Hi everyone,
I’m setting up a new Z-Wave network and could use some expert advice on signal penetration through thick concrete.
My Setup:
Hub: Home Assistant Green
Controller: SONOFF Z-Wave 800 Dongle Plus (ZBDongle-PZG23)
Devices:
SHELLY - Z-Wave+ 800 humidity and temperature sensor Wave H&T
SHELLY - ZWave 800 Long Range door or window opening sensor
SHELLY - Black Z-Wave 800 Long Range Smart Plug
The Challenge: I live on the 1st floor of an apartment building. I need to monitor my cellar (basement) and a garage located across from the building. Between the hub and the cellar, there are at least two thick reinforced concrete slabs (floors).
Since it’s a condo, I cannot place any repeaters/plugs in the common hallways or stairs. I do have a power outlet inside the cellar, but no Ethernet/LAN access there.
Questions:
I’ve set the RF Region to “Europe Long Range” in Z-Wave JS . I’m seeing nodes assigned to IDs like 255/256, which confirms LR is active. However, the signal from the cellar is struggling to reach the 1st floor.
Has anyone successfully “bypassed” two floors of reinforced concrete using Z-Wave 800 LR without intermediate repeaters?
Are there any specific Z-Wave JS settings (transmission power, etc.) I should tweak for the ZBDongle-PZG23 to maximize penetration?
Any tips on antenna placement or Mesh vs. LR strategy for this “concrete bunker” scenario would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance!