GE Link bulbs constantly losing connection

[Geckotek]

I have several GE Link bulbs, a couple of which after a while seem to lose connection. The only fix seems to be to completely remove them from the system and re-add them. Then, inevitably, they will lose connection again.

Anybody else seeing this and is there a fix?

[JDRoberts]

@Geckotek

I have several GE Link bulbs, a couple of which after a while seem to lose connection. The only fix seems to be to completely remove them from the system and re-add them. Then, inevitably, they will lose connection again.

Anybody else seeing this and is there a fix?

Unfortunately, there is no fix.

GE links have a firmware problem which causes what you are seeing. It’s well-known, you will find much discussion in the forums and in fact on pretty much every other home automation forum. It’s the reason that the GE links are not on the official “works with smartthings” compatibility list. People used to buy the GE links anyway because they were much cheaper than other smart bulbs, but now that the hue whites are down to $15 at Best Buy, most people have moved away from the GE’s. If they are new bulbs and you can still return them, I would do so.

Meanwhile, the good news is that you generally don’t have to go through the whole remove and re-add process that you’ve been trying. You may be able to get them to figure out on their own that the network is still there with a few simpler steps. See the following FAQ. It won’t solve the problem, but it may give you an easier solution when it does happen.

FAQ: GE Link Bulbs Dropped Offline

GE Links are the least expensive big brand zigbee bulbs you can buy, and, for whatever reason, they seem to sometimes have trouble reconnecting to the SmartThings network after power has been cut, whether it’s from a whole house failure or just someone flipping a switch. Or even just randomly from time to time. (SmartThings staff have confirmed in the forums that the reason the GE links are not on the official “works with SmartThings” compatibility list is that they have a firmware problem which causes them to stop responding to the Cordinator from time to time. Supposedly GE is aware of the issue and there may be a firmware update from GE in a few months, but no specific timeline and they can’t be certified as compatible yet. Meanwhile, they’re very inexpensive, but they do drop off fro…

[cdikland]

A multitude of people have reported this on this forum ever since GE introduced the bulb. Just search the forum for GE LED. No real solution but I put my GE bulbs on a Hue bridge. Very few problems since then.

BTW: How far are these bulbs from the hub. Most of the reported GE problems occur after a power failure. Other such problems may very well be related to being too far from hub.

[Geckotek]

Thanks for the explanation and options. The bulbs in the same room and only about 15’ away from the hub.

I searched the forum earlier, but I think I typoed my search or something because I turned up very little. Then I did a Google search and it brought me right back here.

[michaelahess (Michael Hess)]

Also make sure your WiFi isn’t using the same (or near) channel as your zigbee radio in the hub, that was my problem, since I changed WiFi channels off the zigbee channel, things have been VERY reliable, maybe one bulb every two months needs to be reset.

[dalec]

I am in the boat with @michaelahess in that my GE bulbs have been extremely reliable.

[Geckotek]

How can I check the zigbee radio channel?

Edit: NVM, found it in the IDE