Very weak signal reception and very particular device location to work

Community Playground Getting Started & Initial Setup
1

Hi all,

I am setting up a VeraLite network for the first time and everything works great functionality-wise! My problem is that devices must be very precisely placed in order to communicate. I have a VeraLite running UI5 and the latest firmware, a 2GIG CT100 thermostat, a MiCasaVerde SmartSwitch and a Fortezz Water leak detector all located within a radius of about 25 feet each other with some plaster walls around as in a typical home.

The functionality all works as expected and reliably when devices are placed in very specific locations but I need to really be able to use the devices in places of my choosing. The thermostat is very stable and reliable pretty much regardless of location but the SmartSwitch and Water leak detector must be moved around trial and error until they are in just the right location, elevation and physical orientation. I don’t have any other radio devices in the home, other than a couple WIFI connected devices, that should cause interference. I haven’t tampered much at all with the default configuration.

All the devices know about each other as neighbors but even the SmartSwitch plugged into AC power does not seem to be repeating. When positioned within 8 feet of the SmartSwitch the Water leak detector doesn’t get it WakeUps forwarded even though they are aware of each other as neighbors.

I love this whole concept and it has huge potential for me. I also find this to be about the best forum I’ve found anywhere on the internet. To give some perspective, I am a web application developer of 13 years and have 31 years of experience as a professional in the software development, networking and the electronics field. This signal weakness and distance limitation has me baffled.

I hope someone has some ideas for me and that I can return the favor down the line. I think it would be a lot of fun to start a DYI home automation and security user group in my area. Yeah, I think I’ve got the bug if I can overcome the issue described here.

Thanks everyone

2

Hi and welcome

One thing to consider is if you include/install the devices in one location first , Vera gets an understanding of their original position, so if you then move them (think of routing tables) i think Vera can get a little confused and things might get lost.

If you have moved them, try to make sure they are in the final place now and maybe see if a ‘Heal’ works.

I’m not near my Vera lite to tell you exactly where it is, (search on that as a key word in this forum) but that could help .

3

in addition to what @parkerc said, you may have too few repeating nodes, so the more you add the better and would allow you to cover greater distances.

4

Thanks for the replies guys. I appreciate you input.

All my devices are being recognized and everything including my automation to them works if they’re all in the same room. Once any device is moved beyond 25 feet from theVeraLite it can no longer communicate. The range should be 25 METERS or 85 feet. I shouldn’t need a repeater to communicate 25 FEET.

I’m thinking the Vera is defective either sending is weak or receiver is not sensitive as it should be since the Vera is the common piece in my communication weakness.

5

When you move the devices, are you running a z-wave network heal? You need to run a heal if a device is relocated. Also there are many things that can take into account for poor performance. But like others said, you need to do a network heal and adding additional devices will help improve reliability. But do a heal first.

  • Garrett
6

Thanks Garettwp. Yes I did heals and the distant devices are not found and the 2 am auto heals work well but don’t find nodes over 25 feet either.

I put in tech support ticket. Will wait and see.

Thanks again

7

Is doing a “heal” the same as updating the neighbors just for all devices in once?