I need some suggestions on how to mount my future Z-wave or Zigbee sticks extension cable with antenna.
I’ve attached a picture with where I’m thinking to mount it. As it shows, I have a rack and pi4 with HA. My rack is also located in the small cabby under the stairs with locked doors.
Do you think the reception will be okay in this place and an antenna mounted on the wall where red square is? I’m thinking of using Z-wave stick for now and later add Zigbee as needed.
It is hard to tell, because it really needs to in relation to where the rest of your devices are.
The rack is a lot of metal and that bounce radio waves, so you should try to get a clear sight from your radio sticks to the nearest devices in your network.
Also try to keep 10-15cm/4-6in between the radio sticks.
Yes, that fair. My first device might be some kind of smart lock which is less than 30ft from this rack. I’d say pretty much all sensors will be within 30 ft or less from this location. My house is about 2300 square foot with 2 levels.
Metal bounce signals.
Water/liquid absorbs signals.
Electric noise distorts signals.
Wood is fine in building. Wood in forest might be an issue, especially in the summer time where the sap is running to the leafs.
Concrete is fine, but reinforced concrete contains metal bars and then it is a question on how many and how dense they are set.
Windows are actually a liquid and especially the 3-layered thermo glass windows can cause havoc with signals and sun screen coating makes it even worse.