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Wireless long range communications

Former Member

Hi there,

 

I am new at this community and my English isn't at its highest level but I think it is interesting to open a topic about long range wireless communications.

 

Imagine you need to communicate over more than 5Km without wires, what would be your solution? It doesn't need to be something new or something difficult the idea is to gather some solutions already on the market and discuss some new possibilities. Any scenario is possible!!

 

To start this topic my idea for a wide sensor network without wires is using these nice things: http://www.libelium.com/products/waspmote

 

I still didn't test this equipment but they say they cover 12km with LOS I will post something more when I get to test them.

 

Remember any type of wireless communications are on the table, for any type of data!!!

 

Regards,

João Ferreira (FEUP)

  • 0

    I've achieved 7 Kms in outdoor so I think it shouldn't be any problem.  But remember, due to the Fressnell areas you will need to place the long range devices in a tower (I'm supposing you are speaking about outdoors). Ofen I use a WSN with powered devices using TI solutions like CC2420RTC.CC2420RTC. and a long range gateway which concentrates the info and forward it to the far station. For this gateway Maxstream offer nice modules and may be Libelium too.

     

    Best regards.

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    Ubiquiti Networks offers all kinds of products for long range wirelss communications.  They are pretty affordable and have a real nice GUI.

     

    Check them out at ubnt.com

  • 0

    Cantenna style devices seem to extend WIFI and such signals quite far. It would be worth a perusal.

     

    Cabe

  • 0

    The Main problem is the radiation caused by these transmittors.  You could make a wireless device go as far as you wanted, but you would have to put it on  a higher and higher tower to prevent killing people with the radiation.  Also if i not mistaken you cannot transmit wireless signals on the 2.4 specturm over long distances, as they need to be used by everyone.  So build a big tower with a high powered transmitter and buy some spectrum from the FCC and you should be fine.

  • 0 in reply to Former Member

    Hello Everyone,

     

    This is an interesting conversation.  However,  there are a couple of points that need t be reviewed from communication theory.   There are many factors that affect propagation, not just output power or the height of the antenna.    Please take a look at my blog on What affect radio range.

     

    Radio Frequency Range Consideration

     

    I published this blog a while ago, to help every engineer understand all of the factors that need to be considered.

     

    Remember the good old days......Long before me time in fact.... Radio communication used to be all about range. AM radio bounced off of the ionosphere.  Before cellular phones and satellites the radios were developed with the environment in mind to ad in propagation.

     

    if you want longer range, consider lowering the frequency, band width, data rate and increase the antenna gain, receiver sensitivity and output power.

     

    Hope this helps,

     

    Chris Pinter

    Pinter Electronics Consultants

     

    www.pinterec.ca