Sonoff Zigbee 3.0 USB Dongle Plus firmware update - 20250403

Introduction

I recently updated the firmware on my Sonoff Zigbee USB Dongle Plus device. It wasn't the easiest process but the results were a big improvement in range and reliability from the firmware version that came on the device.

I watched a YouTube video showing the procedure using a Windows PC with Python. So I migrated the information and procedure over to Debian Linux.

Coordinator

The coordinator is a critical component of a Zigbee network, responsible for initiating and managing the network. There is only one coordinator per network, and it assigns unique addresses to each device, maintains routing tables, and controls overall network operation.

Router

Routers are Zigbee devices that can relay data between other devices in the network. They have the ability to extend the range of the network by acting as intermediaries between devices that are not within direct communication range of each other. 

Links

Bootloader

https://github.com/JelmerT/cc2538-bsl

Z Stack Firmware - coordinator & router

https://github.com/Koenkk/Z-Stack-firmware/releases

Install required software

sudo nala install -y python3
sudo nala install -y python3-pip

Fix some parameters

sudo rm -rf /usr/lib/python3.11/EXTERNALLY-MANAGED
echo export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH" >> ~/.config/zsh/.zprofile

Install required Python plugins

pip3 install intelhex
pip3 install pyserial
pip3 install python-magic
pip3 install wheel
pip3 install zigpy-znp

Check device and add user to correct group

ls -aFl /dev/ttyUSB0
sudo usermod -a -G dialout $USER

Download and unpack the Bootloader software

curl -LSso master.zip https://github.com/JelmerT/cc2538-bsl/archive/refs/heads/master.zip

unzip master.zip

mv cc2538-bsl-master bootloader

rm master.zip

Download and unpack the coordinator software

curl https://github.com/Koenkk/Z-Stack-firmware/releases/download/Z-Stack_3.x.0_coordinator_20250321/CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_coordinator_20250321.zip

unzip CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_coordinator_20250321.zip

mv *.hex bootloader

rm CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_coordinator_20250321.zip

Stop mosquitto and zigbee2mqtt containers (if running)

docker stop mosquitto
docker stop zigbee2mqtt

Change permissions on ttyUSB0 (resets on reboot)

sudo chmod 777 /dev/ttyUSB0
sudo chown $USER:$USER /dev/ttyUSB0

Make a backup of existing firmware

python3 -m zigpy_znp.tools.nvram_read /dev/ttyUSB0 -o nvram_backup.json

Compress and copy backup file to laptop

cd bootloader

python3 -m zigpy_znp.tools.nvram_read /dev/ttyUSB0 -o nvram_backup.json && tar -czvf backup.tar.gz nvram_backup.json

scp backup.tar.gz user@computer:~

Install new firmware

python3 cc2538-bsl.py -p /dev/ttyUSB0 -e -v -w --bootloader-sonoff-usb CC1352P2_CC2652P_launchpad_coordinator_20250321.hex