433 MHz signals are quickly attenuated by walls, floor joists, and electronics. A single RF-HUB often handles an apartment or smaller house — but in larger properties, garage buildings, or older stone houses, it is smarter to use multiple units working together.
How it works
Each RF-HUB is an independent unit with its own radio and WiFi. When you have several connected to the same qtrl.me account, all devices appear together — regardless of which hub picked up the signal. You do not need to configure mesh networks or route traffic manually.
When is it needed?
- Houses larger than about 150 m² — the range rarely covers the entire ground floor plus the upper floor
- Thick concrete walls — floor joists between floors attenuate more signal than standard wooden frames
- Outdoor sensors far from the house — e.g. a thermometer in the carport or rain gauge in the allotment garden
- Noisy RF environments — where a single hub picks up too much background interference
Placement
Place a hub centrally on each floor, preferably at least 30 cm from larger metal objects (fridge, fuse box). Use a USB extension cable if you need to raise the hub higher or move it away from interference sources. The antenna should be free — avoid wedging it behind cabinets or the TV.
Configuration
- Install the first hub as normal — plug in via USB, connect to WiFi, register with your qtrl.me account.
- Install the second hub with the same qtrl.me account. Both appear in your device list as separate units.
- Give them distinct names ("RF-HUB Ground floor", "RF-HUB Attic") so you know which one picked up a signal.
- No further configuration needed — sensors you already have are now automatically read by both if they are in range.
Which hub controls a lamp when I press a button?
The one with the strongest signal to that device will respond. In practice, the nearest one.
Do two hubs mean double the cost for the cloud?
No. qtrl.me is free and you pay nothing per device or hub. You only pay for the RF-HUB hardware itself.