[DIY] external antenna for power meter Aeon Labs (DSB28-ZWEU E2)

[Armin_P 0]

Hi!
I would like to show a little DIY project I did lately to enhance the Z-Wave receiving possibilities of the power meter device from Aeon Labs (DSB28-ZWEU E2).

The device is located in the electrical distribution box which is made of steel.

I put a repeater in it and it worked for months flawlessly, but since 2 weeks it is no more integrated in the Z-Wave network (deleting and reincusion, manually mesh rebuild didn't work).

(Be careful, this device is working with 230 Volts, I am an electrical engineer and know what I am doing.
Only let professionals do this work!)

So I opened the device and remove the internal antenna and mount an external into it:

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Dismantled device with the internal antenna


To make an external antenna a GND pin is needed for the shield of the Koax cable. The cable is taken from an old external WiFi antenna.


I isolated the shield with a 'shrinking tube'


to build the antenna it is important to remove the outer shield weave exactly about 86 mm (which is lamda/4 of 868MHz)  


My first thought was to drill a hole in the steelbox to get the antenna outside of the box.
But I don't like the idea, because the Box is located at my porch at the main entrance of my house -so everyone would see the ugly antenna...

So I shove the 80 cm long antenna into the electro tube which leads the lines into the house.
This works since 3 days perfect and I will report in the next few weeks if it is still working.

I think this solution will work with every Z-Wave device (also with battery powered ones).
Sometimes it could be a matter of a few zentimeters if a device is reaching the Z-Wave network and is working or not.

[Guest 22]

Nice one!

 

But....

 

QuoteQuoteSo I shove the 80 cm long antenna into the electro tube which leads the lines into the house.

 

80cm is a 1/4 Lambda for 85 MHz

 

You mean 86 mm I guess

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