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[pseeker]

I modified my SC1200 console's antenna and took the time to photograph the inside.  Hopefully these pics  will be useful for someone else.  I certainly was not the first person to do this and the links below have some good discussions on the subject matter.  It is worth the time to review them.  In my particular case, I added the extra wire to extend the internal white antenna wire to 39 inches.   Also I added a additional ground connection wire in order to bring it out externally as suggested by one of the discussions to act as a "dipole"    Prior to the mod  one or two DS10A started dropping out once a week.   After the mod it has been stable.  I originally installed my door sensors with the SC1200 positioned horizontally,  so I had to run  some of antenna wire length horizontally in order to reach the door sensors.   The mod did boost the range, but not as much as I would have liked so the last remaining four ds10a I was hoping to install will remain unused for a little while longer.     The key to opening the case is to use good prying case tool that you see in the picture, taking your time lifting slowly and moving around the case. The plastic tabs will snap apart (circled in red in the pics).  It took me about 5 to 10 minutes to complete.  Don't forget to  remove the 5 screws from bottom of case first before prying!

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=22818.15
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=25370.0
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=25721.0
http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=22831.0




Search ebay with terms "ipod case tool"

The RED circles are tabs to watchout for

[Brian H]

Great writeup. 
Helpful from me.

[JMac]

One question:  Are the two wires (antenna+ground) soldered together at the end?  Pretty sure they would be, but that's not in the final picture......thanks for the great pictures and write-up.

[pseeker]

The two ends are not soldered together. The ground wire points down and the antenna wire points up.   In my particular case I had my external antenna in "L" shape with 1/3 the length running horizontally and then 2/3 vertically. Some of my sensors are out range with a vertically only direction. I'll see if I can take picture of the final setup.  I have the sc1200 console sitting on narrow width bookcase near the upper shelf... and the antenna and ground wires taped on the back of book case.   With the external mod, I might be able to mount the console on the wall where it was meant to be in the first place.

[Tuicemen]

A helpful from me as well.
Pictures always help, and they are great!
 

[HA Dave]

+1 from me. This thread reminds me of the old days.... mods with pictures. Thank You for sharing pseeker!

[sazzam]

Thanks pseeker for the pics. How much will this extend the SC1200 range? Will this possibly end the "problem zone" nightmare.

[pseeker]

sazzam, unfortunately your mileage will vary but one of the links on first post had a user taking measurements.  So if your problem zones are caused by range issues, then it might help.  I would try the passive antenna approach before opening your case. 

Just realize that every home is different and I suspect that 2x4 steel studs in my inner walls are reducing signal levels plus a fudge factor on how sensors are positioned (for example, pulling white antenna wire out the case was not enough of a mod for my setup)

[JGM]

It has been awhile since I've been on the forum when integrating a DS7000 based system.  I've recently purchased a SC1200 (SC12A) package and am also finding symptoms of RF issues.  I did the antenna modifications on the CM15A a couple of years ago and looks like I get to experience the effort again on the SC1200.  Thanks for the info.  Greg Miller

[javiert30]

Before I tried this modification, I had all kind of intermittent problems with my DS12As, due to the short RF range of the SC1200. Once I did this modification my SC1200 have been working very stable with no false DS12As states. My farther DS12A from the SC1200 is aprox 50ft. Before, the farther DS12A that the SC1200 was picking up was almost 20ft, no more than that. I never tested one more than 50ft but I will post the results once I do it. This mod works.  

Before I had the antenna wire vertically up right and the ground wire vertically straight down some DS12A wont be picked, but when I repositioned the antenna, worked a lot better putting the antenna wire horizontally to the left and the ground wire vertically looking up straight. I think L shape make the difference. Big difference.

[bt4267]

Thanks a bunch pseeker. You helped me out a lot
 

[javiert30]

In my case I added one piece of coaxial cable (the center core) like 5 inches in each antenna cable at the end and it increased the signal even more.

[dhouston]

Perhaps I'm being ultraconservative but, given that X10 did not design the SC1200 with an external antenna (as with the CM15A which uses the same RF receiver module) and has not published a schematic, I think it prudent to galvanically isolate any add-on external antenna. I've designed a small module with a bulkhead BNC connector that can be used for antenna isolation with the TM751 and RR501 which can also be used with any device where the isolation particulars are unclear like this case. These will be available shortly from a distributor I'm working with.

I have no need of a security system so do not want to spend the money to get an SC1200 just for testing and photos. I'm not profitting from this and the dealer will do little more than cover costs. Besides, my increasing disability from my deteriorating spinal cord limits the amount of testing I can do myself. I've put up a preliminary webpage but it has no SC1200 specific photos.

• http://davehouston.org/ImproveSC1200.htm

The BNC connector allows for use with standard telescoping antennas with a BNC base or with even more efficient antennas.

• http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/TENMA-72-6601-/72-6601
• http://davehouston.org/eggbeater.pdf

[ronski1]

New to this forum, am an electrician, not an electronics guy,...enough groans... My question to you guys is does it matter how long the length of wire that is added is?  Would the "longer the better" statement work here?

[dave w]

My question to you guys is does it matter how long the length of wire that is added is?  Would the "longer the better" statement work here?

No, probably not. For giggles Google "Antenna wavelength", "frequency wavelength", etc.  The SC1200 receives and remote security sensors transmits on 310mHz. 1/4 wave length would be approximately 9.5",  1/2 wave 19", and so on to one wavelength of app 38". Receiver antenna length isn't as critical as transmit antenna length. But I would experiment with an 18" antenna hanging out the bottom of the SC1200 first and then maybe extend to 38" for comparison.