Long distance contact sensor (2)

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1

Anyone have experience with a long distance outdoor sensor. The one zigbee and Zwave sensor i’ve tried each had 25-30’ capability. I’m trying to reach my mailbox at about 70’. Hub is inside with direct view from window. TIA

2

You should be looking for LR compatible sensors since it's now supported by Hubitat. I have experience and good luck with Zooz's recent updated contact sensor Although the URL says 700 it's an 800 chip as the site shows.

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3

I have been using a Visonic MCT-370 long range Zigbee Contact Sensor on my mailbox for a few years now (since May 2022.) It has worked extremely reliably, and my mailbox is about 75 feet from the house.

I bought mine from eBay, and it appears many new ones are still available and are inexpensive. I even bought spare, as I know that being exposed to the elements will probably shorten this device's lifespan.

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4

Something I wonder about. I believe WIFI has a longer range. Could you possibly use a matter sensor which would communicate over wifi to the hub?

don't know if that would work or not.

5

I have several of the ZSE41's and they work great... But I am using them in mesh and not long range as I am one of those suffering from the apparently un-fixable LR bug... I'm planning on using a second hub for LR stuff if they don't come up with a fix soon... But I digress... The sensors are good and I did have a couple of them originally in LR mode before it all broke...

6

Matter over WiFi uses a lot of power, and thus you probably will not find any battery powered Matter devices that use WiFi. Most, if not all, would use Matter over Thread. Thread uses the same 2.4GHz radio as Zigbee, and thus I would expect the range to be similar.

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7

I too use the Zooz LR ZSE41 for a couple of outdoor (covered) things. Mailbox, Mail shed (I ship a lot of stuff!) and for my chicken egg stand out on the street. Longest distance is only about 30 ft though. Also, can't go wrong with The Smartest House customer service.

Hope this helps

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8

Why was I getting notifications of this post in email?

Update: I see -- you created it as an email thread to the group "USA". Please don't do that.

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9

Is that what happened? I was trying to figure it out..

I will add I had a zooz temp/humidity sensor in a gun safe for close to two years without problems. Replaced the battery about every 9 months.

10

I don't fully understand the Matter/Thread stuff. So the compatible device list shows and Eve Contact Matter sensor. So If that is commissioned using Homekit or whatever, then a code produced and it is paired to HE. Then it can be deleted from the commissioning device, I believe.. Does that not still communicate via wifi? I don't see any data as to battery life, but would think it couldn't be too bad.

Just wondering, as I said I don't understand it all .

11

Can a mod lock this post? Each message is sending email to the 500 members of group USA.

@support_team

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12

I fixed it, I moved it out to be a public thread in the Get Help > Devices section

It was actually created as a PM conversation for the entire USA group, it would only send emails if you have email alerts for new PM messages.

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13

I've got one of these on the gate at the back of my yard. Measured the distance a while back but don't remember exactly, probably between 80' and 100' from the hub, through two walls (interior/exterior standard wood/wallboard construction). Works w/out issue. Like that it is very small and sleek (which isn't obvious from its product pic), and it's been trouble-free. Using excellent Zooz drivers from @jtp10181 with it.

Why have you been hiding these? :wink: Oddly I wasn't aware of a "Zigbee LR" category of devices. (I know, need to spend less time reading comics in class.) :slight_smile: Size/shape is a little odd, but would work well for stuff where WAF isn't a key factor. EDIT: Actually, I'm having difficulty figuring out exactly how big the sensor is from the pics...ah, found the specs. A little tall at almost an inch, but overall much smaller than I intially thought:

image
image755×452 85.8 KB

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14

Thanks,
Wasn't really a bother to me but nice to know what caused it.

15

I use the zooz in LR mode to a metal mailbox about 150’ away from the hub through walls and vinyl siding.

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16

Eve sensors use Thread, not WiFi. They need a Thread router to communicate with Hubitat. And Eve sensors are subject to the same physics as zigbee devices.

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17

I believe I learned about it years ago in this thread

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18

Ecolink DWZWAVE2.5-ECO. 300’ (per Google Earth) clear line of sight and during fair weather. C7 hub is 7’ from floor and 1’ from typical insulated and drywall(ed) vinyl siding 2x4 outside wall facing the sensor. Box is typical rural steel box with sensor mounted underneath. Sensor uses standard CR123 battery and has terminals for external contact.

19

What’s confusing then is HE’s compatible device list shows it as matter using generic matter driver.

20

From Hubitat's perspective, all Matter devices are sort of "Matter over Ethernet/WiFi" based devices. This is because Hubitat's Hub does not contain its own Thread radio. Thus, it relies on third party devices, like an Apple HomePod, Apple TV, Google Home Hub, or Amazon Echo device to act as a Thread Border Router (TBR) device. The job of a TBR is to make Matter over Thread devices accessible by Multiple Matter Controller devices. Matter Controllers communicate over one's home Ethernet/WiFi network.

Matter over WiFi devices do not use a TBR. They can communicate directly via WiFi and thus are able to be 'seen' by any Matter Controller on the same Ethernet/WiFi network.

Hope that helps to explain it a little. Suffice it to say, Matter over WiFi devices are almost always plugged into your home's Mains Power outlets. Matter over Thread devices are almost always battery powered.

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