Measuring concept

How nodes, gateway and cloud work together

Measure where there is no network. The HC-50 reliably brings readings from wells, ponds, fields or retention basins into the cloud: by radio over several kilometres, with no mobile contract, no cable to the measuring point, and a battery that powers the station independently of the grid.

Radio over kilometres
Nodes transmit directly to the gateway by LoRa, typically over several kilometres. No mobile network or network operator is needed.
Grid-independent
A rechargeable LiFePO4 battery powers the node. It sleeps between measurements and needs no mains connection on site.
Modular
Choose the sensors to suit the location: water level, water quality, weather data and more. The basic design always stays the same.
Warned in time
The cloud monitors every station including its battery condition. Problems show up before a station fails (predictive maintenance).

How the readings reach the cloud

The HC-50 works in a star topology: every node transmits directly to a gateway within its range.

WiFi Gateway Node EcoSensors.cloudDashboard base station LoRa range: typically several kilometres
  1. Each node captures its readings, sends them by LoRa and goes straight back to sleep. This saves the battery.
  2. The gateway receives the radio packets from all nodes within its range and forwards them to the internet via your WiFi.
  3. In EcoSensors.cloud the values are stored and analysed. In the dashboard you see trends and current values and are notified of anomalies.

This keeps the process simple: the failure of a node only affects that node. If a gateway fails, only the nodes that cannot reach another gateway are affected. More on features under firmware features.

The challenges and our answers

Challenge HC-50 answer
Long distances, dead zones LoRa in the 433 MHz band typically bridges several kilometres, even where there is no mobile coverage. Your own private radio network: no network operator, no LoRaWAN access required.
Power at the measuring point The node runs on a rechargeable battery and sleeps between measurements. The less often it measures, the longer the battery lasts. A solar option is in development.
Variety of sensors An ESP32 with bus technology talks to a wide range of sensors. A gateway differs from a node basically only in its software configuration.
Procurement and availability Standardised components in a standard 50 mm HT pipe. The pipe is easy to source, install and fasten to a mast, railing or wall.
Data acquisition and processing Gateways register with the cloud automatically. There, trends are stored and analysed, and notifications are triggered on anomalies.

Scalable and fail-safe

Practically any number of nodes per gateway and, if needed, several gateways in the system: start small and expand step by step. Every gateway and node reports its own condition (e.g. battery voltage and state of charge) to the cloud. This lets the analysis spot power or sensor problems in advance, so you can step in before a failure occurs.

The building blocks

The system consists of a few matched building blocks:

  • Gateway: the base station with WiFi connection, powered by a USB power supply
  • Node: the grid-independent measuring station with the sensors of your choice
  • Battery: the sealed, reverse-polarity-protected LiFePO4 module
  • LoRa radio technology: range, antennas and choosing a location
  • Power supply: how the components are powered

Interested in the HC-50? We are happy to advise you on your site, the right sensors and gateway placement. Get in touch.