X10 Community Forum

🔌General Home Automation => Automating Your House => Troubleshooting Automation Problems => Topic started by: aslamma on August 04, 2008, 05:00:45 PM

Title: What antenna to use after F-Mod to CM15A?
Post by: aslamma on August 04, 2008, 05:00:45 PM

I have seen the posts on how to create the F connector, for example... http://www.accessha.com/howto_fconnector_page1.html

But what antenna do I attached to this?  Should it be a certain type with a certain length?  The unit is in a visible location, so the aesthetics should be considered as well.  Thanks :)

Title: Re: What antenna to use after F-Mod to CM15A?
Post by: JeffVolp on August 04, 2008, 06:37:34 PM

Dave Houston's home brew "eggbeater" works very well:  http://davehouston.net/eggbeater.htm

Jeff

Title: Re: What antenna to use after F-Mod to CM15A?
Post by: aslamma on August 04, 2008, 06:59:26 PM

Well, I am looking for something that I can purchase to minimize time and effort.  Also, that looks pretty "ugly".  I am sure it works good for placing remotely, but again I need something that will attach directly to the unit and be in plain view.

How about just a simple regular TV antenna or something?  I don't need "perfect" range, just something that will about double the current capability.  Can an off the shelf antenna from radio shack work?

Title: Re: What antenna to use after F-Mod to CM15A?
Post by: JeffVolp on August 04, 2008, 11:29:41 PM

The 310MHz X10 RF band is mid-way between the top end of the lower channels (216MHz) and the beginning of the UHF channels (470MHz).  So, a TV antenna tuned to cover those ranges won't work very well.  Neither will an FM radio antenna, which should work best over the range of 88 to 108MHz.

A simple quarter-wave vertical whip antenna adjusted to 9.1 inches would give 360 degree coverage, but you have to be careful about cable losses unless some sort of RF amplifier is included.  (Keep the cable short.)

Jeff