ControlThink Forums

Does anyone have any ideas on how to increase the range of zwave devices.  I have landscape lighting installed in my back yard.  One of the recepticles for these lights is 50' from the next closest recepticle (or other electrical fixture), which also has a zwave module installed.  I'm trying automatically turn on these lights nightly.  I have to be within  40' with the remote in order to get a response from the recepticle.  I would settle for a battery operated repeater if one exists, but adding a closure electrical box is not practical.

You could stick a Z-Wave module between the Z-Wave module that is out of range and one that is.  Z-Wave commands can hop off different devices in order to reach the intended destination.

Haven't seen anything yet. I asked a similar question a while back (was gonna build a detached outboulding that was too far away -- I have the luxury of it being new construction so I could plan for something in the middle).

There wa some talk about Z/IP (Z-Wave to IP gateway of some sort). A pair of Vizia RF Foyers (when it ships) might be able to help (or if not now, this would be a GREAT feature whether it's official Z/IP or not). This approach converts a Z-Wave problem into a networking problem where there are many options.

Thanks for the input.  I'll keep my eyes open.  I almost solved my problem by switching to a couple of appliance modules from Intermatic.  For what ever the reason, the module exhibits greater range then the wired in zwave recepticle from Cooper.  By using a short extension cord I was able to mount the module in a weatherproof box about 3' higher on the back fence.  I also mounted a dummy appliance module in the next closest recepticle currently wired as another zwave recepticle.  In other words 2 devices in one physical location.  The two appliance modules are currently communicating over 80' away.  I'm not sure how reliable the signals will remain but at the moment they're working.  Again for reasons I'm not sure of, the signals are more repeatable by changing the network order from repticle to module to module to recepticle despite the fact that the recepticle/module combination are almost on top of each other.