X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Topic started by: wyx2000 on August 16, 2011, 07:49:18 PM

Title: What do I expect the range on the RF signal?
Post by: wyx2000 on August 16, 2011, 07:49:18 PM
I just tried a nano controller, it doesn't work even there is a desktop between it and the CM15A, when I saw RF, I expected a distance that much far than IR, and expected it penetrate floor etc. Did I expect wrong? or the nano has flaw? And what do I expect on the RF distance of the EagleEye motion sensor?
Title: Re: What do I expect the range on the RF signal?
Post by: dave w on August 16, 2011, 08:01:08 PM
Motion sensor to transceiver (CM15A, TM751, etc) is about 15 to 20 feet indoors and maybe 40 to 50 feet line of sight outdoors...on a good day. Antenna modes on the motion sensor and the CM15A can dramaticly improve this. Search this forum for "antenna", "passive repeater", "antenna mod", etc.
Title: Re: What do I expect the range on the RF signal?
Post by: wyx2000 on August 16, 2011, 08:14:27 PM
What about the nano control and the Slimline Wireless Wall Switch? are they designed for clear line of sight use?
Title: Re: What do I expect the range on the RF signal?
Post by: dave w on August 16, 2011, 08:55:51 PM
What about the nano control and the Slimline Wireless Wall Switch? are they designed for clear line of sight use?
I have slimlines that transmit 20 - 30 feet indoors (no antenna mod) . I don't know what typical range of the key fob remote is.
Title: Re: What do I expect the range on the RF signal?
Post by: HA Dave on August 16, 2011, 09:12:02 PM
I really dragged my feet... before I switched to the CM15A (some 5 or 6 years ago). But since people discovered that modifying the antenna (s) could increase range... they work great. Not everyone has the space... or need... that requires a greater range for their X10 RF. But if you do need better RF reception by your CM15A.. there are plenty of different antenna mods that might help.

These two posts have details and pictures:

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=16184.msg89091#msg89091

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=16184.msg89094#msg89094

Title: Re: What do I expect the range on the RF signal?
Post by: wyx2000 on August 16, 2011, 09:50:54 PM
I really dragged my feet... before I switched to the CM15A (some 5 or 6 years ago). But since people discovered that modifying the antenna (s) could increase range... they work great. Not everyone has the space... or need... that requires a greater range for their X10 RF. But if you do need better RF reception by your CM15A.. there are plenty of different antenna mods that might help.

These two posts have details and pictures:

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=16184.msg89091#msg89091

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=16184.msg89094#msg89094



Thanks, I may do the mod later. For now I am just trying to get some ideas what do I expect.
Title: Re: What do I expect the range on the RF signal?
Post by: dhouston on August 16, 2011, 10:43:20 PM
If you are in Europe and are using European modules, you should not need to modify things. CE allows far more transmitted power from RF devices than does the FCC, so range should not be a problem if X-10 has designed the modules to take advantage of the higher power limits.