Homey Bridge visible in Zigbee network but not used as a router — is this expected?

Questions & Help
1

With firmware 13.2 and its new source route table in Developer Tools, I can now clearly see the routing paths for all 117 Zigbee devices across my two-floor setup.

My Homey Bridge is paired and shows up as node #1 in the Zigbee node table (coordinator is node #0 — my Homey Pro 2023). However, after reviewing the source route table, no device appears to route through the Bridge at all. Every single device routes exclusively through node #0 (Homey Pro) or through other routers, completely bypassing the Bridge.

My setup:

  • Homey Pro 2023 (coordinator, node #0)
  • Homey Bridge (node #1, type: router, showing as online)
  • 117 Zigbee devices across 2 floors
  • Mix of SONOFF ZBMINIR2, Tuya TS011F/TS0601, LUMI sensors, SONOFF SNZB thermometers, and a few Tuya TS0207 repeaters

Questions:

  1. Is it expected that the Homey Bridge is never used as a Zigbee router, even when devices are physically closer to it than to the Homey Pro?
  2. Does the Homey Bridge’s Zigbee radio actually participate in the mesh, or does it only act as a secondary coordinator endpoint?
  3. Is there any way to influence routing so that devices in certain areas of the house prefer the Bridge over the main hub?

Thanks

2
  1. No, although if a particular route seems to be more logical (for instance, based on distance) it doesn’t necessarily mean it is.
  2. It should act as a repeater/router.
  3. No.

Homey Bridge is overpriced as a Zigbee router, there are much cheaper, much better ones.

3

Hmm, in that case, it’s better to swap out my Homey Bridge for my spare Aeotec Zigbee Range Extender, thanks.

BTW very nice addiction for 13.2 to see the Zigbee routing table finally.

4

Apparently your bridge isn’t needed by the zigbee mesh. Maybe “re-pairing” the devices near it, makes them using the bridge as hop, but it imho that’s just a waste of time.

Often, when zigbee considers a route as “good enough”, it sticks to it.
F.i. I have two zigbee router devices downstairs, which use a zigbee router device upstairs as hop, to my zigbee controller downstairs :man_shrugging:

I’m curious if swapping the bridge with your Aeotec extender makes other devices consider using it as hop.

5

Unfortunately, I can’t replace the Homey Bridge, as I’ve realized it also serves as an extender for 433 MHz.