X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => User Modified Devices => Topic started by: lahma on March 18, 2011, 03:49:59 AM

Title: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: lahma on March 18, 2011, 03:49:59 AM

I just finished this antenna mod for one of my x10 cameras. It works awesome and all the parts can be bought at radio shack. Its late so I will post the details tomorrow if anyone is interested. The pictures are in my picasa album at https://picasaweb.google.com/lahma69/X10WirelessCameraCantennaMod?feat=directlink . Let me know what y'all think!

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: Brian H on March 18, 2011, 06:14:46 AM

A cantenna.
I have not see one of those it awhile.

This is on the camera so it beams all the RF signal directly to the receivers position.

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: dave w on March 18, 2011, 09:43:41 AM

Awesome! These things are so directional you will have to use a laser pointer to aim it.  rofl

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: lahma on March 18, 2011, 01:21:03 PM

Yes, but I can reach a LONG way :)

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: dave w on March 18, 2011, 08:32:48 PM

Well boomer,  look at all the complaints about range on the camera forum. You start making these in your garage with "Instructions For Dummies" and you could probably quit your day job.

Is your active stub a wavelength?
Is that coax 188? From Radio Shark??

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: HA Dave on March 18, 2011, 08:58:29 PM

I like it! So what kind of range are we talking about here?

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: lahma on April 10, 2011, 01:43:09 AM

Sorry guys,i didnt know I had any replies! I actually haven't tested the range, but I'm sure 300ft would be absolutely no problem... actually that is probably being very conservative, I'm sure it would go much further. The only thing I can't seem to eliminate is a tiny amount of noise that cameras very close to the unit dont have. The length of the pin sticking into the can corresponds to the diameter of the can opening and how far from the bottom of the can to the hole you drill (to screw on panel mount connector) corresponds to the frequency of your device (channel "A" on x10 camera is 2.413ghz I believe). I used a uhf chassis mount connector (radio shack part number SO-239).

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: pomonabill221 on April 26, 2011, 09:22:12 PM

Do you know what the beam width is on this antenna?
I gather that you us it stationary (if on a pan and tilt).

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: orcusomega on May 12, 2011, 02:09:42 PM

Any pics of the internal mods?  I have a pile of different 2.4 antennas from work, and it would be interesting to see what sort of abuse could be applied here :)

Bob

Title: Re: X10 wireless camera cantenna antenna mod
Post by: Brian H on May 12, 2011, 03:22:40 PM

Using our search function should find a few threads on antenna mods for wireless cameras.
One is.
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=3bs4ok718nq04n9ab1r0jntgk6&PHPSESSID=u1fkidnk0377l4mc60fc78irj1&topic=21060.0