7

I need to create a WiFi network(or other types e.g. LoRa) for IoT devices, inside a building. The Building has three floors, each about 250 square meters.

The main constraint is that I can't use any cables, I can use only one AP. I read about WiFi 900MHz (802.11ah) which look like a perfect solution but I can't find any device in such standard. I add that I want to connect about 30 IoT devices and I want to send about 100 kbps from each device to the AP.

Is it possible to make such network using WiFi 802.11b using the most powerful router (in case of signal strength) with an outdoor antenna with e.g. 10dB?

I'm afraid that LoRa's bandwidth will be the bottleneck. I'm looking for some other ideas.

Improve this question
4
  • 1
    You say that LoRa's bandwith might be the bottleneck. But what bandwith do you actually require?
    – aaa
    Commented Oct 14, 2017 at 12:05
  • 1
    @Paul about 100 kbps from each device to the AP
    – trojek
    Commented Oct 14, 2017 at 12:19
  • 2
    You could probably do something like use multiple APs linked wirelessly. It's essentially unavoidable that you'll need multiple mains powered boxes to do this, since battery powered nodes can't be awake often enough to repeat each other's traffic.
    – Chris Stratton
    Commented Oct 14, 2017 at 16:26
  • 1
    NB-IoT has a better bandwidth.
    – Vojtěch Dohnal
    Commented Jan 25, 2019 at 8:20

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

One Access Point for 250m2 and 3 floors, seems to stretch WiFi a bit.

It depends on the material in the building, surrounding interference and antenna.

To give a answer, one should do a survey and measurements on site.

A Guesstimate would be probably not.

Improve this answer
7
  • 1
    Do you know any other technologies which could help to solve the problem?
    – trojek
    Commented Oct 14, 2017 at 12:51
  • 2
    ANT (nrf24) in a mesh configuration or WiFi with BatMan (Mesh) and perhaps Bluetooth 4.2 if I remember correct, that has improved the reach.
    – MatsK
    Commented Oct 14, 2017 at 13:01
  • 1
    Do you know how nrf24 is related to esp8266 mesh?
    – trojek
    Commented Oct 14, 2017 at 13:40
  • 1
    nrf24 is the ANT protocoll, ESP8266 is WiFi (802.11). But you don't give credits?
    – MatsK
    Commented Oct 14, 2017 at 13:43
  • 1
    ANT, see thisisant.com/developer/ant/ant-basics and en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANT_(network)
    – MatsK
    Commented Oct 14, 2017 at 13:47
1

What is wrong with adding a wireless bridge to your network for signal amplification? No wires needed and you get the added range.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.