X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: DrRockin on December 01, 2006, 01:17:40 AM

Title: Range Problem, What would happen if I did this.....
Post by: DrRockin on December 01, 2006, 01:17:40 AM

Hi there I seem to be having a problem with different modules being just out of range. 
I am just starting my home automation system.  I have variouos modules set up through out the house but they all depend on the single RR501 that i have. 
It seems to me that the  signal range of the  501 is very short.  At first I thougth that maybe it was a pahse thing, so I plugged the 501 into a long extention cord and moved it upstairs, I tried to turn things on and off,  Now what I have found out is that the RR501 range was very short.   

Today the range got even shorter as my daughter accidently broke the antenna in half.   

So What I as wondering is would it make any difference if I used a bigger antenna?  I have this wire antenna thats suppoesed to go into the back of my stereo that I'm not using would that work at all?
Would it make any difference if i used a 1 foot antenna or if i used a 5 foot antenna? 
Eventually I'm going to have to break down and get more 501's but right now thats niot in the budget. 

Title: Re: Range Problem, What would happen if I did this.....
Post by: JimC on December 01, 2006, 06:57:52 AM

If you do an (not new, but VASTLY superior) Advanced Search (http://www.x10community.com/forums/index.php?topic=8821.msg63208#msg63208) of these forums you will find many discussions on this topic. You will find posts that will instruct you on how best to modify the antenna. You will also find posts that will direct you to a much better whole house transceiver. You may also want to check out Tuicemens  and TakeTheActives  posts to newbies. You will find them loaded with information.  :)

Good luck

Jim


[TTA Edit: Replaced the word "search" with "Advanced Search". ;) ]

Title: Re: Range Problem, What would happen if I did this.....
Post by: Brian H on December 01, 2006, 07:01:28 AM

If you connect an external antenna to the RR501. Only connect it to the brass coupling plate on the bottom of the original antenna. Do NOT connect directly to the modules internal antenna in put or use the common ground in the module. It uses a Powerline derived power supply and the HOT LINE is the common of the board. Touch this while on and you get a shock or a spark if it touches ground.
You say it got worse when you used the extension cord. Is the range problem from the remotes to the RR501 or how many modules it can access? A long extension cord could absorber some of the powerline signals and make some modules not get a powerline signal. Accessing some modules can be a powerline signal problem.

Title: Re: Range Problem, What would happen if I did this.....
Post by: DrRockin on December 01, 2006, 07:08:43 PM

Hay There. It seems that no matter what I try, Whether it be different plugs or the smae plug,  the rang on the 501 is about one room distance.  Itr doersnt m,atter if its the WS12A the ss15a the motion sensors or the lm465,
Thwy all only work about one room away from the 501.

Title: Re: Range Problem, What would happen if I did this.....
Post by: dave w on December 04, 2006, 01:31:13 PM

"If it Aint broke, It Aint overclocked enough"

Doc Rockin...I  laughed so hard I wet my pants and am now looking for a hair dryer to dry them out.  ;)
I'll still be giggling tomorrow.

Thanks!