Yeah, I experienced the same problemwith 418 MHz Abacoms.  Which antenna
are you using?  They
must be EXACTLY the right length for maximum range. (PIC driven, of course,
for picky PICLIST members).  The whip antena gave us the best results.  If
I remember right, 16.5 cm for 418MHz, 15.5 cm for 433MHz (1/4 wave, you can
do the math).  Use a thick, straight piece of wire or something.  We even
went so far as to use a digital caliper when cutting the antenna (with good
results.  Of course, we were probably overly anal).  Good luck!!!

----------
> From: John P. Leonard <leonard@TARDIS.SVSU.EDU>
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: Programmer sold, RF freq's
> Date: Thursday, March 26, 1998 7:55 AM
>
> Hey, I sold the programmer; thanks for the numerous offers.
> "Is he toilet-trained, union..."  sounds like the frequent comments about
> drummers made on the bass players list group "The Bottom Line" but hey,
> not by me :)
>
> Please allow a brief [OT] excursion RE: 418MHz vs. 433MHz:
>
> I'm playing with the Lynx Tech. 418MHz eval. kit and a 433MHz pair from
> Abacom Tech. and have had serious difficulty achieving anywhere near the
> ranges claimed by either.  The Lynx pair will barely reach 30-40 ft. out-
> doors in direct line-of-sight.  (Spec. sheet says "...a highly reliable
RF
> link capable of transferring serial data at distances in excess of 300
ft.
> is formed.")  I'm awaiting a return call from Lynx's tech. support; I
MUST
> be doing SOMETHING wrong.
>
> If Bob Blick or anyone else would care to continue this discussion via
> private E-mail I am interested.  (I know if it ain't PIC-PIC-PIC it'll
> piss somebody off; and don't want to see -SNIP-BITCH-SNIP- about it for
> the next week.)
>
> Yeh, I'm having a REALLY bad day,
> John