Boosting the wireless range

[Guff666 (Gareth Howell)]

I’ve just installed two emonTH sensors. One accesses the emonBase easily, but the other doesn’t reach the emonBase if it is located where I want it to be: I have to move it closer.

Ideally, I want the emonBase to be where I have a UPS installed, but this means it is in a shed at the bottom of the garden, approx 8m from the house. one emonTh is in a rear bedroom, but the other is in a front room. The latter can’t be heard.

So, is there anything I can do to boost the signal? Maybe a better antenna on the emonBase or the emonTH?

[Bill.Thomson]

Hello Gareth,

Have a look at this thread:

Improving RF signal strength emonTH emonTX

Further improvements… I made 2 ground planes earlier from 165mm diameter pieces of cardboard, and stuck aluminium foil to the uppermost surface (see image below). I sat the emonTX on one (instead of the sheet of foil I tried yesterday), and also sat the Raspberry Pi base station on the other (no earth connection) and immediately saw yet further signal strength improvements, despite both units remaining in exactly same locations. Measuring over a 2hr period, I now have; Mean Min Max Diff D…

You can add a ground plane to both your emonBase and emonTH.
This is probably the easiest and quickest method.
There is at least one other solution, but that involves purchasing a new antenna.
This method may resolve your issue at very low/no cost.

[Guff666 (Gareth Howell)]

Thanks, Bill
I should have found that myself.