X10 Community Forum
🛡Home Security => Problems and Troubleshooting => Topic started by: aba on December 01, 2009, 02:58:55 AM
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Guys,
Hoping you can help.
I have read alot on these forums with regard to upgrading antenna's on the likes of the CM15 etc, some posts are quite simple, some go into alot of detail about types of antenna, length, size, etc, etc and start to get a little confusing!! :'
I have an issue, I'm hoping you can give me a steer on :)
I have a SC2800 (not sure of the US equivelant but link here http://www.marmitek.com/en/catalogus/product.php?product=235 )
It is currently placed under the stairs at floor level. Far from ideal and have tried placing it in the bedroom on a side table but my 20mth son seems adamant he's going to button mash, so I've had to put it out of site.
I seem to get varying flashing lights on the controller for different sensors (window/door/motion) at varying times. My conclusion is that the unit is poorly placed as it isn't one sensor thats causing a problem.
The antenna on the SC2800 seems to be a 6 inche long, 1mm piece of wire. Can this be upgraded? Can I wrap it around a long FM Radio type antenna to increase range? I don't know what to try and am concerned I'll cause more problems than solutions.....after all there must be a reason why they have built the unit with such a small antenna ????? Any recommendations??
Apologies in advance for the long post.
Thanks
Stace :)
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..... I seem to get varying flashing lights on the controller for different sensors (window/door/motion) at varying times. My conclusion is that the unit is poorly placed as it isn't one sensor thats causing a problem.
The "varying flashing lights" would seem to me... to be normal.. As doors open and close or motion sensors sense movement the lights should blink. Is the alarm working? Is it only seeing the lights blink that concerns you?
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Hi Dave,
Do you live on this forum ;D , Thanks for responding.
The alarm seems to be working fine but every now and again the unit fails to see a sensor and subsequently blinks alerting you that it has lost contact. Its not always the same sensor and if you leave it for a few hours it seems to make contact again and the light goes out.
Thats why I'm thinking its a range issue.
Stace
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I looked at the SC2800 Manual from your link. Some of its features make ours look anemic.
Yes it does sound like you have a intermittent reception of varied sensors reporting in.
You could try wrapping a few turns of light wire around the antenna and having it extend above the original maybe another 6".
Are the sensors mounted on metal or are there many walls between the sensors and the console?
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Do you live on this forum
No... I have a small apartment above the forum.
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What are the downsides of trying to extend the antenna or should you be careful in what you use?
I was thinking of taking the sheath of of the unit antenna (simply pulling it off), wrapping the wire and taping around something like this...
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=868
or maybe
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=217745
Worth a try or not ? Its under the stairs so I don't care how it looks.
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You may want to try just wrapping some wire around the plastic sheath. It will be capacitive coupled to the wire inside it. If it helps then you can think about more radical measures.
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Brian,
I'll give that a go tonight. What diameter wire should I use?
Thanks
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Thin wire like maybe #22 or #24 as it is easy to use.
Heavier is fine; but maybe harder to warp around the plastic tube.
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Thanks Brian,
Apols for the lame question but its OK in its sheath or shall I strip it?. B:(
Incidently, Brian/Dave, I've hit the helpful buttons, Thanks >!
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Stealing this thread for a second, so will help answer the sheath question. If the sheath is standard plastic insulation, you can leave it on the wire. (over here "sheath" might imply a metal shield like you would find on coaxial cable...that would need to removed.
X10 in Europe offers better, more updated products than we see in the US. I wish we had a security system as nice looking as the SC2800. Plus since your RF sensors all have antennas, the system probably has better range than our DS7000.
Do you know what frequency the remote sensors transmit on?
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I assumed 433mhz but not entirely sure.
Is there anywhere I can upload a PDF, I have quite a detailed one on X10 and its components??
edit: I found it online if its of any use... http://www.x10sive.co.za/x10new.pdf
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Thank you for the link. Looks good.
The specifications sheet link in the original post shows 433.92 MHz.
Your goodies look so nice. Our sensors don't have nice external transmitting antennas.
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i have a question about Marmitek SC2800
when someone push the panic button,how can i set it of
i now only know to remove the power.
maby someone know the normal way to set off??
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Have you tried the Disarm Button on your Security Remote or entering your four digit PIN Number?
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In Europe, everything uses 433.92 MHz and at power levels an order of magnitude higher than that allowed in the USA & Canada so I'm dubious that you have antenna issues. Wrapping some small diameter wire around the existing antenna without any permanent changes should tell you whether that's the case.
We do not see many poor RF range complaints from Europe because of the much higher power allowed but there may well be interference issues since everything (ceiling fans, garage doors, lights, etc.) use the same frequency.