Hub not finding connected bulbs

[JDRoberts]

@tpip

There are zwave repeaters creating a zwave mesh. Even powered bulbs can be repeaters for zwave. Is there a way to have a zigbee repeater? If he can expand his zigbee mesh, then the bulbs might work in his garage.

Sure, and that is already discussed in depth in the how to article in the wiki on automating an outbuilding.

http://thingsthataresmart.wiki/index.php?title=How_to_Automate_an_Outbuilding

Zigbee repeats only for zigbee, Z wave repeats only for Z wave, otherwise all the principles are the same. Pretty much any mains powered device will act as a repeater, you don’t have to do anything special. The biggest difference is that a zwave lightbulb is a reliable repeater for Z wave while a number of the zigbee light bulbs are only reliable repeaters for each other.

If you want to read more details about mesh networks and repeating, see the following FAQ. Start with post 11 in the following thread, then after you read that, go back up to the top and read the whole thread.

A Guide to Wireless Range & Repeaters

One more thought. While I understand the marketing reasons for the decision, the fact that SmartThings gives customers zero guidance on how to set up a network backbone does lead to a lot of frustration that shouldn’t have to exist. if people knew that .1) The hub should be located centrally in the home, both vertically and horizontally. Don’t put it in a garage or basement as those have concrete and pipes and metal objects which will reduce signal. If your Internet router is off in some inaccessible corner, you can use a Wi-Fi access point that has a ethernet port on the side and plug into that. Also, the hub should not be put in a cabinet. You just want to make it as easy as possible for signal to spread around your house. .2) you need one device that can repeat about every 40 feet…

But if you don’t want to go into all the details, you don’t need to. Just read the wiki article on automating an outbuilding and it will cover what you need to know for that use case.