From: Steve Hume <stevelist-AT-hume.ca>
Date: 02 Jul 2009 05:45:08 UTC   (09:45:08 AM in author's locale)
To: xtensionlist-AT-shed.com

On 2-Jul-09, at 12:45 AM, Jack Stewart wrote:

> I wonder if anyone here has ever attempted an antenna hack of the
> MR14A motion sensor with the objective of achieving an increase in
> range?
>
> I would like to use MR14's in a detached building about 300 line-of-
> sight yards away from the W800 antenna. I do not want to make the
> W800 antenna directional so this seems to be the only alternative
> way to achieve improved range.

I did test my W800 Antenna with a backing Radio Shack Amp before the
W800. I used a PalmPad and went down the street about 100 yards and it
worked fine. I didn't want that much range.

I have also modded a unit to use a 3.6V Lithium battery - the kind
used on motherboards for the clock , that I found for 50 cents at a
computer recycler - to use in outdoor winter conditions. Lithium
batteries work in cold better than alkaline. The higher voltage did
give a better signal but, I have not done a distance test.

A combination of the leaky coax and a 3.6V battery is an option. The
signaling rate is slow enough that even 2 antennas attached to the
W800, with one pointed specially to your distant site should also work.

Steve Hume
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