New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

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Dylantje
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Dylantje »

Thanks...
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Mai Pensato »

I also bought three of the Imagintronix soil sensors and a base station (at plantcaretools.com).
My first experiences are not good:
The range is very limited: even outside with no walls and glass in between the distance between the sensor and the base station can be max 15 m1 (the manual states range = 100 m1 in open field..)
Also after a while some of the sensors don't give results any more: both "temperature out" and "wet soil %" give "--" in the display of the base station.

And I cannot get the data of the sensors in my Vera controller via RFXcom. RFXcom cannot find the sensors even though I flashed the latest firmware (v78) enabled protocol Lacrosse and put 1 sensor right next to the RCXcom (within 1 m1 distance).

I read in this topic that more people have bought these sensors. What are your experiences with the range and the strange readings sometimes ("--"). And how can I get the sensors connected to the RFXcom?
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Bastiaan »

Same bad experience. Even At 10 meter I can hardly get any signal. Planning to extend de USB somehow to bring them closer. ( Garden inside The house). I have extended all antenna's of the sensors too but it hardly made a difference. Pity since it seemed a nice solution. I have dedicated that single rfxcom receiver to this setup so I expect it to have max reception too.
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b_weijenberg
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by b_weijenberg »

You can extend the transmit range of the soil sensor.
Remove the coil antenna inside the sensor and replace it by a 17,3cm wire. Drill a small hole in the top of the enclosure for the antenna wire. Make the sensor water tight again with some silicon sealant.

with this solution I have a distance of about 15 meter with 2 walls in between.
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Bastiaan »

Bert, I did that already but no luck, 2/3 of the time, no reception.
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Bastiaan »

466Mhz would it work as good on 433?

Worth the try. I see three options:

Better antenna (already using the older dipool?)
Longer antenna cable to bring the rfxcom closer. As far as I understand, this options is not a good one since extending the cable also looses power.
Bringing the USB device closer to the transmitters. Could be costly.
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by b_weijenberg »

tuned to 446MHz but 434 will also be possible.

Is it an option to connect the RFXtrx on LAN:
for 1 USB device http://www.conrad.nl/nl/conrad-netwerk- ... 72161.html
for up to 4 USB devices using an additional USB hub: http://www.conrad.nl/nl/conrad-1-poorts ... f=Homepage
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Bastiaan »

Ordered the USB extension. Should also help my VM setup :-)
Thanks Bert. Will report back if a distance of a few meters fixes the issue.
Funny enough channel 1 seems to have better reception compared to the other 2.

Guess the antenna is the only option if you need to reach an outside garden.
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Bastiaan »

As promised: Got the USB server today and got it working in 5 minutes. Reception is is good and all sensors report values. Lets see in the next 24 hours but it all looks great.
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by nico_gh2 »

Conrad site shows it's not working using win8 !
Any recommendations for that or using Linux (Raspbian)?
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Bastiaan »

It's working here with Win 8.1. I got the version where you can use a hub. Not very clear with model numbers.....
Lost one sensor last night that came back online today. Not even a meter away from the antenna. Only enabled protocol is LAC. Should be optimum, Bert?
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Rene »

Do you require a different version when you want to connect using a usb hub? I noticed using a powered hub the rfxtrx433e disconnects after a short time.
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Re: New RFXtrx433E USB transciever

Post by Bastiaan »

Rene, it seems so. Conrad has one for single USB use and the one I bought (conrad.nl/nl/conrad-1-poorts-met-hub-ne ... f=Homepage )
Still got only one USB poort but it mentioned as being able to support a USB hub.
With my next order I will also try the single USB version.
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