2 Messages
More base station placement questions
I've had trouble off and on with one entry sensor. Battery has been changed, I've been sent a new sensor, yet I randomly (in the wee hours of the night) get the error tone and the base station isn't communicating with this same sensor. I've moved the base station and it's ok for a month or more, then I'm awakened in the night with that error tone. The problem sensor is a side door to the garage. There are metal doors involved, garage is attached by a breezeway. The sensor is about 50' away. I've read about base placement but not specifically this question: Will moving the base to the second floor of the house theoretically improve the communication? I won't know until I have another error tone, but I wonder if, like wifi router technology, is placing it much higher up 'better'?
Official Solution
emily_s
Community Admin
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3.3K Messages
4 months ago
Hi @analyticshopper,
RF signals go out in all directions, so putting the Base Station on your second floor may not be a surefire to resolve the issue with your Entry Sensor. However, if the Base Station is moved to a spot where it is right above that sensor, that can help remove any obstructions between it and the Base Station, which can improve their connection.
You mention that there are metal doors near this Entry Sensor. Metal is a thicker material which can create interference between the Base Station and sensors. So in your situation, moving the Base Station above the sensor could help to reduce this interference.
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captain11
Captain
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6.1K Messages
4 months ago
Moving the base station to your 2nd floor can definitely help. Mine is on the 2nd floor, hidden, off the floor and covers our 2600 square foot 2 story colonial with attached gararge nicely. This was not the first location however, and took several days of moving the base to find the "sweet spot" so all 40+ devices connected. I should note that I have two entry sensors on my two garage doors and they connect fine, as does the sensors on the basement windows. Siding is vinyl and the system is very stable.
One more suggestion: submit the floorplan of your house with the sensor locations marked to SS and they should be able to suggest a base placement. I did that for a troublesome motion sensor years ago with my SS2 system and, after several tries, solved the myestery for me. Not a connection issue but another story.
Good luck and post your outcome here if you get a chance.
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