How to extend the range of a Simplisafe Gen3 Sensor.

[@Carnie74]

Ahhhhhmazing!!! THANK YOU for taking the time to do this, and for sharing it with everyone! I have wanted my driveway gate alarmed for over a year. Unfortunately, it is 340ft from my house, and my base station is then on the opposite back side of the home. I JUST made your suggested modification to an entry sensor, tested it out, and BAM! I have an active sensor at my front gate now! I'm very excited! Tomorrow I just need to waterproof it with some potting compound, and I'm all set. Thank you!

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Great to hear! Always glad when my videos help people out! RJ

[@fredc888]

You rock! Lol on triggering your dad's alarm 1/8 mile away.... I'll keep that in mind.

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Thanks! Glad you got a laugh and useful information. RJ

[@wirekat]

Great video RJ. I'm an old fan from Lynx Express days. I still have a few boards around and recently built a DMX Splitter for a friend.

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Thanks, welcome I glad to see some of my old Xmas light friends at my KZbin channel. RJ

[@garylpphc]

Can’t wait to try this! I have entry sensors that are only 25-30’ away that won’t connect to my base station. But there are some obstacles

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Oh believe me, it will work. The range is greatly increased. If it is steel walls or concrete you might still have issues but likely this we git-r-done for you and it’s easy. Good luck let me know how you make out. RJ

[@garylpphc]

It worked!!! I did two of them and now my base station is able to see the two sensors! Thanks a bunch for sharing This!

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Great! Glad I was of help. RJ

[@garylpphc]

Now I want to extend the antenna on all my things! There’s an antenna in my car’s alarm. I wonder if it will work if I extend that? My car remote range sucks! I have to be within 6’

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

@@garylpphc LOL!!!

[@transplantedliver]

Worked like a charm!

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Great! Glad I could help. I may be doing the same with one of the cameras as I have a couple and one doesn’t always connect. It seems like it’s on the edge of reception of the base. RJ

[@stevenglasser2408]

Great video, I need to try this. I have one door sensor that has been intermittently losing signal, one water sensor in a metal outdoor water heater cabinet and one extra keypad. All the randomly lose connection say once every three weeks. I don’t have a spectrum analyzer, do you suspect all use the same freq? Also , when I plug in 433.83 MHz I get 1.1ft. You said it was 1.0ft but you went a little long for the strain relief. Does that 0.1” matter?

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Thanks, they all of the Gen2 sensors are on the same frequency. The length just needs to be close. I figure by going a little short the extra for the knot makes up the difference. Get it in the ball park and your disconnects will stop. A number of viewers have already made this mod successfully. RJ

[@stevenglasser2408]

I did the modification last night to one entry sensor and the water sensor. Looking forward to seeing those disconnects going away. Thanks again for sharing such a great tip in such a clear way!

[@OriginAqua]

Hi - Great video thanks. Can you do the same to the base station and would this increase range even further ? If so what length of antenna would be required. Also would a Dipole ariel work even better and if so, how could this be achieved ?

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Thanks for the great question. It may be possible to add an antenna to the base. The main reason I did not attempt this was because I did not want to risk the base station which I would have to buy a whole new system to replace. I can replace a sensor for $15. RJ

[@chaddean4940]

Is there anyway i could mail you 3 base stations to add an antenna? I have an apartment complex and the tenant took down the wired smoke detector..took out the battery and put the alarm in hall closet . He caught the unit on fire while smoking and was highly intoxicated. While insurance has now dropped me i need good connectivity to smoke alarms. Desperate here..wil pay you!

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

@@chaddean4940 No, I'm Sorry. Go back and read the the previous reply to @OriginAqua. I wouldn't even do it to my own base station. RJ

[@Kray86]

Is it necessary to remove the preinstalled antenna or could you just add to it?

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

You need to remove it. If you do not have a desolder rig cut the metal wire and heat one side at a time and pull them out as separate. This is easy to do. Hope that helps.

[@ericpierce3386]

⁠@@LynxElectronicsLab Is there an easy way to explain why it must be removed vs. attaching/soldering the additional wire to it? Thanks for a wonderful video!

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

@@ericpierce3386 Your Welcome! Because it is hard to solder to that plated steel antenna and room is a little tight to get the wire routed. To know how long the antenna looks to the sensor you would need to solder right at the end against the board on the unconnected end. It seemed it was just more difficult so I remove it in my opinion it is easier to remove it. You can cut it and remove each end very easy with just a soldering iron.

[@nicholasselden1859]

For what it’s worth, I did a similar mod a few years ago on the water sensor. I soldered directly to the existing antennae. Since adding the antennae, I haven’t had the sensor disconnect a single time over several years. It was fairly challenging to solder directly to the existing antennae though. I’m a soldering novice.

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

@@nicholasselden1859 Great Job! It just takes practice. RJ

[@HShanonAnderson]

So exactly what was the wire size or type you used??

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Just some 22ga stranded wire off of one of my bulk spools. It isn’t critical as long as it’s small enough to fit and work with. The length is the size that matters.

[@NathanMendez-c8v]

What kind of wire are you using here?

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Just some 22ga stranded wire off of one of my bulk spools. It isn’t critical as long as it’s small enough to fit and work with. The length is the size that matters. RJ

[@joeczeciuk6638]

Is there a fix for an outdoor camera? Unfortunately there is a brick wall between the base station and the camera plus two walls made of drywall. There is no way to work around the cement wall.

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

First I have to ask if your problem is the Wi-Fi signal or the 433 MHz signal from the base station that is the issue? I have not opened a camera up to look at it. But as I found out it takes a signal from the base to wake the camera up so it will start putting out a Wi-Fi video feed. RJ

[@HShanonAnderson]

Thanks so much. I just did that to two sensors that were out or range. Worked perfectly.

[@LynxElectronicsLab]

Great, glad I could help!