Wireless control device

A faceplate for a wall-mountable wireless control device, the wireless control device comprising an actuator and a wireless communication circuit for receiving or transmitting RF signals at a communication frequency, the faceplate comprising:

• a body portion comprising a front surface and defining an opening in the front surface for receiving the actuator of the wireless control device when the faceplate is installed on the wireless control device;
• and
• a conductive element oriented parallel to the front surface of the body portion;
• wherein the conductive element provides a capacitive loading on an antenna of the wireless control device that is approximately equal to a capacitive loading provided on the antenna by an equivalently sized and shaped metal faceplate.

A wall-mountable wireless control device comprising:

• a slot antenna configured to transmit or receive radio-frequency signals;
• a radio-frequency communication circuit configured to transmit or receive the radio-frequency signals via the slot antenna;
• and
• a control circuit responsive to the radio-frequency communication circuit;
• wherein the wireless control device is characterized by a first communication range when no faceplate installed on the wireless control device and by a second communication range greater than the first communication range when a faceplate is installed on the wireless control device, the first communication range being greater than or equal to approximate 30 feet.