I have a c8 pro and am looking to put a Zooz ZSE70 inside my plastic mailbox located a little over 300 feet from the house. Maybe 325 feet through one exterior wall to the hub.
My question is whether or not to supply this sensor with 12volts dc at the optional-use connector, or just power it with the pair of onboard cr123 batteries.
My only reason for considering external power is that it might possibly increase the power/range at the onboard antenna of the device, giving me a little more range, but I suspect either source of power will get regulated down to the circuit boards required power anyway. Does anyone know for sure?
I've sent the question to Zooz tech support, but I don't think they understood what I was asking. They said external power was better because then the device could act like a repeater. However, since it will be paired as LR, this device cannot participate in a zwave mesh. I clarified to them and am waiting on a response.
I'm looking for the most range possible for reliable operation. I've had bad luck with several ZSE41 sensors used in LR mode, but it might be due to an onboard power supply issue (battery size/type used in those sensors).
I'm willing to build a small solar power setup at the mailbox if it will result in better range/more reliability.
I have a mailbox at maybe slightly less distance but with trees, as well as a package bin.
I put ZSE18 800LR indoor motion sensors, running on the CR123 battery, wrapped in Saran wrap in both.
The magnet mounting is nice.
For the mailbox, I have the mount screwed to the back of the mailbox.
Easy to just reach in to the back to remove it and bring into the house if you have to.
The one in the package bin, really a big trash can on wheels, gets knocked off once in a while, requiring a reach to the bottom of the bin to replace on the magnetic mount.
Both seem to be pretty good on battery.
I wonder if the ZSE70 might be more hungry since it does Lux too?
Yes I bought the ZSE18 too and am impressed by the size and design. I just wasn't sure about putting it in the mailbox since it is only rated for indoors. However, my mailbox is sealed and it would mount at the rear (inside), so it might be ok to use. Saran wrap is not a bad idea.
I'm just waiting for some above zero temps so I can go out there and try them.
I liked the ZSE70 because of the dual batteries and IP rating, but its bigger and trickier to mount than the 18.
Short exposure with the ZSE18... sheet rock screw through hole in magnetic mount. I think I did it by hand.
If you wanted to try it, you could pre apply some two sided tape to the back of the mag mount. That would take seconds, but at below zero temps...who knows.
I tried to use some vinyl electrician's tape when we had a cold snap of -5F, and it turned solid, lol.
Also, I should pull the battery tabs for the first time when I'm out there, right? I read in a couple threads here that LR devices should be paired in their permanent locations so the hub outputs proper antenna gain. I'm not sure how true that is.
Call me old school, but I bought a mailbox tilt sensor that attaches to the lid. It has a receiver in the house that has an LED and beeps for a short while when mailbox door it opened. I think I paid $20 for it.
Well I think its another swing and a miss for Zooz Zwave long range.
I laid the sensor in the mailbox and there is no communication. It will not communicate until I walk it back about 2/3 of the way to the house. I'm getting around 110-120 feet maybe. This is with the ZSE18. I suspect the ZSE70 would be no different.
I'm starting to think Long Range is just not as advertised at this time. Maybe it will improve with future hardware or firmware upgrades, but Im not seeing anywhere in the ballpark of the range claims with the 5 long range devices I've tested.
I think my hub is in an optimal location in the house now. I have pretty much zero RF interference as I'm in a rural area. I get great range from other devices inside the house to the outside such as wifi, bluetooth, and a driveway alert sensor. I know they are different technologies but I was hoping something named Long Range would work a little better than 120 feet.
On the plus side, I can just return these sensors to Amazon if I can't find another spot for them.
I've also been reading about LoRa sensors, but it seems like ready made systems that use that technology (which have proven true long range in real world use) are cloud dependent, which is a big deal breaker for me.
YoLink is supposedly adding in a local API for their next hub, and its devices are Lora based. Granted their new "local hub" is $200, so not cheap by the time you get that and some devices...
Lora in general goes farther than Zwave LR, but I have personally gotten Zwave LR (custom devices, not the Zooz devices in particular) as far as 3000 feet with open air. My homemade Lorawan devices usually can go over a mile open air, and a few miles if they have external antenna.
Some of it depends on the antenna the device uses, sometimes the orientation of the device/antenna, sometimes reflectivity/interference, etc. Every device, antenna, and install is different.
I wish some vendors would put external antenna on their outdoor rated/intended Zwave LR devices, instead of using the ■■■■ PCB antennas. But so far no one does...
Enlightening thread with respect to ZW LR expectations. I guess there is no distance certification for devices or FCC test evidence available that would substantiate product claims prior to purchase.
None that I have seen. And my GUESS is that manufacturers like Zooz, etc al, don't do distance tests at all since it isn't required in the certification.
Not external, but a visible wire inside the case of Ecolink sensors, which seem to have good range, plus they're coming out with 800LR device in the next few months.
