The range on 433 MHz depends on how RF-HUB is placed, what interference sources are nearby and the quality of the transmitters. Realistic expectations:
- Indoors with one or two walls in between: 20–40 m
- Outdoors, clear line of sight: 80–150 m
- Through a concrete wall or several floors: 5–15 m
Optimal placement
- Elevated — 1.5-2 m above the floor or on the wall. Not at floor level or behind furniture.
- Central in the home — not in a corner or in the exterior wall.
- Clear line of sight to the transmitters when possible — radio waves go straight ahead, not around corners.
- Avoid metal — RF-HUB should not sit directly against fridges, radiators, white goods, sheet-metal roofs or security cabinets.
- At least 30 cm from the WiFi router — the router otherwise interferes locally with the 433 MHz radio.
- Not in a server rack — other electronics generate interference.
Measure the actual signal strength (RSSI)
RF-HUB shows the RSSI value for every received signal — under Devices you see the latest value per sensor. Rule of thumb:
- -60 dBm or better — excellent
- -70 to -85 dBm — OK
- -85 to -95 dBm — marginal, may miss occasional transmissions
- Worse than -95 dBm — unreliable, move RF-HUB or the transmitter
Common sources of interference
- USB 3.0 ports — generate a lot of noise in the 433 MHz band if RF-HUB sits directly in a USB 3.0 port (blue). Use a USB 2.0 port or a USB extension cable that moves RF-HUB a few decimetres away.
- Faulty power supplies — cheap or broken LED drivers, phone chargers, switched-mode power supplies. Turn off suspect devices one at a time and see if the range improves.
- Wireless video transmission — some baby monitors and older wireless surveillance cameras transmit continuously on 433 MHz.
- Alarm systems and car keys — common 433 MHz users, transmit only when needed but can collide.
- LED lighting — some cheap LED fittings generate broadband noise.
Improve the range
- Move RF-HUB — try different positions. Just moving 30 cm can make a big difference.
- Extension cable — put RF-HUB a bit away from the computer or router via a USB extension.
- Turn off suspected interference sources one at a time to find the culprit.
- Move the transmitter closer to RF-HUB if possible.
- Replace the batteries in remotes and sensors — low battery voltage gives weak transmission.
Larger house — several RF-HUBs
For a home over ~150 m² or with several floors — use two or more RF-HUBs. See the guide for multiple RF-HUBs. They are coordinated either via Home Assistant or Homey as "glue".
Modify for more range?
The antenna on RF-HUB is dimensioned for a normal home environment. We don't recommend modifying the antenna — it's simpler and more reliable to add an extra RF-HUB at a strategic location than to try to get a single one to cover the whole house.