Hi,
Loosely related to the plugin - has anyone had any experience with different 433mhz aerials on their RFX/TRX unit to further send/receive distance ?
This one looks like it could send a signal to the moon
[url=http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-Power/433-Mhz-Yagi-Antenna-Yagi-434-43-0151/?source=googleps&utm_source=googleps&IncVat=1&gclid=CJa2o_iCpcICFVPJtAodl2wA6A]http://www.rapidonline.com/Electrical-Power/433-Mhz-Yagi-Antenna-Yagi-434-43-0151/?source=googleps&utm_source=googleps&IncVat=1&gclid=CJa2o_iCpcICFVPJtAodl2wA6A[/url]
This one looks better than the standard - but is it ?
[url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/390914013321?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/390914013321?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0[/url]
I’m currently using this one instead of the standard one which improved things a little.
[url=http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=RF00037&CMP=CPC-PLA&gross_price=true&gclid=COimqrmDpcICFYkBwwodeEcAOQ]http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/displayProduct.jsp?sku=RF00037&CMP=CPC-PLA&gross_price=true&gclid=COimqrmDpcICFYkBwwodeEcAOQ[/url]
Any comments/ideas ?
I have added a bigger one to mine, but one which screws straight on. It is nearly 1 ft long… not sure what i bought, i checked the frequency and the connector, and searched through Ebay. It did make a difference. Some LightwaveRF switches which before where unreliable due to distance, ar now working flawless. If you want to know what i bought i can try and find it by going through my ebay puchases, just let me know.
Cheers Mike - yes it would be great to know, for myself and others. We like the word ‘flawless’ in automation.
This is what i bought:
1/4 Wave Whip Antenna Aerial - Trimmed To Frequency For Best Performance
I had to tell them what frequency I needed, and they cut it to the right size. It cost about GBP 8 or $13, so not a fortune, but worth it in my opinion. Just had a look, they still sell them if you search for that.
I’ve been thinking of getting one like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antenna-433Mhz-3dbi-SMA-Plug-straight-with-Magnetic-base-with-1-5m-/290659276552?pt=UK_Computing_Boosters_Extenders_Antennas&hash=item43aca49708
I’m in the UK - and that one is very cheap. Has anyone tried it?
The spec is below. Does anyone with more understanding than me know what this all means?
Frequency Range（MHz） 433+/-15
Bandwidth（MHz） 30
VSWR ≤1.5
Gain（dBi） 3
Max Input power（W）50
Input Impedance（Ω） 50
Polarization Type :Vertical
Cable Length﹙M﹚ 1500mm or other
Cable Type RG174
Connector Type SMA Plug connector (Default )/SMB/SMC/BNC/FME/TNC/MCX /MMCX or other
Mounting Magnetic
Radiation :Omni-direction
Max Diameter :30mm
Min Diameter :1.5mm
Max wind speed :200km/h
Will that have better range than the standard aerial do you think?
It is the right frequency, so thats ok. But 3dB is not a lot, especially as you loose some power with the lead. So i am not sure you really get much better than with the original. I was looking at the same one when i bought mine, and that was the reason i did not buy it. I could be wrong but thats what i think. I read somewhere that you loose power with the lead and connectors. And i think the original antenna might be 3dB as well, so if anything you might loose overall as you loose so much with the lead.
Looks like the 1/4 Wave Whip Antenna Aerial - Trimmed To Frequency For Best Performance is only 2.8db gain
[url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-4-Wave-Whip-Antenna-Aerial-Trimmed-To-Frequency-For-Best-Performance-/161086380987?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item25817f1bbb]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-4-Wave-Whip-Antenna-Aerial-Trimmed-To-Frequency-For-Best-Performance-/161086380987?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item25817f1bbb[/url]
Am suspecting that the db (power) is limited by some authority for local 433mhz transmissions to 3db. Maybe someone with radio 'am experience will testify/ advise on how to increase the power.
I cannot remember what gain the one i bought had, but i am sure its the same one you were looking at so probably only 2.8dB as you said. It did make a difference, and if the other one has 3dB minus loss on the cable it would probably work out about the same then. I think there is a 1/2 length available too, or you can mail the seller, that will have more gain. It would have been too long for me, but it might work for you. I am not sure about power limitations, i dont really care as its such low power its very unlikely going to get you into trouble, and i want my switches to work…
[quote=“korttoma, post:166, topic:172162”]I did the antenna modification for my VERAlite according to this topic thread + I added a better antenna for my RFXtrx433.
There were noticeable improvements for both.
Attached a picture of the antennas I used.
NOTE!: For these antennas you will need an SMA/BNC adapter since the antennas has BNC connector.
The antennas can be found from conrad.com
Br,
Tomas[/quote]
Check the picture in the original post. The antenna I use was recomended by Bert at RFXCOM an is working greate for me.