Author Topic: Max Distance  (Read 1516 times)

donaldhwong

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Max Distance
« on: February 17, 2016, 09:21:11 AM »
I have a Moteino based transmitter operating with three AAA battery at about 4 volts total.

I discover the maximum distance that the receiver, operating at 5V steady, gets any message is about 40 feet.  It seems low.

Is this within spec?  or is there some setting that I may need to tune up?

Thank you,
Donald

john4444

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Re: Max Distance
« Reply #1 on: February 17, 2016, 10:12:18 AM »
Hi Donald,

I have not tried for maximum distance but I experience reliable communication across about 150' of yard
 and through most of the house with the supplied wire antenna.

Quote
I have a Moteino based transmitter operating with three AAA battery at about 4 volts total.
I discover the maximum distance that the receiver, operating at 5V steady, gets any message is about 40 feet.  It seems low.
Is this within spec?  or is there some setting that I may need to tune up?

Since the Moteinos operate on 3.3v it does not matter whither they are powered by 3-AAAs or 5v.
If they are talking at all you must have set them up on the same channel.
You did solder on the antenna didn't you?

John
John AE5HQ

donaldhwong

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Re: Max Distance
« Reply #2 on: February 17, 2016, 11:46:30 AM »
Feeling better.  I was using a coiled antenna bought from China.  Does it make a difference?

Is there some setting in the default, where dictates the maximum power I can transmit?

Thank you, John.

john4444

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Re: Max Distance
« Reply #3 on: February 17, 2016, 03:18:45 PM »
You did indicate that this is a Moteino from LowPower Labs right?
It is not something that you put together?

Quote
Feeling better.  I was using a coiled antenna bought from China.  Does it make a difference?
It is hard to say. A range of 40' sounds like the wrong type of antenna.
It is just that a wire of the correct length will work better than most other antennas.
You might change to the supplied antenna so that you can trouble-shoot from a better understood position.

Quote
Is there some setting in the default, where dictates the maximum power I can transmit?
Someone will need to confirm, I think that the default is max power.
I have not had the need to adjust any of the default settings because they work well for my needs.
I would suggest that you determine what is wrong before changing defaults.
There are a lot of things that can be changed, they interact and anything but the right combination will not be an improvement.
John AE5HQ