‎Range extender for SS? | SimpliSafe Support Home
 

12 Messages

Friday, December 27th, 2019 6:47 PM

Closed

Range extender for SS?

Do the door & motion sensors rely on bluetooth or wi-fi of some type?   I'm trying to figure out if their is a way to increase the range a bit from the base station to the sensors.

This conversation has been merged. Please refer the main conversation:

Sensor range extender/booster/repeater

1.3K Messages

5 years ago

Neither. They use frequency around 433MHz.

12 Messages

5 years ago

Any way to 'boost' that signal?  Or even better direct it.  Maybe with a reflector type set up?  Thoughts.

2.2K Messages

5 years ago

One fellow on here reported good results by connecting a longer antenna to the sensor.  I suppose a more effective antenna on the base would work, but I don't recall anyone reporting on trying it.

There are three factors in range - the power of the transmitted signal and the sensitivity of the receiver (which probably would not be practical to enhance), the effectiveness of the antennas, and the height of the transmitting antenna (mount the base higher to see if that helps).

1.3K Messages

5 years ago

FWIW, if you have a SS2 system they claim more range for SS3.

44 Messages

3 years ago

You can disassemble the sensor and attach a wire to the internal antenna, and have it exit a hole in the plastic casing that you drill.  The sensors all use 433.92 MHz transmitters, so you want a quarter wave long monopole type antenna which is a total wire length of 6.800 inches.  Be sure to include any of the internal wire antenna in the total length calculation.  For a more compact antenna you can use a loaded coil antenna or a helical coil antenna, however they will not have quite as much gain.

(edited)

2 Messages

2 years ago

Thanks for all these comments and the wealth of information.  I have a SS3 Water Sensor that intermittently disconnects.  I had a lengthy conversation w/ SS and am under the conclusion I need to try what Jim (above) posted.  (Thank you, Jim!)

My Water Sensor is located next to a partially enclosed cement sump pump tank and I need to be able to monitor a potential septic fail/overflow.  It works fine for a week or two, then goes off-line for a few days.  This has been going on since new and I have traded between w/ other Water Sensors and determined it is not a unit issue.  

Question 1:  Since the sensor is going to be modified, would there be any benefit in doubling or tripling the batteries and wiring them in parallel for better performance? The voltage would remains the same, but because the unit is outside (but under a building) I wondering if this would give the unit an edge since there is more of a temperature decrease in that location (as low as in the 20's degrees range). 

Question 2:  Does anyone has a link on how to build a quarter wave long monopole type antenna that would be best for these SS3 units?  YouTube?  I'd be happy to make one if I'm successful : )

Question 3:  Has anyone done any modification on the main SS3 tower to boost signal strength?

Thanks everyone ☺️

2 Messages

1 year ago

Has anyone tried using a 433mhz repeater to extend the range?

742 Messages

This would be an interesting test for a number of reasons. The 433mhz range is used by a LOT of device so amplifying that signal might result in some unexpected behavior at your house. And your neighbors. And their neighbors. (Depending on how much you amplify the signal, in which direction(s), etc.)  Also it assumes that the modulation SS uses is supported by the repeater? I'm not a radio technician but it seems like it's possible it "just works" but also possible it "doesn't work"?

19 Messages

7 months ago

@gtalarico​ this link comes up dead. Any chance your can update it?

19 Messages

Hey @robertallenpayne​ 

Not sure why post was deleted. Maybe one of the mods has some insights on why post was deleted (@captain11 ?)

There is anoter post that has a link to a less detailed but similar instructables page
https://support.simplisafe.com/conversations/product-requests-and-suggestions/sensor-range-extenderboosterrepeater/6190c6688ea41ebb06225bfd?commentId=6687259ee025215d29e0caf8

Edit: 

Found the link, I think it got renamed
https://support.simplisafe.com/conversations/alarm-sensors/sensors-not-connecting-how-to-extend-range/660a81d9e1007e3e406ffa8e

(edited)

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