Extend range of 433MHz

[galinette]

I have a RFLink for my temperature sensors & electrical blinds, which works great on the ground floor.

But, the communication with devices at first floor is somewhat unreliable. Sometimes I am missing the temperatures for several hours, and sometimes the blinds do not open/close. I have tried various antenna placements, I cannot cover the whole house.

Is there any repeater solution for 433MHz? Such as an ethernet/433 bridge, or a ZWave/433 bridge? I would like to avoid setting up a second "slave" domoticz server at the first floor, if possible, for simplicity.

Thanks!

[nigels0]

Hi,

Have you considered a better aerial? I use one on my RFXTX455 and it easily tripled the range.

[FrankVZ]

Here too: I attached the improved antenna instead of the regular cheaper kind.
like this one: http://www.rfxcom.com/433antenne
Now the range is about triple the range of a regular handheld remote (in my case the Kaku/CoCo). I have still a good reception at the second floor, through (two) concrete floors.

and it is also possible to change the signal strength, if you have the RFXtrx - with is progamm RFXmngr

I dont think you would like brigdes or some kind of stuff, since it they receive the signal and send the signal again.
This might give unexpected results (a device toggles fast on/off, or starts dimming instead of only On for instance).

hth, Frank