Author Topic: Gateway Range  (Read 378 times)

dmm

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Gateway Range
« on: December 07, 2016, 12:03:18 pm »
I have a gateway operating outside to connect to modules mounted 20 meters up to 110 meters away from my gateway. When I am 2 meters away, it is connecting and transmitting, but at 20 meters line of sight I don't get any connection. The other various sensors I have are have some obstacles in the way, but at 20 meters I expected a connection. What can I do or consider in this situation?

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dmm

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Re: Gateway Range
« Reply #1 on: December 07, 2016, 12:24:47 pm »
To add some more detail, I believe there may be a lot of cell phone usage in the area and there are cars driving by.

The module is on a bridge above the gateway, so when I say 20 meters it is 20 meters up from the gateway if that makes any difference.

mc-John

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Re: Gateway Range
« Reply #2 on: December 07, 2016, 05:44:19 pm »
It is very difficult to predict range. We have tested the mc-Mod120 extensively and in the field and we get 200 meter without a problem. But our office is in a rural area so the spectrum is very clean.
The best solution for your problem is to experiment a bit. Try to turn the device and keep it away from water, people (mostly water), metal, etc.

The first quarter of 2017 we will introduce a new Gateway (mc-Gate120) with an external PA/LNA that is much more sensitive and two antennas that can be switched on the fly.
« Last Edit: January 06, 2017, 09:44:29 am by mc-T2 »

dmm

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Re: Gateway Range
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2016, 08:54:27 am »
When you say water, do you mean that rain between the module and the gateway will block the signal?

Is there anything that can be done on the mc side for when there is a lot of signal noise?

mc-John

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Re: Gateway Range
« Reply #4 on: December 08, 2016, 09:15:46 am »
Rain weakens the signal. The dielectric constant of water is 80 compared to air which is 1 and a bit so yes it makes it harder for a signal to travel. That is true for every signal at every frequency and is not only related to mc-Things.
You can't do much about this, its physics, the laws of nature but you can send a stronger signal and listen better. That's what the new gateway does.