The following are some generic tips for deploying hardware in facilities. If you are deploying one of our solutions you should also check out our Solution Guides (e.g. Push + Protect and Temperature Monitoring) which contains specific tips for hardware estimation and deployment for that specific solution.
Every scenario is different, however here you will find some tips and best practices to keep in mind when deploying additional hardware in your facility.
Some things that affect the maximum range of your sensors include, how many walls are between the gateway and the sensor, the thickness of the walls, the number of floors between the gateway and the sensor (for multiple story buildings), how much radio frequency is active in the building, etc.
Deploy multiple Gateways
There are several advantages to deploying multiple gateways in your facility.
Redundancy - Sensors will attempt to connect with any nearby gateway. If one gateway drops offline for any reason, there is a better chance that nearby sensors will continue transmitting if they can reach an additional gateway as backup.
Improved Signal Strength - If a sensor’s signal strength (RSSI) drops too low, it may have difficulty reliably transmitting readings. The closer a sensor is to a gateway the better, yielding more certainty of capturing every data point and a stronger resistance to any intermittent interference.
In our testing of indoor facilities, it is safe to place your sensors in a range of up to 1,000 feet.
Deploy Gateways up High or on different Floors
If your facility has multiple floors we recommend deploying a gateway at least on every other floor. For example on the Ground floor, 1st level, 3rd level, 5th level, etc.
If your facility has a top and bottom floor we recommend deploying a gateway at both heights. Having a gateway positioned at the top of your facility ensures better overall coverage for sensors.
Deploy Gateways at opposite ends of the facility / opposite wings
If your facility has wings where line of sight to nearby gateways is difficult (i.e. it would pass through several walls, including possibly to the exterior and then back to the interior) we recommend deploying a Gateway at both ends of the facility. This way sensors at either end will be able to easily communicate to their gateway and sensors in the middle will be able to use whichever gateway they choose is better.