If you are experiencing intermittent connectivity with you iblinds motor (sometimes it responds to app commands and other times it doesn’t) it might be related to Z-Wave signal strength. Wireless signals have to overcome many phenomena such as reflection, absorption, diffraction, scattering, and interference to reach their destination. While iblinds, using the Z-Wave protocol, does a great job overcoming these obstacles we have a few reported instances where users with metal blind headrails have experienced intermittent connectivity.

Here are a few things you can do to improve your iblinds Z-Wave wireless signal:

1. Repair your Z-Wave Network. Running a Z-Wave network repair or network optimization will improve your overall mesh network and update the mesh network neighbor map. This will ensure the iblinds motor is aware of it’s closest neighbors (repeaters) and will establish the best routes for the controller to communicate with your iblinds motor. 

Note: Check your specific controller user guide for instructions on running a Z-Wave network repair or network optimization. It is important to remember that you should always run a Z-Wave network repair after adding a new Z-Wave device for the reason listed above. 

2. External Antenna. Use your included hex wrench to remove the motor lid and carefully extend the blue antenna through the small hole in the lid and then replace the lid. Making the antenna external will eliminate one obstacle for the Z-Wave wireless signal and help improve the strength.

3. Add Additional “Beaming Capable” Repeaters. Even in situations where you already have a repeater nearby adding an additional repeater can help tremendously. Especially in situations where you have more than one iblinds motor in a room. A single repeater or controller that is identified as the closest Z-Wave mesh neighbor can occasionally be overloaded when trying to service several Z-Wave devices. Adding a new “BEAMING CAPABLE” repeater can reduce the load and also provide an additional route for the Z-Wave signal to travel. iblinds is designed to sleep and wake up occasionally and check for commands to extend battery life. Therefore, the repeater must be beaming capable. Beaming allows the repeater to keep repeating the command until iblinds wakes up and receives it. 

We’ve had good success using the Aeotec Range Extender.