[Solved] Satel RE-4K Radio Panel Range Issues: Installation and Interference Concerns

Welcome,

I have purchased a SATEL RE-4K control panel. The control panel is mounted in a polystyrene cut-out, on the facade, about 6m above the ground. A 7-wire cable enters the house and runs down an unused chimney flue to the basement where the gate control is. The control panel is powered by a MeanWell 12V power supply. The control panel will work when first connected. It was possible to control 4 channels from the basement.
The next time, it no longer works. I.e. it works, but the range has dropped to a few metres. The batteries in the remote control have of course been replaced with new ones.
The control unit is located approx. 40cm above the electrical connection, the cable from the pole is fixed and goes into the wall. Could this location have a negative effect on the radio line?

Hello.Have you tried playing with the antenna to pull it out of the switchboard housing if it is there.

Yes, antenna original, length also. Approximately 15cm extends beyond the elevation.

I understand that everything is fine when you get close to the antenna and the further away the connection is missing?
Maybe you have a coverage problem or something that interferes with coverage!

Exactly. There is range within a few metres. Even after dismantling and connecting briefly in the basement, she passed from potential interference, the range is only a few metres.

You will have to work with the antenna (the wire) if the manufacturer of the control unit does not provide for the installation of an additional antenna on the board... Try to extend it outside, avoid obstacles (walls etc.)

Hello
If you start to combine with the antenna it can be worse .In this module is a superreactive receiver and can jitter . I use two such modules .One on the chimney at a height of about 8 m connected to the integra with about 5 m cable - range of about 200 m .The second at a height of about 2.5 m real range of about 25 m .
If the batteries are weak the control panel displays the alarm .Both modules work inside on the roof concrete tile I would suggest checking on a new remote control I had similar stories - the diode flashes and does not work . I replace the remotes on average every 2 years . And the power supply pulse or transformer ?
If you have impulse power supply (which you probably have) then replace it with transformer . Generally these modules are powered from the control unit . Is the same power supply for the actuators and the module ? Does the LED flash red when you transmit ? Many questions ...

Greetings

elektro16 wrote:

Hello.
If you start combining with the antenna it can be worse .There is a superreactive receiver in this module and it can jitter . I use two such modules .One on the chimney at a height of about 8 m connected to the integra with about 5 m cable - range of about 200 m .The second at a height of about 2.5 m real range of about 25 m .
If the batteries are weak the control panel displays the alarm .Both modules work inside on the roof concrete tile I would suggest checking on a new remote control I had similar stories - the diode flashes and does not work . I replace the remotes on average every 2 years . And the power supply pulse or transformer ?
If you have impulse power supply (which you probably have) then replace it with transformer . Generally these modules are powered from the control unit . Is the same power supply for the actuators and the module ? Does the LED flash red when you transmit ? Many questions ...

Greetings

.

The power supply is an industrial, pulsed Mean Well EDR-75-12, and I only power the control panel from it. The LED flashes everywhere, the receiver only finds the signal from a few metres.

Hello

Control unit and remote controls new or used ? Using a power supply with a current capacity of 6.3 A to supply only the module with a current consumption of 65 mA max ?

It would be worth checking the signal level with a tester. I generally mount Elmes radiolinks (in my opinion better range and more reliable operation), and here I use the RFM4 tester in difficult conditions.... I just don't know if there is anywhere to plug in the satellite receiver. The indicator works sensationally, because in addition to the signal strength it also shows the noise at the receiver site, which can prevent it from working properly.



The main question is whether you bought a new radioline (receiver) or is it used, on the radio receiver board in the radioline you have a trimmer, see if it is not damaged. Is it possible that during installation/testing you inadvertently managed to disrupt the radio? Also check for cold solder on the antenna, i.e. gently dismantle the whole radio board and see what the soldering points on the radio board look like underneath, it is soldered on goldpins and cold solder happens there.... In the picture below you have it marked with the trimmer I mentioned earlier.

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elektro16 wrote:

Control unit and remote controls new or used ? Using a power supply with a current capacity of 6.3 A to supply only the module with a current consumption of 65 mA max ?

Yes, I used one that I just happened to have at home.

adversus wrote:

Basic question is whether you bought a new radiolink (receiver) or is it used, on the radio receiver board in the radiolink you have a trimmer, see if it is not damaged. Is it possible that during installation/testing you inadvertently managed to disrupt the radio? Also check for cold solder on the antenna, i.e. gently dismantle the whole radio board and see what the soldering points on the radio board look like underneath, it is soldered on goldpins and cold solder happens there.... In the picture below you have it marked with the trimmer I mentioned earlier.

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Yes, the control panel was new. The board looks perfect. the solders are liquid tin coloured. They are OK. All I can do is re-solder the antenna. The trimmer, in a slightly different form, is there, bank not touched. Also, after assembly, a few days before I switched on the voltage - after switching on I checked - it worked from the basement, about 20-30m through thick walls and ceilings. after a few more days it only works when you control a few m from the receiver. The price is not knockdown, but the point is the connection to the house itself, did it "upset" the radio?! i have no idea if it can have a negative effect.

The connection may not upset the radio, but.... well there is a lot of junk in the wires (in the sense of interference). Manufacturers of these types of radiolinks recommend that they be installed away from metal surfaces, but your connection may be so strong that it prevents proper operation, and the second thing is that the receiver may be damaged.

It may also be that something is interfering with the radio. Example: I installed an intercom and gate operator at a customer's house (I had previously removed the wireless bell). The gate was remote-controlled, worked from 50 metres and everything was fine for a few days, and then I got a call saying that the gate worked from 3 metres and that everything sucked. So I go for a visual inspection.... I look at it, I check it, I put it together. I ask the customer for the cardboard box with all the assembly parts (instructions)... I look in the carton and there is a wireless bell button pinched by some clothespins and still seeping.... Removal from the carton and disassembly of the battery and eureka !!!! The gate is working as it should again.

As you can see diagnosing is not easy, it is very labour intensive and laborious.... As you have the opportunity to borrow and test on another radio (purchase online and return after testing). This will show if the fault lies in your receiver or interference in your area.

...
The third issue is the 433.92MHz operating band of the receiver itself (whichever intermediate f is desensitised), still in the city centre, somewhere under Broadcast TV/R transmitters and LPD users....

Ideally, for testing, you would buy some Elmes receiver and the said tester (preferably from the same dealer), then in addition to testing another receiver you will estimate what the interference level is in your area.

I at my place a month ago also had a problem with the remote controls and the range dropped to a few metres. I have the gate control implemented by a controller that I call by phone (list of allowed phone numbers) and this controlled the original Smilo Nice remote. Unfortunately, due to interference, the Nice remote control would not operate the gate .
I solved this by installing an old Gorke radio transmitter with a range of 1km (about 50mW plus a decent half-wave antenna, to which I soldered the Keelooq chip from the Nice remote control, and now I have peace of mind. It works without a stutter. Unfortunately, interference levels in the city are starting to rise to the point where this band is becoming useless. An alternative is the radio beacons for the 886MHz band.

Just purchased today, will return if necessary:
ropam RF-4-2K .
We'll see how it performs. Someone recommended it to me because of this antenna.

Expensive kit, in my opinion the quality of the Elmes I mentioned is much better. It has a whole range of radiolinks and it also offers the mentioned tester. Now you can only rule out whether you have a working satel radiolink, you won't know what level of interference you have in your area.

Added after 9 [minutes]:

Here's a link to the manufacturer...
http://www.elmes.pl/pl/katalog
and here you have the radio sets (receiver and remote controls included)
http://www.elmes.pl/pl/kategorie-produktow/zestawy-sterowania-radiowego
The tester is certainly compatible with all Elmes products, unfortunately it will not work with all other receivers, Here you have to test, the description has on the manufacturer's website:
http://www.elmes.pl/pl/produkty/wskaznik-poziomu-sygnalu-radiowego

4 channel radio
http://www.elmes.pl/pl/produkty/odbiornik-4-k...owy-jeden-pilot-4-przyciskowy-zasilanie-12vdc
and 4 channel long range (remote control with higher transmitting power and superheterodyne receiver)
http://www.elmes.pl/pl/produkty/odbiornik-4-k...4-przyciskowy-o-duzym-zasiegu-zasilanie-12vdc

I have been extremely unlucky. I just received a package, opened it and there was a surprise. A DIY kit. 4 pieces fell off the board. I no longer have any doubts. I return the money and reach for Elmes. Photos to prove it.
I do not reveal the identity of the seller - I trust that it is a simple, unfortunate coincidence.

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I have nothing against Ropam, I even have their GSM module connected and it has worked for years, but the fact that the components fell off in transit is a mockery.

As for Elmes, there are various receivers, have a look at the offer on the manufacturer's website because it might be worth buying the receiver and remotes separately, they have a large selection....

Added after 5 [minutes]:

You have 3 types of 4 channel receivers, a regular heterodyne, a superheterodyne and a superheterodyne with a 12/24V power supply. The best receiver in my opinion is this one
http://www.elmes.pl/pl/produkty/odbiornik-4-k...owy-dwie-wersje-zasilania-12vdc-albo-24v-dcac

and order a remote control that suits you visually.

Elmes control panel, without even taking it outside. It is located in the attic and works from the basement without any problems. Thank you for your answers.