User manual

Figure 13

5.5 Best Practices for Wireless Communication

Note: To insure proper communication, mount the remote sensor(s) upright on a vertical surface,

such as a wall. Do not lay the sensor flat.

Wireless communication is susceptible to interference, distance, walls and metal barriers. We

recommend the following best practices for trouble free wireless communication.

1. Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI). Keep the ObserverIP receiver several feet away from

computer monitors and TVs.

2. Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). If you have other 433 MHz devices and

communication is intermittent, try turning off these other devices for troubleshooting

purposes. You may need to relocate the transmitters or receivers to avoid intermittent

communication.

3. Line of Sight Rating. This device is rated at 300 feet line of sight (no interference, barriers or

walls) but typically you will get 100 feet maximum under most real-world installations,

which include passing through barriers or walls.

4. Metal Barriers. Radio frequency will not pass through metal barriers such as aluminum

siding. If you have metal siding, align the remote and ObserverIP receiver through a window

to get a clear line of sight.

The following is a table of reception loss vs. the transmission medium. Each “wall” or obstruction

decreases the transmission range by the factor shown below.

Medium

RF Signal Strength Reduction

Glass (untreated)

5-15%

Plastics

10-15%

Wood

10-40%

Brick

10-40%

Concrete

40-80%

Metal

90-100%

5.6 ObserverIP Receiver

5.6.1 Hardware Requirements

1. Broadband router

2. An “always-on” connection to the Internet. A high speed DSL or cable internet connection

that maintains constant connection to the internet.

5.6.2 Software Requirements

An IP scan tool is required to locate the ObserverIP on the network.

Important Note: Download ObserverIP tools at the following location: