Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[leoaln]

I need some help troubleshooting which part,or parts, is my problem.  I have
AHP
CM15A with Radio Shack Scanner antenna mod
6- PR511 Floodlights
3 x10 Low Light B/W wireless cameras converted to wired
3 X10 color cameras wireless converted to wired
3 ninja mounts - only 1 mounted and hooked up for now
1 XPCR wired on its own 15 amp breaker
1- CM19 not using now
1- TM751 not using now
A couple of RSS18 remote wall switches
1- V572A and PSC05
Several MS14a motion sensors
An old AMD Athlon 1.67 ghz computer running XP Pro SP3
Registerd Blue Iris for video recording
1 PV149 DVR Card

The computer is at one end of my house in my garage/shop.  The v572 is temporarily in the pantry in the approximate center of the house - about 30' from the cm15a.
The problem I am having is that I want a sensor at the opposite end of the house and towards the street (about 40' and 1 exterior wall from the v572, and about 75' from the computer and CM15A and 1 exterior wall) to trigger all of the floodlights on and start 1 camera recording.  I have the macros set up and working, but I have no range with my signals.  The sensor won't trigger the macro unless I am within 15-20 feet of either the v572 or the cm15a. This camera is mounted on the Ninja base, so I need the RF from the CM15A to control it. I just got the V572 today and hooked it up, but I don't see where it has done anything to help my signals. I realize the v572 won't help control the ninja base.  I tried hooking the V572 to my computers serial port to make sure everything was enabled, but I wasn't successful getting the computer to recognize it.  I know a lot of you have this stuff working at farther distances than this, so I am looking for suggestions.  
Thanks,
Leo

[HA Dave]

...... The sensor won't trigger the macro unless I am within 15-20 feet of either the v572 or the cm15a. ....................
  I know a lot of you have this stuff working at farther distances than this, so I am looking for suggestions.  

So what kind of range are you getting from.... say a PalmPad remote? If your not getting a 100 feet or so with a full sized remote [and the V572A] you may want to check your V572A's cable/antenna connection. I've never read of any bad reception with a V572A.

If however... your problem is limited to just the "eye" sensors... that would likely be your problem (and not have much... or anything.. to do with the receiver).

The most comman cause of an eye-sensor problem is metal siding. [Although I have read of the metal lathe used with stucco.. or even plaster... causing the same problem.] Often the siding absorbs the RF signal and greatly limits its range. The easy solution is merely use a spacer of some sort to get the sensor off the siding. I like mounting the eye-sensors using Velcro. The pre-glued Velcro is a quick and easy way to mount the sensors and provides somewhat of a spacer. Plus it can make battery changing a lot easier as well.

If the problem is limited to that one sensor or one location... You could also some "other" obstruction or signal absorbing devise or fixture between the sensor and the V572A. Or you could even just have a bad eye-sensor.

[hawk1]

I'm with Dave here.  I have the v572a and it can pick up signals all the way down my driveway (270 feet).  I actually did a test with it and carried a motion sensor walking down the street and it still picked it up.

If you have someone to help you, one of you can watch the led on the v572a and the other walk in front of the sensor.  If the led comes on then you know the signal is being received.

If the signal is being received I would imagine the v572a is not the problem, unless it's not putting the signal on the powerline.  A good way to test this would be putting a lamp module or appliance module on the same outlet as the v572a and see if it will turn on.

Next, if you don't have a phase coupler you might want to make sure that the cm15 and the v572 are on the same power phase.  If it isn't try put it on the same phase and test again.  If it now works then leave it there, or if you can't leave it there then probably a good phase coupler, amplifier, repeater would be a good investment. (XTB-II).

Also if you are using the v572 you should go into AHP and set transceived codes to none. (this is how I have mine setup and works very well)

Hope some of this helps you out.   

[leoaln]

I've had some time to fool with this some more this morning, and it seems to be working better.  I don't have any PalmPad  Remotes, but I did set a remote wall switch RSS18 to operate 3 of my pr511 floodlights and I had a range of about 75' from the V572 with it.  I've got the motion sensor moved a little closer for now, but at least it is working at about 35' from the V572.  I've also got the CM15A working the Ninja at about 50' distance by taping a 19" piece of copper wire to the base of the Ninja to help the wire antenna.  I also had to move the V572 out of the pantry and the wire shelving.   Thanks for all the suggestions and keep them coming.  I'm sure I'll be needing more input later. 

[dave w]

I've also got the CM15A working the Ninja at about 50' distance by taping a 19" piece of copper wire to the base of the Ninja to help the wire antenna. 

You can do this same trick on the motion sensors to improve range. Use 18" and position it on left side of the sensor. (xxxxEye internal antennal is on upper left quadrent of PC board, looking at front of unit).

[Brian H]

Even if you are not mounting the v572s antenna on a object. Leave the bracket on it. It is the ground plane for the antenna.