Quite new to Z Wave so please excuse me if I ask something stoopid !
I have a Vera Edge + RFX kit (to allow control of LightwaveRF wall switches).
Recently installed some garden lighting in my garden mains powered from my office.
Wanting to incorporate them into my Z wave lighting I connected them to a TKB dual channel switch (http://www.vesternet.com/z-wave-tkb-double-relay-wall-switch-tz37-gen5)
I mounted this switch in a plastic waterproof housing) on my office wall which is 30 metres from my lounge where the Vera Edge lives.
There is a direct line of sight between the two (big glass window)
There are no other Z wave units around to create a “mesh” (whatever that is !!).
I really expected the units to talk to each other but I was really disappointed - Nothing happened at all.
I took the switch down and brought it into the lounge where I “benched” it and it worked fine.
Set up with two dummy lights it was possible to switch both of them independently and without problem.
Moving the switch back to the office wall though and they would not communicate and I get a “Can’t detect device” notification on the Vera Dashboard.
So where do I go from here ?
There is just 25 metres of open garden between the switch and the controller - was that too much to ask ?
If I bought a range extender (about which I have heard some varied reports - not very good) where would I put it ? In the middle of the garden ?
Not practical.
I have heard some people have tinkered with the insides of their controllers and installed a more efficient antenna.
Frankly I am at a loss as to what to try next.
This project is costing me far too much in time and money.
Suggestions please ???
You have couple of ways to deal with that:
[ol][li]Adjusting devices to get better communication: from my experience, the range given by edge’s antenna is not a circle but rather oval shaped. It may help rotating the main unit by 90 degrees and checking if the range improved. Similar can be done with the switch - if it has an wire as an antenna, you can try to position this wire different ways and check if it improves the range. If the antenna is on PCB, there is nothing you can do, or you can try solution in point 3[/li]
[li]Creating a mesh: in general a mesh is some kind of a net of z-wave units, where every device (except battery powered ones) act as a repeater for the others. Suppose you have main unit and two switches: A and B. If controller can’t communicate directly with device A, it will try to reach it via device B, so the communication will be not like “controller > A” but “Controller > B > A”. Any NON BATTERY device can act as repeater, so if you install a switch or AC powered sensor in between your TKB switch and the main unit, it can improve the range. You can install a dedicated repeater for that, which has some advantages (it has better antenna than most of regular switches so the range is better and it allows you channel secure commands to other units via it), but if you have any use for a regular switch/sensor, it usually is better idea (the price is similar as for repeater, but you have a switch/sensor functionality)[/li]
[li]installing external antenna to the controller and/or the switch. There is a thread on this forum with pictures showing how to install external antenna to the Edge. 5dBi antenna gives about 50% range increase, according to my experiences (I’ve tried such modification with the Lite model). Remember, that you’re loosing your warranty if you do such modification. Another way is extending antenna on the switch. I don’t know how TKB switch is built, most in-wall switches have w wire attached to them and you can solder another wire at the end of it. Original wire is about 8cm so you should use extension lengths as multiple of that value. There is no use to go above 24cm (8x4) in total. If antenna is on PCB, you can check if there is any soldering point and attach wire to it (I’ve had a motion sensor with antenna on PCB, there was soldering point at the beginning of it). This also gives some extension of range, but not as much as external antenna on the main unit.[/li][/ol]
It may be that the solution (1) will be enough. From my experience, Edge gives 50-70m of range on the open area without any troubles it just hast to be oriented properly towards the receiver (switch), and the switch itself has to be properly oriented as well. Using both modifications mentioned in point (3) should double that range (I had a setup successfully working in 150m range, no obstacles in between except 2 walls made from wood or drywall.