Help extending the range of my Dakota Alert System

[jk96]

I have the same system, no issues. But if I were you, I'd probably try replacing the antenna on the receiver. Because you say you are getting alerts, the signal does make it, just not consistent. But that's just thinking out loud...

Kind of what Im thinking. Transmitter sits at the bottom of about a 35ft hill so its the earth thats killing the signal. I could get some wire and raise the transmitter high uo the tree but dont want to have to get a ladder to change batteries if I can make an antenna work.

 

[slckeys]

You wouldn't even have to raise the transmitter, just the antenna so it can get over the "earth" that's blocking the signal. You could keep the battery case lower and accessable, while running an extension cable and antenna up higher. So that could be a better option so you don't have some weird antenna in your house.

 

[ponytug]

Kind of what Im thinking. Transmitter sits at the bottom of about a 35ft hill so it's the earth thats killing the signal. I could get some wire and raise the transmitter high uo the tree but dont want to have to get a ladder to change batteries if I can make an antenna work.

Could put the transmitter up, but have a battery at ground level?

If not, I would raise the antenna, and I would use the Yagi type that @bdhsfz6 suggested, as it will have the most increase in signal strength. Each foot of cable that you use eats into your signal, so long antenna cables can be worse than a mini-antenna.

All the best,

Peter

 

[jk96]

For connecting the coax to the circuit board is it as simple as soldering the center pin to the board? Does anything need to be done with the coax outer shield as far as grounding?

 

[slckeys]

No idea on the grounding, but make sure to either seal up the hole for the cable, or put a drip loop in it.

 

[garry1p]

I would first connect the center conductor to the receiver PCB to see if that is enough, if not depending on the antenna you will have to have a ground plane for the shield. The higher the antenna the more effective it will be.

For the YAGI I think attaching the shield to the ground (-) on the PCB would work.

For a vertical antenna a 6 to 12" round piece of aluminum directly under the antenna with the shield connected would work.

Then again I haven't worked with this stuff for 20/30 years.

 

[ruffdog]

Interesting read:

Adding range to a Dakota Alert WMT-3000 wireless driveway alarm | Jay's Technical Talk

 

[jk96]

Interesting read:

Adding range to a Dakota Alert WMT-3000 wireless driveway alarm | Jay's Technical Talk

I asked a friend who's field is electronics about the coax and this was his reply.

"I think that it can work. The coax shield has to be soldered to the ground plane close to where the center conductor is soldered to the board. I think we can ignore the impedance mismatch."

 

[ruffdog]

This part too.....

"Note the jumper circled in yellow. This jumper has a “high” and “low” setting. It is set to the “low” setting by the factory, and the “high” pin has been cut off. I found that the range was extended by soldering the “high” (cut off) pin to the center pin."

 

[jk96]

This part too.....

"Note the jumper circled in yellow. This jumper has a “high” and “low” setting. It is set to the “low” setting by the factory, and the “high” pin has been cut off. I found that the range was extended by soldering the “high” (cut off) pin to the center pin."

In looking this board is completely different then the newer redesigned board in my unit.