I wanted to share my recent project success with the community! 
I’ve been working on setting up a mailbox sensor to notify me when the mailman opens the mailbox. It’s a metal mailbox in a brick tower, which posed some challenges with signal interference. After some trial and error, I discovered that drilling a small hole in the back of the mailbox helped improve the sensor’s communication.
Here’s what I learned:
- Initial Setup: I tried using a Ring mailbox sensor with an IKEA RGBW Zigbee bulb as a repeater, but it didn’t work as expected.
- Solution: Adding a Tuya USB Zigbee repeater plugged into an outlet in front of the house made a big difference!
- Final Touch: Drilling a small hole in the mailbox to recess the sensor ensured consistent communication.
This project taught me the importance of testing different setups and being creative when troubleshooting. If anyone else is working on a similar project, I highly recommend trying a physical solution like drilling a small hole if you’re struggling with signal issues. 
Would love to hear if anyone else has tackled a similar project or has tips for improving sensor communication! 