# \[Modding\] Homey Pro (Model Early 201x) Antenna modification **URL:** \ **Category:** Questions & Help\ **Tags:** homey-pro, modding\ **Created:** [October 17, 2018, 10:43am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928 "2018-10-17T10:43:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 15
**Author:** ![danone](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/danone/32/115743_2.png) [@danone](https://community.homey.app/u/danone)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/287 "2019-07-25T21:30:01Z")
> [@Marcel\_Visser](#): > > So I’m considering the mod… But I like to know what you experience is… Is only the range better? Or also the stability. Or is a frequent restart still necessary to keep the zigbee network alive. I cannot comment on the stability since I never had any problems. Mainly running wave devices, on zigbee I just have 15 battery powered devices, no repeaters. The external antenna has indubitable increased the range. One of my Aqara Door sensors is outside on the main gate (about 12m away an a brick wall in between) plus it is mounted on a metal frame, which usually makes worst a radio signal. Perhaps other forum members can comment for you with their experience? ---
**Author:** ![PetervdK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/petervdk/32/20669_2.png) [@PetervdK](https://community.homey.app/u/PetervdK)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/288 "2019-07-25T23:21:00Z")
I noticed an increase in range after the mod, even my sensor in the freezer in the shed (12+ mtrs and HR glass and wall in between) reports fine now. I think your Zigbee going down is something in the soft- or hardware and will not be improved by the antenna mod, but that is my guts, no science. ---
**Author:** ![Marcel\_Visser](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/marcel_visser/32/66024_2.png) [@Marcel\_Visser](https://community.homey.app/u/Marcel_Visser)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 1:02pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/289 "2019-07-27T13:02:07Z")
Can you tell us your experience now a couple of months later? I’m really curious. ---
**Author:** ![Marcel\_Visser](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/marcel_visser/32/66024_2.png) [@Marcel\_Visser](https://community.homey.app/u/Marcel_Visser)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 1:03pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/290 "2019-07-27T13:03:55Z")
You mean the zigbee booster from your mod? Or are you talking about some external device… ---
**Author:** ![Hannes85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e79b87/32.png) [@Hannes85](https://community.homey.app/u/Hannes85)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/291 "2019-07-27T13:23:32Z")
Sure thing! The connection has been rock stable for all devices after the antenna was added. I still lose a device every now and then (but way less then before, maybe 1 device per three months. I have around 40 devices in total) but I think that is due to the long awaited zigbee rewrite still that homey promised us. So I do think that it helps a lot, especially for devices that are a bit further away (garage, first and second floor). Wouldn’t want to have my homey without the antenna anymore, that’s for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Marcel\_Visser](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/marcel_visser/32/66024_2.png) [@Marcel\_Visser](https://community.homey.app/u/Marcel_Visser)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 2:26pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/292 "2019-07-27T14:26:30Z")
Thanks mate! Was it hard to remove the top half from down half? I think that this is the most tricky part… EDIT: can somebody tell me what the best zigbee antenna from aliexpress is? ---
**Author:** ![Hannes85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e79b87/32.png) [@Hannes85](https://community.homey.app/u/Hannes85)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/293 "2019-07-27T14:50:00Z")
This is the one I got; € 2,73 8％ Off | 2.4Ghz antenna Wifi 5dbi SMA Male connector white 2.4 ghz antena Omni-Directional Router 2.4g Antenna +RP-SMA Male Pigtail Cable [https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/buxm8Jeg](https://s.click.aliexpress.com/e/buxm8Jeg) Yes prying open the top half is most time consuming… I took a sharp knife and started to scrape out the glue bit for bit. Did it whilst watching television otherwise I would have gone crazy and broke something for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Marcel\_Visser](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/marcel_visser/32/66024_2.png) [@Marcel\_Visser](https://community.homey.app/u/Marcel_Visser)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/294 "2019-07-27T14:55:43Z")
Thanks, I ordered one! Has the inside cable that is included with this one the right length? I mean, long enough, but no Too long? As I read somewhere that the longer the cable, the worse the range will be? ---
**Author:** ![Hannes85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e79b87/32.png) [@Hannes85](https://community.homey.app/u/Hannes85)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 3:01pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/295 "2019-07-27T15:01:13Z")
You know what they say about size ;)! For me it’s a direct replacement. ---
**Author:** ![PetervdK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/petervdk/32/20669_2.png) [@PetervdK](https://community.homey.app/u/PetervdK)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 11:41pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/296 "2019-07-27T23:41:41Z")
The size is fine. The shielding isn’t, it’s very thin. This is what i used: [Homey antenna mod](https://community.homey.app/t/homey-antenna-mod/2928/263) ---
**Author:** ![Marcel\_Visser](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/marcel_visser/32/66024_2.png) [@Marcel\_Visser](https://community.homey.app/u/Marcel_Visser)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 12:23am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/297 "2019-07-28T00:23:05Z")
What do you mean with shielding? The internal wire? And in this case, wich length did you go for? Can choose between a lot of different lengths… ---
**Author:** ![PetervdK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/petervdk/32/20669_2.png) [@PetervdK](https://community.homey.app/u/PetervdK)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 7:48am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/298 "2019-07-28T07:48:06Z")
If you plan to add more antenna’s then you are safe to use 10 to 15 cm because you have to cut the little connector anyway, shorting the cable to your need. For Zigbee it has to stay on, so it depends a bit on where you put the antenna connector on the dome. But 7 or 10 cm should fit, 15 is definitely enough. There is enough space below the circuit board for some extra cable length but you have to wrap them around the mounting pins where the circuit lies on. ---
**Author:** ![Hannes85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e79b87/32.png) [@Hannes85](https://community.homey.app/u/Hannes85)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 10:19am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/299 "2019-07-28T10:19:08Z")
Biggest kwats ever 🙂. Cant even bother properly responding tbh. ---
**Author:** ![MacMillan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/macmillan/32/13677_2.png) [@MacMillan](https://community.homey.app/u/MacMillan)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 11:27am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/300 "2019-07-28T11:27:31Z")
Hi all modders, So i went ahead and did the antenna mod. Because after transitioning to Homey, my z-wave network has been the most unreliable it’s ever been. The mesh was all over the place, routing back and forth throug the house and dropping out. The danalock v3 worked 20% of the time, and the lights(mostly Fibaro), when they worked had long delays. ZigBee was actually better xD The house is 180sqm. 2 story wood frame. Homey support could not help. They ended up saying the Fibaro app might have some issues, but nothing they could point their finger on. After the mod, and healing every node in the developer tools, only a few nodes required a hop before contact with Homey. The rest had direct contact. I was super happy! I walked around the house trying out different lights and flows. All worked, and really great response times. Even the Danalock got a direct link an was working, and that is like 4 meters and a wall between. This worked without a hitch for two days… Then… some lights are starting to get delays again, and the danalock was beginning to get time out errors. I checked the z-wave mesh again and god dammit… It was forming a new routing hell! At least for some nodes. The Danalock had 4 hops before reaching Homey. After healing the affected nodes, all was fine again. Anyone else had or have similar issues? Will i forever have to heal my nodes every two days? ---
**Author:** ![PetervdK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/petervdk/32/20669_2.png) [@PetervdK](https://community.homey.app/u/PetervdK)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 12:37pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/301 "2019-07-28T12:37:02Z")
Just curious, why? And why don’t you explain to him what he should do then? Maybe we all can learn from you? ---
**Author:** ![JPe4619](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/jpe4619/32/9017_2.png) [@JPe4619](https://community.homey.app/u/JPe4619)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/302 "2019-07-28T15:09:15Z")
In another topic, I see a remark from Robert Klep, (sorry it’s in Dutch) [robertklep](https://community.homey.app/u/robertklep) [2h](https://community.homey.app/t/z-wave-mesh-netwerk/5080/4) Danalock zijn toch FLiRS-apparaten? Als je er daar een paar van in je Z-Wave netwerk hebt kan dat problemen veroorzaken, dat is een bekend probleem omdat Homey FLiRS niet (goed?) ondersteunt Danalock are FLiRS devices, right? If you have a few of them in your Z-Wave network that can cause problems, that is a known problem because Homey does not support FLiRS (good?) ---
**Author:** ![Fred6](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/fred6/32/13673_2.png) [@Fred6](https://community.homey.app/u/Fred6)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 4:57pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/303 "2019-07-28T16:57:03Z")
Extremely excited bout this mod guys. The post is lengthy 🤪, but read it all. I came from the Homewizard which in the past I modded with an extended 433mhz antenna. Experienced the boosted range and if I can do the same with the Homey that would be great! Ordered the antenna’s suggested by PetervdK immediately. Can’t wait to see the results for the Z-Wave network! Just one question though… I remember that the exact length of the antenna cable is very important. If you cut off the pigtail connector it shortens the wire a little bit, no problems with that? Could that also explain the improvement PetervdK experienced when adding the 45 degree connectors? ---
**Author:** ![PetervdK](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/petervdk/32/20669_2.png) [@PetervdK](https://community.homey.app/u/PetervdK)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2019, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/304 "2019-07-28T22:07:01Z")
The pigtail is a shielded cable, in fact a mini coax cable. So if shielded correctly, it doesn’t count in the length of the antenna. But of course it does damp the signal to the antenna so hence the “shorter is better”. But with these minor differences it doesn’t have that much influence. Same goes for the 45 degree connectors. If built correctly and proper shielded they shouldn’t have much influence. ---
**Author:** ![Fred6](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/fred6/32/13673_2.png) [@Fred6](https://community.homey.app/u/Fred6)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 4:49am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/305 "2019-07-29T04:49:55Z")
Aha! Thx! Good to know. ---
**Author:** ![Viking42](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex025/user_avatar/community.homey.app/viking42/32/12687_2.png) [@Viking42](https://community.homey.app/u/Viking42)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2019, 7:51am UTC](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928/306 "2019-07-29T07:51:21Z")
I was not able to be 100% sure reading the whole post For 433: - I will disconnect the existing spring antenna - Only the center wire of the 433 antenna is to be connected, not the surrounding shield wiring? - If questions 2 is “connect the 2 wirings”, which wire needs to go on which connector of the 433 chip? or is there no importance in poles? thanks! [Previous page](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928.md?page=14) [Next page](https://community.homey.app/t/modding-homey-pro-model-early-201x-antenna-modification/2928.md?page=16)