X10 Community Forum
🛡Home Security => Home Security General => Topic started by: mack daddy on September 21, 2005, 10:24:19 PM
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I need the motion sensor to transmit it's
signal further. I want to add an external
antenna to it. Does anybody out there know
where the antenna is on the circuit board?
Is the loop of wire above (H10444H)on the
board the antenna?? or is it the multi coil
at the end of (H10444H) on the board??
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The tramsmitter in that sensor is a single
transistor and as you can see it is in wax
to keep it semi-stable. Adding any extra
wire to that area may detune it to the point
is will not work. The milti coil looks like
an RF choke to the power and is most likely
not the antenna. The small loop coil maybe
tuning and antenna though the underside of
the PC board has a run on it the maybe the
antenna. Found a schematic of that seneor
but the RF section was not done as the
writer was trying to fix false triggers.
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Found a schematic of the older MS12A and it
maybe close. The multi winding coil is an RF
choke to the power supply. That small single
loop looks like both the antenna and tuned
coil for the transmitter. Though on the
copper side of the PC board is a run that
could act as an antenna. Any extra stuff
hung on any part of that circuit will in
most cases detune it enough to not work.
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My EagleEye only can broadcast 30'-40' RF. I.E. the mailbox (detecting the mail) must be put halfway down the driveway!!!
Postal Worker says "HAH".
If I change power from 2X AAA (3v) to 4X AAA (6v), will it work???
-Rick
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...If I change power from 2X AAA (3v) to 4X AAA (6v), will it work???...
I've yet to own any RF transmiter that I'm 100% happy with the range.
I would not up the voltage in an attempt to increase signal streangh, however. It won't help and could damage the circuit.
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I doubt it would help to go to 6 volts DC and the controller chip PIC12C508 has a maximum supply voltage of 5.5 volts. If you are daring maybe 3 cells for 4.5 volts or a few diodes in series forward biased to drop a few tenths of a volt to get down to no more than 5.5 volts.
Higher voltage of course will void the warranty and the FCC Type Acceptance, as the device must not exceed a preset power output to qualify for the class it is in. My guess is unlicensed, low power. ::)
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mack daddy
Brian H is correct, hanging more wire on the loop changes the frequency. You could try a passive have wave antenna by placing a 18 inch copper wire next to the MS12A, near the corner where the loop is positioned. I have tried this before, Palm Pads and Stick-A-Switch but with mixed results.
Making the receiver more sensitive as a better solution if you can do it. (Simplest is to add more wire to existing antennas for CM15, RR501, TM751).
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http://www.dimango.com/dc-specialty-chimes.htm?gclid=CMfurrPt04UCFSoOFQodXCVYMQ
Mail Chime has a 300 foot RF distance and 12VDC for the RF. $49.95 shipped. Cool!!
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Maybe I missed something but why not use the 100' RF Frequency repeater thatX-10 sells?
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Would Motion sensor work in metail mailbox ? so when mailman put a mail in the box a light would come on inside. my mailbox is almost 40' .
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I doubt it would work in a metal mailbox.
We see problems with motion sensors being mounted on metal. Aluminum siding as an example.
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Maybe I missed something but why not use the 100' RF Frequency repeater thatX-10 sells?
Don't think X10 sells that anymore, although Ebay may be a source. But by rickrich description, he would have to position the RF repeater about half way down his drive. Antenna mods on the motion sensor and CM15A might be an answer.