Help! At my brother's house, I installed two outdoor floods, each with their own X-10 wall switch. They respond perfectly to a mini-controller. The problem is that I can't get more than about a 25 foot range from the R.F. remotes, and that's under ideal, line-of-sight outdoors.

I have tried two different 2-channel-with-dim key fobs, and one 4-channel-with-dim fob. I even tried the stick-on 3-unit+dim R.F. switch. Brand-new batteries don't help at all.

I have tried two different small (module-sized) R.F. receivers, the kind that have a built-in appliance module, and one larger one with the 1-8/9-16 switch on it. No difference.

With a direct line-of-sight pathway, I can manage about 25 feet. When the receiver clicks (unit code 1), the lights work, so I know it's not an X-10 signal interference issue.

The problem is that I can't get the receivers to respond through a vinyl-siding exterior wall at 5 only feet away. I know there may be aluminum-coated insulation behing the siding, but it won't even work from within the all-wood shed.

Like I said, the problem is between the remotes and the receiver, not between the receiver and the switches, because the mini-controller wortks the lights fine. Anybody have any ideas?

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

Larry, line of sight should make very little difference with this, although metal siding might. The PAT01/RR501 unit with the 1-8 selector is by far the better of the two. There are some tips here [Link: geocities.com] modifications to increase the range. I would wonder about batter strength in your transmitters also.

Bill
www.homeautomationnet.com

Larry, I've had the same problem at my house. I've done the mods garnered from the Bartana site to my receiver, and still no luck. I'm thinking that maybe using a Linear brand transmitter/receiver interfaced with the X-10 Powerflash might be a solution. Let me know if you come up with anything else.

David

BTW, hows the sound biz coming?

Well, I added the cap as described, except that I de-soldered the black wire completely, soldered the cap from the PC board (sleeving the lead with a piece of the old wire's insulation) to the copper foil square, folded the foil in half, and wedged the foil between the base of the antenna and the slot in the case.

The range is now about 50/60 feet, and plugging the receiver in upstairs helped a bit. It's not perfect, but it's useable. I may try installing an outdoor receptacle, and using a weatherproof-while-in-use cover, with the extended antenna pointing downward through a cord slot. (I've done this before)

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

P.S. Dave, not bad, thanx for asking.