As best I can tell, all Z-wave wall switches and repeaters seem to focus their Z-wave radiation pattern out from the face of the device, rather than to the sides or behind the device. Is that usually true?
And assuming it is true, how do I strengthen the signal to/from devices that are located outside my house? All of my switches face into the house, not out to the yard. I am having problems with my GE Enbrighten Z-Wave Plus Smart Outdoor Switches not reliably responding. These outdoor switches seem to take very long and multi-hop paths back to the hub.
This is my understanding, and makes logical sense. The manufacturers have to expect users will be installing these in-wall devices in both plastic and metal boxes. So they don't waste their time trying to broadcast the signal out all directions as it could be a metal box just wasting that signal. Instead focus it out the front face of the device.
I have a outside contact sensor across my front yard from my house for mailbox automation. I added a plug-in repeater to the outlet that is on the interior wall that is closet to that outdoor sensor. So far that has worked great, maybe try a plug-in repeater vs relying only on in-wall repeating devices (like switches).
Plug-in repeaters are a good idea, but not always required. In my case, I have an outside plug for X-Mas lights and it works well. I also have 3 Inovelli lights in front of the house which also work well.
I have helped someone who wanted to control lights in his garage that is about 50 feet from the house. A repeater did the trick. I think we used an Aeotec one plugged into an outside outlet close to the house. It is working well.
