Minimum Number of Devices for Zigbee Mesh Reliability?

[TN_Oldman (Don)]

Okay I was ALL over the place getting info and getting it to work.
I started in this thread and ordered the parts in this post:

Anyone used an Arduino and Xbee Pro board to extended Zigbee Mesh Range?

So to ping an old thread. I am trying to do this using the suggested parts in the thread. I believe I have everything working but I can not get smartthings to show a thing in my device list. I have tried many times to put smartthings into add a thing, then plugging the module into my computer usb port. I know it is connected to smartthings as the AI value is 0 and I can map out the mesh and see the coordinator, repeaters and endpoints on the mesh. So I guess my question is am I okay even if I don’t get a “thing” listed in smartthings under my devices?

If you scroll down to post 87 in that thread is where I jumped in and started posting.

Here is the thread on the FAQ on mapping your Zigbee mesh:

FAQ: Mapping your ZigBee network with Digi's XCTU

I have had several request about how I map my ZigBee network with Digi’s XCTU software so I thought I would share a quick how to: Caution: This is not a Digi supported procedure if something goes wrong during the firmware upgrade you could brick your Digi USB xStick and have to send it back to Digi to be recovered. What is this and why would you want to do it? ZigBee mesh networks are self configuring and self healing and in larger networks it helps to know what nodes are routing who’s information. You can’t really control the network configuration but it helps to see the relationship between your nodes if your troubleshooting a connection problem. The screen capture below is how my SmartThings ZigBee network looks when it is mapped out by the XCTU software. The SmartThings hub is th…

Here is another thread where I jumped in and did some postings with my efforts and results:

DIY Programmable XBee (S2B,S2C) ZigBee integration with SmartThings

Well I don’t know how I missed this thread, but I did? I have been having success with the regular XBee Pro s2c (I think that’s what I have, not near it right now) I have been able to get it to join smartthings using various methods while in repeater mode. I have 1 issue you might have an idea about, and 1 obvious question. Question 1st, so once the XBee is joined to smartthings PAN, will it repeat / relay any radio traffic it receives or does it only dump the data out of the Output pin? It is not the programmable one you reference just the radio. Okay now my stumbling block. I have been editing and communicating to the chip using the 32400 SUB interface board and my PC. When the chip is in the adapter board and plugged into the PC they radio will associate and join the PAN. If I…

Any questions? PM me and I will try to help or start a thread and I will gladly jump in and try to help.