RF Network for 2-Way Communication, Security, 3.5x1.5mi Community

[btb4198]

I need a RF network that has this :
1) two way communication.
2) Security
3) can work in a 3.5 x 1.5 mile community : with houses, trees, buildings and a park ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Hill_North,_Victoria).
4) have about 1000 endpoints.
5) low power and low cost

would Xbee be better or would Lora ? and why ?

 

[jim mcnamara]

Please help me understand. What is your final goal? Sounds somewhat like a part of a local wifi project. The end use is going to play a major part in the design and component choices.

 

[btb4198]

Please help me understand. What is your final goal? Sounds somewhat like a part of a local wifi project. The end use is going to play a major part in the design and component choices.

I am pulling data from 1000 controllers. Each controller has 34 data points for monitoring . I am going to write back to the controller to start and stop a motor. all the data will go back to a collector . I am planing to only have one collector but I might need more if there is too much data. but really there will only be 34000 data points/ Tags.

 

[btb4198]

anyone?

 

[berkeman]

3) can work in a 3.5 x 1.5 mile community : with houses, trees, buildings and a park ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Box_Hill_North,_Victoria).

That's a pretty wide area to try to cover with an RF network. Would you be able to install a cellular modem card in each endpoint/controller?

 

[btb4198]

yes I am

 

[btb4198]

which would be better Lora or Xbee and why?

 

[berkeman]

which would be better Lora or Xbee and why?

Can you tell us what you know about each, and what you think the advantages/disadvantages would be?

 

[btb4198]

Lora is half duplex so you can only send data or listen for data that at a time.

Xbee is full duplex so you can do both at the same time.

Lora is lower power than Xbee.
Lora seems to mainly be used for monitoring.
Xbee seems to used for both monitoring and controlling .

Xbee does a mesh networkand Lora does a star neworks

That is the most important things I know about the two but I still do not know with one is best for my application.

I think Xbee just because it is full deluxe and I want to be about to start /stop a motor for a website, so I need to be about to control and monitor at the same time.

I think lorawan class C can do that but then it is no longer lower power.

So I really do not know with one.

It is a city to maybe a mesh network is best to used, because you can use repeaters and go around certain objects, but since Lora is a star network you and cannot...

Ok what do you guys think ?

 

[berkeman]

Xbee does a mesh networkand Lora does a star neworks

But can you get the bandwidth you need out of a mesh network? It can be very problematic to get a lot of data through a mesh network.

It is a city to maybe a mesh network is best to used, because you can use repeaters and go around certain objects, but since Lora is a star network you and cannot...

So you're saying you will not have line of sight over this 5 square mile service area? That will be problematic for a star RF network as you say.

You didn't say much about my idea of using the cell phone network for your communication. If you put a cell phone modem in each controller node, the rest of the infrastructure is already there... (We do this for some of our RF device networking at the company I work for)

 

[btb4198]

But can you get the bandwidth you need out of a mesh network? It can be very problematic to get a lot of data through a mesh network.

So you're saying you will not have line of sight over this 5 square mile service area? That will be problematic for a star RF network as you say.

You didn't say much about my idea of using the cell phone network for your communication. If you put a cell phone modem in each controller node, the rest of the infrastructure is already there... (We do this for some of our RF device networking at the company I work for)

So we do that right now, but We want to break away from it because of the cost for each cell modem.
We have over 1000 pumps out there.

 

[btb4198]

But can you get the bandwidth you need out of a mesh network? It can be very problematic to get a lot of data through a mesh network.

So you're saying you will not have line of sight over this 5 square mile service area? That will be problematic for a star RF network as you say.

You didn't say much about my idea of using the cell phone network for your communication. If you put a cell phone modem in each controller node, the rest of the infrastructure is already there... (We do this for some of our RF device networking at the company I work for)

it is a City so no line of sight.
There is a lot hills, trees and building.

Look up the area

 

[btb4198]

Box Hill North
Melbourne, Victoria

 

[btb4198]

does anyone have any questions, that might help you guys help me ?

 

[btb4198]

anyone ?
I really need help with this.
I am new to this subject

 

[berkeman]

So we do that right now, but We want to break away from it because of the cost for each cell modem.
We have over 1000 pumps out there.

anyone ?
I really need help with this.
I am new to this subject

I don't see a different solution, unless you and your company are willing to invest in an infrastructure equivalent to the cellphone network. It's nice that you are turning to the Internet for free advice, but maybe you and your company should consider spending the money to hire consultants in your local area who are skilled in your local wireless infrastructure laws and protocols, to see what the lowest cost alternative is for you. You may be able to purchase a license for some wireless modality that is available only to license holders, for example. Best of luck.

IBTL...