X10 Community Forum
🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => User Modified Devices => Topic started by: x10dude on March 16, 2009, 08:01:34 PM
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Alright, I know most everyone here thinks that the DS7000 has the best reach of any device from X10. Unfortunately, for me, that wasn't enough because of the size of my house.
In the process of installing my system, I accidentally broke the antenna on my DS7000, which led me to this modification.
NOTE: the mod itself is very simple, non-intrusive, but I can't tell you whether it will void your warranty or not. It all depends on X10's policies, so be warned.
Short of buying another DS7000 (which I did for backup purposes anyway), I had no choice but to look for a new antenna that would fit the small antenna mount on the DS7000. I went to my local Fry's Electronics store and measured a bunch of TV antennas and ended up getting the GE "color TV antenna model TV24706," which cost around 20 dollars (much cheaper on-line, BTW)
Attached, is a picture of what the GE antenna looked like (GE_antenna.jpg)
From there, I simply unscrewed what was left of the DS7000 antenna, removed one of the "rabbit ear" antennas from the GE antenna and used the same DS7000 screw to carefully mount the GE antenna onto the DS7000.
Attached, is a picture of what the DS7000 mod looks like. I put my backup DS7000 next to it to show the difference in antenna size (ds7000_mod_small.jpg).
With this mod, I can now reach all the sensors that I wasn't able to reach before (even my garage windows). Also, note that my DS7000 is in a closet, so the signal has to travel through multiple walls. Again, my house is larger so this mod may not be applicable to your situation. To me, this mod made the DS7000 that much more useful!
If you decide to do this mod, you may want to consider saving the DS7000's old antenna just in case..
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>! Gave you a "Helpful" for the post..........
#:) and Thanks for Sharing !!!
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Do you get HD on that thing?
Just some RF background for you all: When attaching antennas, biggest is not always the best, it's the ratio of the antenna height to the wavelength of the signal. You want to go either 1/4, 1/2, or 1 size to wavelength. Otherwise you might be doing yourself some disservice by not getting what you put in. So an incorrectly sized 3893838 meter antenna might act as a 2 meter antenna, just an FYI.
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It 310 MHz. If anyone wants to do the math.
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Length calcs for 310mhz:
1/4 wave: 9 - 1/16in.
1/2 wave: 1ft. 6 - 1/8in.
7/8 wave: 2ft. 7 - 23/32in.
Full wave: 3ft. 0 - 1/4in.
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OK...
So, with regard to wavelength, why is the antenna on the DS7000 11-7/8" ?
I did purchase an X10 Pro Phase coupler / repeater / amplifier and wired it into my electrical
service panel. Now I can put any device anywhere in my house from end to end and top to
bottom. Best X10 investment I've made! I bought in on eBay from a great X10 vendor for
less than $11.00!! Installation took me less than 5 minutes total! It is listed as an: XPCR.
Note:(since this device requires installation inside an electrical service panel, please do NOT
attempt installation if you are unsure or unskilled. Have this performed by a qualified person).
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OK...
So, with regard to wavelength, why is the antenna on the DS7000 11-7/8" ?
Since they are extendable antennas, I doubt X10 specificed some vendor go out and make 9 1/16 in antennas. They are probably "off the shelf" units.
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My point exactly...How critical is the antenna on the DS7000 since obviously it's not a 1/4 or 1/2 wave?
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