Originally Posted by
dougcoleman
50 device installation at my home. Initially installed professionally. I have the essentials 12.6.0. I have upgraded the firmware on the main repeater, and activated a replacement device in my system. So I know the nuts and bolts of device activation, uploading to the repeater, etc. I have two RRD-8S-DV switches in a weathertight box on a stonewall that control a swimming pool light and low voltage transformer for landscape lighting. I have these switches installed and functioning as dumb devices. In the Northeast, but these devices are offline during the cold weather, and have survived one and a half winters fine.I have tried to activate these devices. After initial failure, with by entering the device addresses and by following the prompt to add the device manually by button press, it continually fails. I am aware of the distance limitations, and thought of installing a auxiliary repeater in the basement with horizontal line of sight. (vertically the devices are 12 inches below the edge of the stone wall facing away from the house). Before doing this, I temporarily installed my Main repeater in the location I was thinking about. It still fails to be able to activate. I assume the distance and back wall of the house, which is mostly glass, is still too much for the RF. So, my only mounting solution is outside. I thought of a fiberglass weathertight box, and perhaps putting a 5 watt nightlight bulb with thermostat in the box as well to warm up some in cold weather. But this is still 35 feet from, and vertically blocked by the stone wall. I can mount it high up on the house, but it will never be line of sight to the devices, and at the extreme of the RF range. Cabling to the switch location to hardwire a repeater, then installing weatherproof as described doesn’t work. Moving the devices higher so the protrude above the walls edge is possible, but might be the thing that makes me settle for dumb devices. Any other ideas?