Temporarily lost ability to receive Oregon data

[Wirehead]

I've had the weirdest issue yesterday, and it seems to have cleared up without doing anything. Not sure where the issue would come from. Here's the story:

-Friday evening around 8PM, my RFXtrx433e (hw version 1.2) lost the ability to receive data from my Oregon sensors. Sending AC and receiving Byron SX still works
-Saturday during the day: still the same thing. Testing the transceiver on a Windows host with RFXmngr; reveals that it does receive it. But it makes no sense why it wouldn't receive it on another host, as sending is working.
-I removed the batteries from all other sensors, to make sure none of them are RF blocking. (Verified with undec) Issue remains. Using minicom also reveals that the RXFtrx433e does not receive anything Oregon on my specific Domoticz host. Switching firmware does not help either. Rebooting the Domoticz host, different cable, original antenna, clean db,... doesn't help.
-Sunday evening, around 11PM; it suddenly starts receiving again. No trouble, every minute, doesn't skip anything.

What gives? Anyone have a clue as to what happened?

UPDATE Monday 8AM: it starts skipping data again. Very odd..

[Wirehead]

I've moved it over to a different platform, same thing (identical hardware). I've pulled the batteries out of all remotes / switches / pir / and fresh ones in an oregon sensor. Still nothing...

[Wirehead]

OK, bit further. It seems the device can still send, however, reception is drastically reduced. If I move a sensor close, it works. I suppose the chip inside is toast. Tested it with multiple antennas

[b_weijenberg]

I suppose another RF sensor is transmitting RF noise.

In most cases I have seen it was an X10 MS13 motion sensor or weather sensor with an almost empty battery or a weather sensor filled with water or a remote with a button pressed.

Please test the RFXtrx433E at another location (> 1km away from the current location) and test the RFXtrx433E receive function using RFXmngr on a Windows system or laptop and a sensor or remote.
If nothing received contact RFXCOM for a warranty replacement.

[Wirehead]

Thanks for the info - shouldn't the RF noise pop up in undec mode? At least some garbage on the screen?

It's very strange, as since a couple of moments, it starts receiving again. I had already unplugged all items that can send on 433Mhz before (except one temp sensor on new batteries).

Maybe something like thermal stress on the board causing this (cracked lead-free solder joints) I've seen it happen)? I'll see how it goes tomorrow, see if there's a pattern.

I'll try to pick up an SDR dongle as well, so I'll have a usefull (albeit simple) spectrum analyser, and see if there's really something in the air causing this.

[Wirehead]

Well,

As quickly as the issue came, it also went away again. Still awaiting my SDR dongle to sniff the 433Mhz band to check what could be causing interference. Suddenly all my sensors worked again, while I had no remotes, switches or sensors going crazy. Maybe something in a neighbouring house. But that should pop up using SDR and a directional antenna.