TanerH Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 Hello, Sorry, I've tried looking all over the site to see where/how I purchase the external antenna (at least the cable portion... or with an antenna, if that's an option), but I can't find anything other than forum posts that REFER to it The order page (https://www.universal-devices.com/sales/?category=accessories) doesn't say anything about any antennas, and the installation instructions (http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=Z-Wave:_Ordering/Assembly_Instructions) don't mention anything about an antenna, either. Help? -Taner
stusviews Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 You're correct. The Z-Wave antenna kit has vanished.
elvisimprsntr Posted July 4, 2015 Posted July 4, 2015 I noticed my Gen II zwave board is missing the Vishy antenna part. I didn't notice if the antenna connector was also depopulated. I think I read the external antenna didn't improve range much and UDI recommends external range extenders. Perhaps that is why the external antenna kit is no longer available.
Michel Kohanim Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 Hello everyone, We removed the antenna from our store since it really didn't help much and even made things worse by making signal propagation directional. With kind regards, Michel
TanerH Posted July 5, 2015 Author Posted July 5, 2015 We removed the antenna from our store since it really didn't help much and even made things worse by making signal propagation directional. Hi Michel, Makes sense - thanks for the response! -Taner
io_guy Posted July 5, 2015 Posted July 5, 2015 Odd. Maybe it's because I'm on the Alpha card but I have to use an external antenna. My ISY is in the basement right under the front door. The rear door is about 45' away and without the external it won't communicate. I also use 2 GE wall plugs as repeaters.
Michel Kohanim Posted July 6, 2015 Posted July 6, 2015 Hi io_guy, I suspect none of your plugins are doing any routing. Can you please check the neighbors? With kind regards, Michel
KeviNH Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Are there any repeaters which will work with encrypted Z-Wave signals, for example Schlage door locks? I see from other sites that the "Schlage LiNK RP200R" is recommended because of "Beam" support for waking battery-powered devices, including door locks?
io_guy Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Hi io_guy, I suspect none of your plugins are doing any routing. Can you please check the neighbors? With kind regards, Michel Both door locks show both plugins as repeating neighbors. If I switch to the internal antenna and try a heal, it will not discover properly.
Michel Kohanim Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Hi io_guy, This is very strange indeed. Does any of the devices show ISY as their neigbor? Hi KeviNH, Aeotec range extenders do. With kind regards, Michel
stusviews Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Are there any repeaters which will work with encrypted Z-Wave signals, for example Schlage door locks? I see from other sites that the "Schlage LiNK RP200R" is recommended because of "Beam" support for waking battery-powered devices, including door locks? The Aeon Ger 5 Siren works with Schlage locks. It may be the best repeater for Z-Wave.
io_guy Posted July 7, 2015 Posted July 7, 2015 Hi io_guy, This is very strange indeed. Does any of the devices show ISY as their neigbor? Michel, all my devices have the ISY as a neighbor.
Michel Kohanim Posted July 8, 2015 Posted July 8, 2015 Hi io_guy, Unfortunately I have reached the limits of my expertise. I can tell you that what you are experiencing defies logic... With kind regards, Michel
TanerH Posted July 9, 2015 Author Posted July 9, 2015 Hmm, I've been trying to test some Z-Wave functionality before I go out and buy a bunch of devices, so I have a Leviton switch (VRS15-1LZ) about 25-30 feet from my ISY (has to go through 1 wall), but communication seems extremely spotty. I'd love to test a proper 1/2 wave antenna (about 6.5" for 900MHz - or maybe even a full-wave antenna) and see if I get better coverage... is there really no way to obtain the external antenna dongle? I have to assume Z-wave's coverage should be pretty solid only about 30ft away from the transmitter, but am I wrong? ALSO: inspecting my module again, and comparing it to this: http://wiki.universal-devices.com/index.php?title=File:ZWave-Dongle.png, I don't see the "Vishay Antenna" section on my PCB. Is that expected? Thanks, -Taner
Teken Posted July 9, 2015 Posted July 9, 2015 Taner, The external antenna port was removed in later Z-wave modules. Due to the fact UDI found the internal antenna to operate overall better for the consumer. The external antenna was also found to be very directional and thus caused spotty reception depending upon final placement. Ideals are peaceful - History is violent
stusviews Posted July 9, 2015 Posted July 9, 2015 I have to assume Z-wave's coverage should be pretty solid only about 30ft away from the transmitter, but am I wrong? In my case, 15' didn't work, 12' did. A range extender 5' from the battery powered device didn't help. A Gen 5 siren/repeater did.
TanerH Posted July 9, 2015 Author Posted July 9, 2015 The external antenna port was removed in later Z-wave modules. Due to the fact UDI found the internal antenna to operate overall better for the consumer. The external antenna was also found to be very directional and thus caused spotty reception depending upon final placement. Hey Teken, Yeah, I saw Michel's response earlier in the thread. I understand RF, and therefore also understand that a proper antenna (size and placement) should only make transmission and reception better A "rubber ducky" antenna has very consistent azimuth radiation pattern, and elevation radiation pattern should just have 1 lobe on either size of the centerline (with maximum gain slightly "up" from the base of the antenna). (well, really a torus-like shape, since it's 3d ) I've seen several posts in this and other other z-wave forum, stating how the external antenna greatly helped thing... so to me, this means it's something I should try/test. In my case, 15' didn't work, 12' did. A range extender 5' from the battery powered device didn't help. A Gen 5 siren/repeater did. stusviews, I am not using a battery powered device; this is a switch in an electrical box in the wall 15' (or 12') is abysmal range for 900Mhz.. I realize the (US) xmit power limitation is 1mW for z-wave, but you should be able to receive that at least 50ft from the transmitter, given an appropriate antenna. In my case, there is 1 standard interior household wall between the device and the ISY, so I was expecting slightly lower range -- just not THAT low. I'd prefer not to have a bunch of repeaters plugged in all over the place... and... I really would prefer not to have to replace a few random outlets with Z-wave outlets, just so that they can act as repeaters. I have one other switch location I can test, that is closer to my wiring closet... I'll see if placing the Z-Wave switch there both allows it to work better, and also hopefully relays the signal enough to make the OTHER switch work properly. -Taner
xKing Posted July 9, 2015 Posted July 9, 2015 I think "Vishay Antenna" is the older version "ceramic" antenna, latest dongles are using "printed on the pcb" antenna. External antenna connector (SMA PCB) should still be there on the board - and you can just purchase the cable like this and hook up the antenna. That said - I'm using the original UDI external antenna (I've got it with the Z Wave dongle itself) and pretty happy about it, Z Wave is very reliable (but I only use GE switches/outlets on Z Wave). What I really waiting for is a 500-series dongle And I HOPE it would still have an external antenna connector! Maybe I want a 5W amp on it - who knows? :D P.S. KF5WMP
stusviews Posted July 12, 2015 Posted July 12, 2015 The external antenna really matters here, in spite of having the Aeotec Gen 5 Siren and an Aeotech repeater. As a test I switched to the internal antenna (and rebooted the ISY). The Schlage lock did not trigger any programs at all. The state of the lock did not change when the lock was changed from locked to unlocked and back again a few times. I then switched back to the external antenna (and rebooted). Programs that are triggered by the state of the lock ran. BTW, the ISY is horizontal and the external antenna is vertical.
Michel Kohanim Posted July 12, 2015 Posted July 12, 2015 Hi stusviews, Did you do a Heal Network again? With kind regards, Michel
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.