I wanted to share this for others who may be struggling with reception range issues.
I have 4 devices I actuate using remote transmitters and receivers. All are outdoors, unobstructed, and utilize 12v 7ah batteries and identical motors.
Two of these have excellent reception which I define as 50m+; two of them marginal for my purposes at 10m+/-. All are inexpensive switching modules.
The two with better reception are both 315mhz, the others 433mhz. Looking into wave length, it makes sense, but the difference should be marginal. Researching ways to improve reception, focus was often directed at the receiver, where adding a longer antenna to the receiver and secondarily the transmitter were common recommendations, though increasing distance between the power source and switching module seemed a powerful addition, and decreasing noise was often mentioned.
My most recent disappointing module did not have a hole in the board to add more antenna. I realized a common feature of my better performing 315mhz pairs, was a transmitter with extendable antenna. These transmitters are available in 433mhz, so for $6, I ordered one.
That feature alone, with no other modifications, extended the range from 10m to 30m +. I should have extended the range experiment, but for my purposes 20m was ideal, so didn’t bother.
I’d be interested to hear feedback as to why this might be the case as in my research I never came across the suggestion that an extended antenna on a transmitter alone, could make such a difference. Of note - all transmitters in this anecdotal exercise were powered by new 3v 2032 button batteries.
I have 4 devices I actuate using remote transmitters and receivers. All are outdoors, unobstructed, and utilize 12v 7ah batteries and identical motors.
Two of these have excellent reception which I define as 50m+; two of them marginal for my purposes at 10m+/-. All are inexpensive switching modules.
The two with better reception are both 315mhz, the others 433mhz. Looking into wave length, it makes sense, but the difference should be marginal. Researching ways to improve reception, focus was often directed at the receiver, where adding a longer antenna to the receiver and secondarily the transmitter were common recommendations, though increasing distance between the power source and switching module seemed a powerful addition, and decreasing noise was often mentioned.
My most recent disappointing module did not have a hole in the board to add more antenna. I realized a common feature of my better performing 315mhz pairs, was a transmitter with extendable antenna. These transmitters are available in 433mhz, so for $6, I ordered one.
That feature alone, with no other modifications, extended the range from 10m to 30m +. I should have extended the range experiment, but for my purposes 20m was ideal, so didn’t bother.
I’d be interested to hear feedback as to why this might be the case as in my research I never came across the suggestion that an extended antenna on a transmitter alone, could make such a difference. Of note - all transmitters in this anecdotal exercise were powered by new 3v 2032 button batteries.
