I'm probably going to get audited by the IRS for all the PayPal payments and have to prove I'm not making money on all this.
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I've been happy... Probably about 90% of my stuff is now direct to the hub...
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Only thing is, I'd have to buy another hub. Flipping switches isn't appealing.
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I bought another hub and sent it to @lewis.heidrick. Then when I got it back I moved everything to it (pretty painless to be honest). Old Hub temporarily relegated to dev hub until detached garage fixed and then that will go in there to control some stuff via hub mesh and my old c5 will be my test hub
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Perhaps after C8 has been around a little while. 
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Hopefully, they'll stick externals on the C8.
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Question, Have you ever tested the Z-Wave external with a smaller (aka shorter) antenna?
I'm considering modifying mine but to get the best pattern the antennae should be vertical and I have limited space above the hub.
Thanks
John
Yes, the smaller antennas work just as well, they just have a different radiation pattern. More circular than pancake. The lower the db rating the more round. The higher the more squished horizontally.
Thanks, I wasn't aware the height made a difference in radiation pattern. But now that I think of it the smaller the antenna the more like a point source the results would be.
The larger antennas benefit from capturing the full wave vs half wave, quarter wave, 8th wave and thus higher gain ratings. Take all this with a grain of salt as there are a lot of variables with antenna construction.
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I think phase of the moon is one of them If only we could "see" em waves.
Keep in mind this is super simplified and it's possible to have a high gain antenna that is equal in gain but smaller in size. Coil antennas for example.
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Keep in mind the antenna doesn't need to be pointed up to be considered "Vertical". Do you have room to point it down? That is still vertically polarized and will work as well.
In this case no. Wife would frown on drilling a hole in the hutch
In my case I'm only motivated by the technical aspects of the modification. My hub has been very solid for a very long time. So I will only make the modification is I find I have a need to do some electrical project (as opposed to painting a room).
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My zigbee contact sensor in the mailbox just about makes it. A new antenna would help both receiving and transmitting?
Yes, bigger ear and mouth.
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If physically appropriate, a repeater closer to the mailbox might help.
It's working now, knock on wood.
You could always mount it behind the hutch. Then it's like it's invisible...
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