# Aqara extended range **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Tags:** zigbee\ **Created:** [February 22, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493 "2021-02-22T18:20:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hans-jochen_nissen/32/9752_2.png) [@Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://community.homey.app/u/Hans-Jochen_Nissen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/1 "2021-02-22T18:20:57Z")
Hi Anyone extended an antenna on an aqara vibration sensor? Would like to do it on mine to get longer range but do not know how? ---
**Author:** ![OetAelse](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/oetaelse/32/9470_2.png) [@OetAelse](https://community.homey.app/u/OetAelse)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 6:32pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/2 "2021-02-22T18:32:30Z")
You need a Zigbee router to extend the range. I used a Ikea Zigbee repeater. ---
**Author:** ![OetAelse](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/oetaelse/32/9470_2.png) [@OetAelse](https://community.homey.app/u/OetAelse)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 6:43pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/4 "2021-02-22T18:43:47Z")
That’s true 😇 ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 6:56pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/5 "2021-02-22T18:56:24Z")
I’ve never seen anyone do that. You may be able to take some pointers from [adding an external antenna to a CC2531](https://hackaday.io/project/163505-cc2531-usb-adapter-antenna-mod) but I’ve had limited success with that myself and the hardware is obviously a bit different. What sort of range are you talking about? I have a vibration sensor about 10m from the nearest router device (in the letter box at the start of my driveway) which works fine. ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 7:03pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/6 "2021-02-22T19:03:02Z")
As far as I know, you can not shorten or lengthen the antenna, otherwise the frequency band will change. At least this is the case with Z-Wave devices. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/7 "2021-02-22T19:16:37Z")
You can use a different type of antenna, though, like a half-wave (which is longer) instead of a quarter-wave (which is typically used on PCB’s). ---
**Author:** ![OetAelse](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/oetaelse/32/9470_2.png) [@OetAelse](https://community.homey.app/u/OetAelse)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 7:34pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/8 "2021-02-22T19:34:39Z")
But why choose the hard way while there are easy and cheap ways available. Maybe for electronic enthousiasts. ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 7:38pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/9 "2021-02-22T19:38:42Z")
> [@OetAelse](#): > > But why choose the hard way while there are easy and cheap ways available You’re assuming there’s a power outlet between the location of the sensor and the rest of the network, which isn’t always the case. ---
**Author:** ![Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hans-jochen_nissen/32/9752_2.png) [@Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://community.homey.app/u/Hans-Jochen_Nissen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 7:51pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/10 "2021-02-22T19:51:20Z")
Please! Read the question again! Otherwise you are welcome with cable and electrician and a shovel, so you can dig down electricity that comes out where I want my aqara! ---
**Author:** ![Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hans-jochen_nissen/32/9752_2.png) [@Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://community.homey.app/u/Hans-Jochen_Nissen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 7:55pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/11 "2021-02-22T19:55:32Z")
> [@robertklep](#): > > letter box I also try to have my aqara vibration sensor in my letter box. I have about 22 meters from the last router device. And not much is needed as I manage to pair the device sometimes. But then it loses contact after a while. ---
**Author:** ![Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hans-jochen_nissen/32/9752_2.png) [@Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://community.homey.app/u/Hans-Jochen_Nissen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 7:57pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/12 "2021-02-22T19:57:20Z")
Please, stop commenting on my post when you can not add anything meaningful! ---
**Author:** ![Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hans-jochen_nissen/32/9752_2.png) [@Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://community.homey.app/u/Hans-Jochen_Nissen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/13 "2021-02-22T20:02:28Z")
The idea was to be able to solder on cable to an antenna like this. But the question is where should I solder on it? ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/9/2/929d64c5761e5e9877bbac99777441ca039fd223.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![robertklep](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/robertklep/32/160628_2.png) [@robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/14 "2021-02-22T20:09:20Z")
See my previous post about the CC2530 antenna hack. But like I said, I don’t know of anyone who has done this before so you’re on your own. ---
**Author:** ![Hugo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hugo/32/11530_2.png) [@Hugo](https://community.homey.app/u/Hugo)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/15 "2021-02-22T20:58:03Z")
Maybe it is easier to extend the range of Zigbee from Homey? I think there has been some trials for that too on the forum? I think if you could extend the range for your vibration sensor you would also drain your battery faster. ---
**Author:** ![Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/hans-jochen_nissen/32/9752_2.png) [@Hans-Jochen\_Nissen](https://community.homey.app/u/Hans-Jochen_Nissen)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/16 "2021-02-22T21:14:26Z")
I have modded Homey with antennas. The battery is no problem! 2 st AA lithum 🙂 ![IMG_20210222_221043519](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/4/1/416f3ec4e19a957c96265c42c9e8d87ba3c6f333.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 6:34am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/17 "2021-02-23T06:34:52Z")
I know of course, this is possible. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelMadsen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/michaelmadsen/32/44301_2.png) [@MichaelMadsen](https://community.homey.app/u/MichaelMadsen)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2021, 1:17pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/18 "2021-09-01T13:17:27Z")
Did you manage to extend the range of the Aqara Vibration Sensor itself? I would be interested in how you did this! I have this kind of non-US mailbox and the problem is if you put sensor on the lid, it sits inside this metal container: ![allux-postkasse-6000-sort-staal](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/uploads/athom/original/3X/5/5/556da9db67dc5d3685fe3bec577503244a37f3c6.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![DirkG](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/dirkg/32/118897_2.png) [@DirkG](https://community.homey.app/u/DirkG)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2021, 1:40pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/aqara-extended-range/43493/19 "2021-09-01T13:40:12Z")
If a good Zigbee mesh is available, it is not a problem that the sensor sits inside of the “metal container”. I have an almost identical mailbox and both Zigbee and Z-Wave sensors work without problems. I have not had to modify any devices.