- It may be counter-intuitive, mounting the Translator too close to the panel can cause problems. Control panels can become deaf to wireless signals if they are too “loud”. If the Translator is positioned within less than 10 feet of the control panel, it is in danger of providing a signal so large that the panel cannot hear it clearly.
- Actually, the Translator can be located almost anywhere in the house and it will probably work just fine. To better understand why, see the Range of Repeaters and where to mount them section below. Repeaters and Translators are very similar in operation.
Repeaters in Alula’s Connect+ platform
Alula introduced a Cryptix repeater to it lineup to offer an even bigger advantage over the competition. The Connect+ panel has already surpassed range tests on other panels by 2 to 4 times. So if supervisory or range issues are occurring on an install the repeater is sure to improve these circumstances. Since instances may be rare for the device to be required so your distributor may need to put in a special order. The part number for the Cryptix repeater is RE620.
Want to ensure your Connect+ is getting the best range before adding a repeater?
- Ensure the Connect+ is mounted an ample amount of space between the panel and the router or other electronics. Connect+ comes with a 6 feet ethernet cable to ensure you do not have to be right next to a router. Starting with a few feet is best practice and moving further away (up to 6 feet or more) if issues with signal strength occur.
- Orient sensors antenna in the same position as Connect+. Changing the orientation of the sensor or the panel will improve signal strength.
- Move the panel closer to problem sensors. Connect+ is a versatile in its mounting capability. Move the panel to another location of the installation site to harness the most of its range. Best practice is to start centrally located but if range issues arise the panel can be relocated closer to the most effected sensors.
- A max of two (2) Repeaters can be used for a sensor to get back to the panel. Sensor>Repeater>Repeater>Panel. The sensor must be enrolled into Repeaters.
- Enrolling sensors into the Repeater allows use of additional Repeaters to be placed in range of the panel without repeated sensor signals.
What Repeater should I use with a 2GIG system?
- The Universal RE524X has replaced the previous version of RE220 and RE220T translators.
- This situation does cause some confusion. Since the 2GIG panel can hear both 2GIG and Honeywell sensors, it makes sense to just use a RE220 Honeywell Compatible Repeater. As it turns out this is not the case. You must use the RE220T 2GIG Compatible Repeater in 2GIG installations. Here is the quick run down on why:
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- A 2GIG installation will very possibly have both Honeywell and 2GIG sensors in it.
- A Honeywell Compatible Repeater cannot understand or even hear a 2GIG sensor. And it certainly will not repeat a 2GIG signal.
- So any Repeater used in an installation with both 2GIG and Honeywell sensors must be able to both hear and repeat the signals from both 2GIG and Honeywell sensors.
- The RE220T Repeater hears and repeat the signals from both 2GIG and Honeywell sensors.
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- Can you use a RE220T 2GIG Compatible Repeater in a pure Honeywell system? Sure, but still not recommended. If there is a 2GIG system nearby, you will just clutter the air with extra wireless signals.
Where should I install a Repeater, and what is the range?
Here are some fundamentals of how Repeaters perform. The REx20 Repeaters and RE524X have two large, unobstructed antennas, and have industry leading RF circuitry. This means:
- The Repeater can hear better than most any control panel. This is because most control panels antennas are stuffed behind a bunch of circuit boards, close to noisy things like LCD displays.
- The Repeater can talk better than most any sensor. This is because virtually all sensors have only one antenna, so they are subject to dead spots in signals. Plus, they usually operate at a higher transmit power than virtually all sensors.
- The result of the two phenomena above is that you can often mount a Repeater just about ANYWHERE in a house and it will improve the situation. But if you have to mount it for best performance, mount the Repeater nearer to the panel than to the sensors you are worried about. This is because the panels (particularly the self-contained variety) are usually the weak link in the system, and need to be wirelessly-yelled-at.
- To troubleshoot or optimize the system, use the green LED to verify that the Repeater is hearing every sensor you are worried about the panel not hearing.
- It is good practice to enroll the Repeater itself into the panel as a monitored zone. In addition to tamper and low backup battery monitoring, it ensures that the wireless connection between the Repeater and the control panel is always operating correctly.
Is a Translator like a Repeater?
Absolutely. A Wireless Translator listening to existing sensors provides the same dramatic increase in range as using a Repeater. So it is common for installing dealers to see lots of range issues with their virgin installations using new sensors, but their Translator takeover installations have no problems at all.
How do I know if the Translator is hearing sensors?
- The absolute most valuable tools are the green and red LEDs.
- Green LED: Flickering = I am hearing one of the old wireless sensors.
- Red LED: Flickering = I am speaking the wireless language to the panel.
- Steps to verify the signal path:
- Enroll the Translator itself into the panel*. This enables monitoring tamper and battery status (which can also indicate loss of wall power). But more importantly, it proves that the Translator is speaking the right language to the panel.
- Trip an old wireless sensor and verify that the green LED flickers. This proves that the Translator can hear and understand the old wireless sensors.
- Trip an old wireless sensor and look for BOTH the green LED AND the red LED to flicker. This means that the Translator is hearing AND passing on the signal.
- If only the green LED is flickering than ensure the translator has learned this sensor. All sensors must be configured into the RE524X by using the configuration button.
- The translator does not support life safety devices including rate of rise sensors.
*Optional. See panels installation manual for zone enrollment. The Translator does require an available zone for enrollment. Enrollment is not required for translation and repeating purposes.