7. Even thinking of getting 2 to get coverage in my basement (to where extending the current Zigbee network is impossible). The Z2M of @Gruijter supports 2 coördinators when in separate Z2M Docker containers. [Next page](https://community.homey.app/t/best-zigbee-usb-dongle/130639.md?page=2)