📡 ESP32-C6 Zigbee Router

Extend Your Zigbee Network Coverage with an Affordable ESP32-C6!

This ESPHome configuration turns an ESP32-C6 board into a Zigbee router that seamlessly integrates with your Zigbee network to expand coverage and improve connectivity for your Zigbee devices.

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📋 Prerequisites

Requirement	Description
🔧 Hardware	ESP32-C6 board (tested with Seeed Studio XIAO ESP32C6)
🌐 Network	Zigbee Coordinator in your network (e.g., Home Assistant with Zigbee2MQTT or ZHA)
💻 Software	ESPHome installed
🔌 Cable	USB cable for initial flashing
📦 Optional	3D-printed case - XIAO ESP32-C6 Case

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🔑 Required Information

📡 Zigbee Router - How does it work?

A Zigbee router is a mains-powered device that:

• ✅ Relays Zigbee signals between devices (mesh network)
• ✅ Extends the range of your Zigbee network
• ✅ Improves stability and reliability
• ✅ Connects battery-powered devices (End Devices) to the Coordinator

🚀 Installation

📝 Step 1: Configure Settings (Optional)

The default configuration works right away! You can optionally customize:

esp32-c6-zigbee-router.yaml:

substitutions:
  device_name: esp32-c6-zigbee-router  # Unique name
  friendly_name: ESP32-C6 Zigbee Router  # Display name

Enable WiFi (optional):

# Uncomment lines in the YAML file:
wifi:
  ssid: !secret wifi_ssid
  password: !secret wifi_password

api:
  encryption:
    key: !secret api_encryption_key

ota:
  - platform: esphome

⚡ Step 2: Compile and Flash Firmware

Connect your ESP32-C6 via USB and flash the firmware using local ESPHome:

esphome run esp32-c6-zigbee-router.yaml --device=/dev/ttyACM0

💡 Note: Replace /dev/ttyACM0 with your device path (see troubleshooting below)

📚 Important Notes & Troubleshooting

📍 Device Paths by OS

OS	Typical Paths
🐧 Linux	/dev/ttyUSB0, /dev/ttyACM0, /dev/ttyUSB1
🍎 macOS	/dev/cu.usbserial-*, /dev/cu.wchusbserial*
🪟 Windows	COM3, COM4, etc.

Check available ports:

• Linux/macOS: ls /dev/tty*
• Windows: Device Manager

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🔐 USB Permission Issues

Standard Linux - Add user to dialout group:

sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER
# Then log out and back in

Fedora Atomic/Bazzite with rootless Docker/Podman:

The dialout group doesn't work reliably on immutable systems. You need to fix permissions before each flash:

# Check permissions
ls -la /dev/ttyACM0
# Output: crw-rw----. 1 root dialout 166, 0 ...

# Fix temporarily (resets on USB reconnect)
sudo chmod 666 /dev/ttyACM0

# If using Docker/Podman, restart the container
docker-compose restart

⚠️ Note: You need to run sudo chmod 666 each time you reconnect the USB device.

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🐳 Alternative: Using Docker/Podman

⚠️ Important: When using Docker/Podman (rootless), you need to fix USB permissions before flashing.

# 1. Start container
docker-compose up -d

# 2. Flash the firmware
docker-compose exec esphome esphome run /config/zigbee/esp32-c6-zigbee-router.yaml --device=/dev/ttyACM0

📌 Note: The docker-compose.yml mounts the parent config/ directory to /config in the container. That's why you need /config/zigbee/ in the path above. This is necessary so ESPHome can find the build files in .esphome/.

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🌐 Alternative: Web Dashboard (GUI)

Choose between local or hosted dashboard:

Docker Dashboard:

# Start container if not already running
docker-compose up -d

# Start the dashboard
docker-compose exec esphome esphome dashboard /config

Then open http://localhost:6052 in your browser and navigate to the zigbee folder.

Local Dashboard (requires local ESPHome):

esphome dashboard .

Then open http://localhost:6052 in your browser and use the web interface.

Hosted Dashboard (no installation needed):

🎉 No installation needed! Flash directly from your browser.

1. Visit https://web.esphome.io/
2. Click "Connect" and select your ESP32-C6 device
3. Upload your esp32-c6-zigbee-router.yaml configuration file
4. Click "Install" to compile and flash

Perfect for: Users who prefer GUI over command line, or quick flashing without local ESPHome installation.

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🔗 Step 3: Connect Router to Coordinator

After flashing is complete, enable pairing mode on your Zigbee Coordinator:

Zigbee2MQTT:

1. Open the Zigbee2MQTT Web UI
2. Click "Permit join (All)" button (top right)
3. Pairing mode stays active for 4-5 minutes
4. The ESP32-C6 will automatically appear in the device list

ZHA (Home Assistant):

1. Go to Settings → Devices & Services → ZHA
2. Click "Add Device"
3. Select "Add Zigbee device"
4. The ESP32-C6 will be discovered and added

⏱️ Note: The device will search for and join the network automatically within 30-60 seconds after boot. Keep pairing mode active until the device appears!

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✅ Verification & Testing

🔍 Check if Zigbee Router is working:

📋 Method 1: View Logs

Logging Options:

🔌 Option A: Serial Connection (USB)

• Always available - Connect via USB cable

📡 Option B: Over WiFi (OTA)

• Only works when WiFi is enabled

esphome logs esp32-c6-zigbee-router.yaml

You should see:

• No continuous error messages
• [zigbee:xxx] Device Type: Router
• Successful connection to Zigbee network

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🌐 Method 2: Check Zigbee Network

Zigbee2MQTT:

• Open the Zigbee2MQTT Web UI
• Go to "Map"
• The ESP32-C6 should be visible as a router
• Check the Link Quality to other devices

ZHA (Home Assistant):

• Go to Settings → Devices & Services → ZHA
• Click "Visualize"
• The ESP32-C6 should be displayed as a router

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🏠 Method 3: Home Assistant Integration (only with WiFi)

• Go to Settings → Devices & Services
• The ESP32-C6 should appear as a discovered device
• Add it to Home Assistant (use esp32-c6-zigbee-router.local or IP address)
• Check device status - should show "Online"

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🔄 Multiple Zigbee Routers

To flash multiple ESP32-C6 devices and use them as separate routers in the same Zigbee network:

1. Create Device-Specific Configuration Files

For each additional device, create a new YAML file (e.g., esp32-c6-zigbee-router-2.yaml):

2. Flash Additional Devices

Each device will join the same Zigbee network and act as an independent router, extending your mesh coverage.

esphome run esp32-c6-zigbee-router-2.yaml --device=/dev/ttyACM0

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📂 File Structure

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├── esp32-c6-zigbee-router.yaml     # Main ESPHome configuration
├── esp32-c6-zigbee-router-2.yaml   # Optional: Second router
├── esp32-c6-zigbee-router-3.yaml   # Optional: Third router
├── partitions_zb.csv               # Custom Partition Table for Zigbee
├── secrets.yaml                    # Shared credentials (not in git)
├── .gitignore                      # Excludes secrets and build artifacts
├── docker-compose.yml              # Docker/Podman setup for ESPHome
└── README.md                       # This file

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📚 Further Resources

Resource	Description
📖 ESPHome Zigbee Component	External Zigbee component for ESPHome
🔗 Zigbee Alliance	Learn the basics of Zigbee networking
🏠 Home Assistant Zigbee Integration	How Zigbee works in Home Assistant
📡 Zigbee2MQTT	Alternative Zigbee bridge

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