I have a Samsung SmartThings dongle (VG-STDB10A/ZA, 2022 ) that is plugged into the port on my Family Hub refrigerator. I have posted some screen shots of the app in various views.
I control a variety of switches and lights using SmartThings. Some of them are bridged through other apps like Tuya, but all 13 devices connected directly through this Hub went offline at the same time, and after giving it time to self-repair, all 13 remained offline. On the app, as you can see from the first image, the kitchen view shows correctly that the 13 devices are offline. The second image shows all the devices connected via the dongle which shows the dongle still believes it is connected to all 13 devices. I have unplugged the dongle to see if it would reset, and that did not change the situation.
All other devices excluding these 13 still work properly and respond to the routines they are connected to.
I began the process of re-registering the devices using the âadd deviceâ feature, and the Juno lights were reconnected using that method. Each light required a software update, which took about 5 minutes each to complete. Other than the software update, process of recognizing these lights and connecting them was accomplished after several attempts. It was nowhere near as smooth of a process as when I first installed them months ago. None of the remaining devices (a Sonoff switch and some Matter switches) could be detected using the âadd deviceâ process, even the devices that had QR codes.
I deleted the old Juno light devices on the app still showing as offline because re-registering created new devices. I can control the lights again now from the app, but when I program them in a routine, they do not respond to the routine.
If I replace this hub, what alternative devices should I consider that will allow me to connect these 13 devices (and future devices)?
Did you try rebooting the Family Hub before you started deleting and re-adding everything? You can do that from the Settings.
Are the offline devices Zigbee, Matter over Thread, or Matter over Wi-Fi? I experienced some issues with Thread devices after the upgrade of the ST hub to version 54.13.
I am going to guess I am connecting Matter devices over wi-fi because I donât know what Thread is. I did lose connection to the Matter devices once before. So 4 are Matter and 5 are Zigbee.
UPDATE: I just noticed that the Juno lights I reconnected no longer appear in the list of devices connected via the SmartThings dongle. In other words, when I re-registered them, they found a different way to connect to SmartThings. Also, one of the 4 Gledopto light controllers found its way to get back online on its own. Of all the 13 devices that were connected through this hub, this one item alone has reconnected.
They wonât connect via Bluetooth to a hub. Iâd check the Personal Devices section of the ST app. If they are there, they are connected directly to your phone. From the spec sheet of one Juno light it says:
âConnect the Smart Adjustable Wafer directly to any Apple or Android phone using Bluetooth or Zigbee. Commission through the SmartThings app or Alexa and Google voice assistant apps.â
So, sounds like you may have connected it via Bluetooth to your phone rather that Zigbee to your hub. Also, look at the notice at the bottom of the page when adding a Juno device:
That explains a lot, because my user experience compared to before is execrable.
It is apparent my hub is not functioning. I am going to remove it when I get home tonight and see if that doesnât reset it. If that doesnât work, what are my best options for a replacement?
I disagree that your hub is not working. You show devices connected to it. My suggestion would be to completely reboot your Family Hub by either doing a software restart from the Settings or a hardware restart by power cycling it. From there, I would factory reset the devices that connected via Bluetooth and try adding them again by using Add Devices->Partner Devices->Juno. Donât do a Scan Nearby.
Also, you can check the status of your hub and verify that Zigbee is available and working using the ST Advanced Web App. Here is an excerpt from my Family Hub:
UPDATE: After restarting everything and still not getting anywhere, I removed the dongle from SmartThings and reintroduced it. I tried to add it from my phone, and that ended in frustration, because the device I am using isnât even listed among Samsungâs SmartThings Hub choices (!) The tiny QR code on the device did nothing to help, either. I went to the screen on my refrigerator and immediately found a smooth path to adding it back, and the Juno lights connected in no time. Curiously, they are now listed without any numbers to differentiate them. But I was able to add most of the other devices I had lost before I went to bed, and they all performed as before in the routines I assigned them to. I will get to the other devices this evening. Thanks everyone for helping me understand a little more about how this all worksâŚ
