Range of extender

If you're having trouble staying connected to your devices I'd recommend removing the device and re-add it back into the system. When re-adding the device, have it within 6ft of the hub, when completed install it back to its prior location. If it still doesn't recognize it, then purchase an extender. I also have a 1800 square foot house. I installed my thermostat and its located the furthest away (30 ft) from the hub and it works well.

Do not assume you need one until you see your installed devices not reliably connecting to the hub or reliably staying connected.

If you have several other iris or zwave devices in and around the garage then probably not. At this time the extender does not work very well and you are better off just having lots of iris devices installed to make a mesh network so that the extender is not necessary. However, you may want one to increase the number of devices that may connect to the hub if it ever limits how many can be connected. Word is that the hub can connect only 16 devices, but this is 16 direct connections. The devices form a mesh like network and communicate through one another to reach the hub. So there may be say 4 devices talking to the hub through the nearest device so only 1 slot is used. However there is no way to check which route the devices are using, so when you move devices around and add new stuff, run the optimize network utility to help it all connect better.

If your home as more than one floor and you need Iris devices there or you need more than 15 devices, you will need a range extender. For more information or assistance, please reach out to the Iris Support Team at 855-469-IRIS (4747).

Probably not, if you have several devices scattered about the place. I'd try it without an extender first.

Depends on the construction of your house and the amount of interference. We are 3 floors @ 2700sf and so far dont need the extender. We are stick built construction if that helps.