Sensor Reception

As you'll read in the SIS document Optimum Sensor Reception, sometimes we've found the sensor range to be only 15 feet. Other times we can reliably detect the same sensors 100 feet away.

We have experimented with the following, but do not have concrete recommendations at this time:

• Placing the receivers inside a shielded, grounded metal enclosure with only their antenna sticking out.
• Coiled antennas that came with some receivers vs a straight quarter wave antenna.

If you want to perform your own tests, then we have some recommendations.

Use our test code. This code runs with the Debug SIS client web site.

• Use our code ReceiveTest.ino instead of the regular SIS code. This code provides more data on sensor code reception.
• Use our code TestBeacon.ino running with a small transmitter so that you always know exactly how many codes are sent out for each test run.
• Make sure your body is at least five feet from the receiving antennas as your body position can affect the reception.
• When establishing a baseline, repeat the test with the SIS ReceiveTest in several different positions. In some cases we’ve found that moving the SIS one foot in some direction can dramatically affect reception at the fringes.