Ultimate indoor wireless technology ?

[valentt]

Hi,
I'm looking to implement reading from different type of sensors, most have serial link that I can read data from.

It is a complex of few building, I would like to cover whole place with sensors.

I looked at 2.4Ghz modules, but due to being indoor I'm leaning more to sub 1Ghz range. From my online research I conclude that there are two main players; Digi with XBee Pro and Synapse Wireless with Snap.

Are there any other manufacturer that I should look at?
I know this is a Synapse forum, but if there are some other products out there please let me know.

Both Digi and Synapse drvices support 2.4Ghz and 900 Mhz ranges, for low bandwidth indoor usage 2.4Ghz is not an option, so 900 Ghz it is.

Both USA and UE have 900 Mhz ISM band, EU is 868 Mhz and USA is 915 Mhz.

Has anybody compared indoor range Xbee Pro vs Synapse Snap on 915 or 868 Mhz ?

Which is easier to deploy and connect with sensors and microcontrollers ?

[gvoce]

Your search for a wireless solution is over, personally I like Synapse RF modules, I mean once you use the best why use the rest plus their customer support is outstanding!

Features of SNAP ........ http://www.synapse-wireless.com/snap

You referenced that 2.4 Ghz for indoor use is not an option for you, I assume that is due to a freq. requirement? We have customers using 2.4 Ghz indoors with great results.

You mentioned that the sensors have a serial interface which brings to mind the SNAP link RS232 product. Have you looked at this device for your wireless solution? http://www.synapse-wireless.com/cabl...er-rs485-rs232

Ease of setup example. The sensor you mention with a serial interface (RS232) could be connected to our UART interface on the module then using a script like data mode (a script that comes with Portal, another huge benefit for using Synapse) which consist of around 5 lines of code would simply take incoming data form the UART and send it wirelessly for you. Its that simple.

Our proto board gives you a platform to connect external sensors with ease.
http://www.synapse-wireless.com/snap...ts/proto-board

[valentt]

I mentioned indoor/urban use, because 2.4 Ghz doesn't penetrate the walls, it can one wall, maybe, or two if the distance is really small, but getting wifi on 2.4 Ghz spectrum to work through a building, there is no way.

I would like to read a sensor from 100-200m (300-600 ft) distance and that is located behind a building (or two) with no line of sight, have you tried something like that with snap?

Nice to hear that you are really satisfied with snap modules, what have you used them for? In what kind of environment?

I saw your software, Portal, and it looks really awesome and powerful, but is it also possible to work without it? What features am I loosing when not using Portal? Can I do all the same things, just need to do my own code?

[gvoce]

I have 2.4 ghz working indoors through 16 offices, a lobby, bathroom with no issues.

Implementation in everything from industrial plants, to outside monitoring of many different devices.

I would suggest the Ek2100 kit to get your feet wet with SNAP and what it can do.
http://www.synapse-wireless.com/snap...etwork-starter

The EK2500 kit comes with an additional board with a LCD that you could use for range testing. In Portal there is a script that you could load called Link Quality ranger. You could load this on the proto board setup and the board with the LCD then do a range test just to see how good of a signal you get in your enviroment.
http://www.synapse-wireless.com/snap...ork-evaluation

Portal gives you a development platform for writing your own application code in Python, a way to upload this code wirelessly, do firmware upgrades, do debugging of your network, trace routes of the data path, channel analyzer, etc. many features.

[gvoce]

BTW that is the RF100 or RF200 with an external antenna. The RF300 works the same with an external antenna. I just like the 2.4Ghz modules because there are two UARTs and the devices are faster than the RF300 modules.

[valentt]

Oh, that is really nice, now I gave to get them and start working with them.
Now I just need to find european or some international dealer and order them. Thanks!

[gvoce]

here is a link that I have found useful ...................

http://www.futureelectronics.com/en/...ContactUs.aspx

[jcwoltz]

RE: 2.4GHz
If your concern is WIFI and SNAP module few conflict, there are a couple of channels where they are designated 802.15.4 use only. I'm sorry, but a quick goggle should get you a chart.

I've never done a 3 mile node-node setup, but I have done a mesh network where there was a hop a few city blocks away. (using RF200 modules, 2.4 GHz, external antenna). Both modules were indoor block buildings. I did not need to put the antennas outside.

On another note, you can designate some node as repeater nodes. The SNAP network will form a mesh network and figure out the routing.

(I've also work in some public K12 building where WIFI would work one room over, but not 2 rooms over. So I understand the concern.)

Food for Thought.