Best way to get Z wave signal to nearby well house?

leroy · January 22, 2016, 8:24pm

I would like to install a water valve, but the building is 50+ feet from my controller at the house.

I do have my network there via cat6 and could add wifi if needed. I planned to try a powered Z wave plus device on an outside outlet on the house to maximize range and try that first.

Any other suggestions?

Here’s a pic showing the distance.
http://imgur.com/3w3Dzm3

Thanks! Love this forum

mrv777 · January 22, 2016, 8:26pm

That may be enough to work I’m thinking. I have a sensor about 50 feet away from our house in our mailbox that I have no issue with. There is a light switch installed right next to the front door, but on the inside.

integlikewhoa · January 22, 2016, 10:03pm

[quote=“leroy, post:1, topic:190722”]I would like to install a water valve, but the building is 50+ feet from my controller at the house.

I do have my network there via cat6 and could add wifi if needed. I planned to try a powered Z wave plus device on an outside outlet on the house to maximize range and try that first.

Any other suggestions?

Here’s a pic showing the distance.
http://imgur.com/3w3Dzm3

Thanks! Love this forum[/quote]

Wifi or internet won’t help you with vera unless you try and bridge another vera, but thats near impossible.

That range seems do able. Only one way to find out!

jquincy · January 22, 2016, 10:17pm

I had a similar situation where my mailbox was about 60 ft from the house. I bought a outside plug and with the mesh netwoork it works great. Used the plug for Christmas lightand Halloween decorations.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/GE-Z-Wave-600-Watt-Outdoor-Plug-In-On-Off-Module-Switch-12720/205786264?cm_mmc=Shopping|THD|G|0|G-BASE-PLA-D27E-Electrical|&gclid=CjwKEAiAw4e1BRDfi7vghaWU9jESJACzo9juSqBDXbB2Na9t4IjdHzHkrhOzYsJRbZR9FkNYkBNBXhoC_f_w_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

leroy · January 23, 2016, 12:05am

thanks for all the replies. i’m going to give it a try.

Miamijerry · January 23, 2016, 1:14am

I am trying to extend a mailbox zwave device SM103 to the house with very poor results. I have this antenna on order;
http://www.ebay.com/itm/301772621456?_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
It is a 900mhz PCB yagi antenna, which means it is very, very, directional.

I will report back…

Miamijerry · January 29, 2016, 9:34pm

This Yagi PCB antenna solved my range issue.

Smarthomesd · January 30, 2016, 1:14am

Very, very Cool Miamijerry. I’m going to have to try that. Another bullet proof way is to do Point to Point wireless internet connections. On one side you would have a veraedge (master) then at the outlaying building you would have another veraedge (slave). Bridge the veras over the LAN and you’ll be good to go. We would use like a Ubiquiti NanoStations for the point to point. Going to set you back a about $200 including the extra vera but its a very solid solution.

PS: integlikewhoa nothings impossible ;D

integlikewhoa · January 30, 2016, 1:28am

I think your miss read it.

After you bridge two vera’s together, post your results.

Smarthomesd · January 31, 2016, 5:04am

I think your miss read it.

After you bridge two vera’s together, post your results.[/quote]

still missing it. Heres our bridge example Code Name: Eagles Nest – Z-Wave Outlet

integlikewhoa · January 31, 2016, 7:32am

I think your miss read it.

After you bridge two vera’s together, post your results.[/quote]

still missing it. Heres our bridge example http://www.zwaveoutlet.com/pages/code-name-eagle-nest[/quote]

Yes you are, those are vera 3’s and ui5. Both of those have been discontinued some time ago. Endless forum posts on trying to bridge ui7 and edges.

Smarthomesd · February 2, 2016, 8:34am

Your right, looking back at the forums we found this out December 19, 2014 in a middle of a job…bummer. I was told at CES that it was finally fixed but I just confirmed it’s not, double bummer. A work around is to hard code the commands. A lot of work if you have a lot of veras but if you just have one its fairly easy. Just depends what you are trying to do at the well house. Here’s an SOP I put together when we were working on big jobs so you can see the work flow

SOP FOR ADDING NETWORK WIDE SCENES

This is for a spread sheet
STEP 1: Come up with network wide name that will be consitant accross every Vera Unit used in Scene (example: ALL ON, PARTY MODE OFF)
STEP 2: Determine what Locations will be used in Scene and Hi-Light in Green (for unused Veras Hi-Light in Red)
STEP 3: Log into each Vera individually and create a new scene. Program the Macros that need to be carried out by that vera. Follow naming scheme and name appropriately. Put scene in appropriate room
STEP 4: After saving, vera will give scene an ID number. Document ID number
STEP 5: Follow steps 3 and 4 with all Vera Locations that scene is dependent on.
STEP 6: Once completed log into Main House Controller and open working scene. Edit LUUP CODE adding commands to send scene associated veras (look below for examples). Look at scene numbers/ IP address for faster coding.
STEP 7: Mark interfaces that scene will be availible on. (scene controller, tablets, computers, custom UI)

Here is an example of 9 veras working together for one scene to turn off a decent size property.

Property SHUT DOWN ON

local http = require(“socket.http”)

– 5 Second timeout
http.TIMEOUT = 5

…Time intensive :-\

Lets get bridging back up vera!