Introduction

The SONOFF ZBDongle-P and ZBDongle-E are USB Zigbee gateways designed to bring Zigbee devices into your smart home ecosystem. Whether you’re using Home Assistant, iHost, or Homebridge, these dongles allow seamless integration of SONOFF and third-party Zigbee devices.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up your ZBDongle with Home Assistant using the ZHA integration, add Zigbee devices, and manage your Zigbee mesh network efficiently.

What You´ll need?

• 1x SONOFF ZBDongle-P or ZBDongle-E

• Home Assistant installed (iHost, Home Assistant Green, Raspberry Pi, etc.)

• USB port available for the dongle

• Zigbee devices (e.g., SONOFF smart plug, door sensor)

How to install?

1. Insert the ZBDongle into a USB Port

Start by plugging your SONOFF ZBDongle into the USB port of your Home Assistant device. In this guide, we’re using an iHost, but the steps are the same for other setups like Home Assistant Green or a Raspberry Pi.

2. Detect the Dongle

Once the dongle is connected and the system is powered on:

• Go to Settings > Devices & Services

• A new integration called ZHA should automatically appear.

📝 Note: If it doesn’t appear, click on “Add Integration” and manually search for ZHA.

3. Start the Setup

Click the ZHA integration, then:

• Choose “Create Network”
  
  
  

• Wait a few seconds for Home Assistant to finalize the installation
  
  

• You’re now ready to start adding Zigbee devices to your network
  
  

Add Zigbee Devices

With the ZBDongle installed and ZHA running, it’s time to add some Zigbee devices.

In this example, we’ll add:

• 1x SONOFF Zigbee Smart Plug (acts as a repeater)

• 1x SONOFF SNZB-04P Door Sensor (end device)

1. Enter Pairing Mode

Go to Settings > Devices & Services > ZHA Integration > Add Device. Home Assistant is now listening for devices in pairing mode.

2. Pair Each Device

• Smart Plug: Press and hold the button for ~5 seconds until it enters pairing mode. It should appear in Home Assistant in a few seconds.
  
  

• Door Sensor: Repeat the same process (usually by holding the reset/pair button).
  
  

You can rename devices, assign them to a room, and start using them right away.

📘 To learn more about Zigbee device roles and behavior, check out the Smart Home Protocols module at SONOFF Academy.

Control and Check Device Status

Once added, there are two ways to monitor and control Zigbee devices:

1. From the Devices Tab

• Go to Settings > Devices & Services > Devices

• Use the filter to view only ZHA devices
  
  
  

2. From the ZHA Integration Page

• Open Settings > Devices & Services > ZHA

• View all devices paired through the ZBDongle
  
  

• Click any device to check its status, rename it, or control it (e.g., turn a smart plug ON/OFF)
  
  

Zigbee Network Management

The ZBDongle becomes the coordinator of your Zigbee network, managing connections and communication between all devices in a mesh structure.

Features Available in ZHA Integration

• Change Zigbee Channel
  Some Zigbee channels may interfere with Wi-Fi. For optimal performance, choose a non-overlapping channel. You can change this in the coordinator settings.
  
  
  
  Select the "Network" tab to see and change the zigbee channel if you want.
  
  
  
  

• View Zigbee Network Map
  Click the three-dot menu (⋮) on the ZHA page and select "View Network".
  You'll see a visual representation of your network, showing:

  • The coordinator

  • Routers (e.g., smart plugs that repeat signal)

  • End devices (e.g., door sensors)

  • LQI (Link Quality Indicator) for each connection — the higher the LQI, the stronger the signal.
    
    
    
    
    Here, we can see the Zigbee network and the connections between the different devices.
    
    

📚 For more insights into Zigbee architecture and mesh behavior, check out the Smart Home Protocols module at SONOFF Academy.

Conclusion

The SONOFF ZBDongle-P and ZBDongle-E are powerful tools to build a flexible, scalable, and stable Zigbee network in Home Assistant. With the ZHA integration, you can easily:

• Add and control Zigbee devices

• Monitor signal strength and optimize placement

• View and manage your network structure

• Avoid interference with custom channel selection

Whether you’re just starting out or expanding an existing setup, this dongle makes it easy to bring SONOFF and third-party Zigbee devices into your smart home ecosystem.