Wireless Connectivity
Controlant wireless devices have up to 300m range in open air. The communication frequency channels are placed around 860MHz for Europe.
Open Air
The range in open air depends on various factors, including:
- Mounting and antenna orientation
- Proper assembly and selection of antennas.
- Gain of antennas at the communication frequency.
- Disturbance on communication frequencies caused by electronic devices - both low and high current devices.
- Disturbance on communication frequencies caused by other wireless devices which are using the same or similar communication frequency.
Indoor Use
Wireless range is significantly affected by occlusion of objects. The range of wireless devices indoor depends on various factors, including:
- The building materials used in walls and ceilings.
- Objects which occlude the straight path of the signal
- Proper assembly and selection of antennas.
- Gain of antennas at the communication frequency.
- Disturbance on communication frequencies caused by electronic devices - both low and high current.
- Disturbance on communication frequencies caused by other wireless devices which are using the same or similar communication frequency.
In the following chapters, special issues are addressed and solutions proposed. The purpose of this text is to give an introduction to the possible issues which can arise with wireless communication and solution to those issues.
Controlant offers various accessories which can be used to optimize quality of wireless communication – including various antennas, extension cords etc.
Mounting Orientation
All Controlant equipment can be mounted in any orientation. However, mounting the device according to recommendations may have positive effects on wireless communication range. The default quarter- and half-wave antennas which the Controlant devices come equipped with by-default get the most gain if they are parallel.
Table 1: Shows the different orientation of loggers and transceivers and how good each setup is in terms of signal quality.
Environmental factors
Various environmental factors can affect on the communication range of the wireless system. Below is a description of a few issues which can arise when using wireless communication in different environments
Indoor use
Indoor use can reduce the signal strength. If the path between a transceiver and a wireless logger is closed off by walls, the signal strength might be reduced. Signal strength reduction varies, depending on the building material and thickness of walls.
The general rule is that the thicker the wall the greater reduction in signal strength. Table 2 shows the relative reduction in signal strength for different building materials. The setup is shown in picture 1.
Picture 1: Indoor use of wireless transceiver and wireless logger.
Wall material | Relative Signal Reduction |
Metallic (Aluminum, iron etc.) | Maximum reduction |
| Concrete with iron binding | Very High reduction |
Concrete | High reduction |
Gypsum | Average reduction |
Plastic/Wood | Low reduction |
Table 2: Relative reduction in signal strength for different building materials.
Various factors can add to range issues, such as radiation from electronic equipment, other occluding objects, high humidity etc.
While installing the Controlant system, these factors should be taken into account when choosing the optimal location for a transceiver. Controlant offers various accessories to get a better signal quality for the system, including; antennas with different characteristics, antenna extension cables and mounts. By using the accessories, users can place antennas in optimal locations for better signal quality. Various factors can add to range issues, such as radiation from electronic equipment, other occluding objects, high humidity etc.
Usage in Automobiles
Usage in trailers of trucks where walls are made from metallic material can cause signal strength to be reduced. In case of low signal strength, placement of wireless loggers can be changed and moved closer to openings such as doors, windows etc. Antennas with more gain can be used to increase signal quality. Extension cables and cable mounts can be used to place antennas in optimal locations for better signal quality.
Picture 2: Use of wireless logger and transceivers in trucks and trailers.
Occluding Objects
Occluding objects will affect the signal quality between wireless logger and transceiver. The effect varies by the size, placement and material of the object.
To get the best signal quality, placement of wireless loggers and transceivers should be such that as few objects are occluding the path between wireless logger and transceiver as possible. Table 2 shows the relative effect on signal quality for different materials.
Further Information
For further support please refer to documentation on our website, www.controlant.com, or contact our support department by email; support@controlant.com or by phone; +354-517-0630.
©Controlant ehf. All Rights Reserved.
Controlant provides this document “as is,” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of fitness or merchantability for a particular purpose. Controlant may make improvements and/or changes in this manual or in the product(s) and/or the program(s) described in this manual at any time.
This product could include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information herein; these changes may be incorporated in new editions of the publication.
The purpose of this document is to address issues which may arise in wireless communication and solution to those issues. This document might not address all issues which may arise.
Document title:
SB 01 Resolving Low and Intermittent Logger Signal Quality
Doc. No & Vers.
160 - 20
1. Background
The Controlant equipment communicate on an open unlicensed ISM radio band which requires all devices to tolerate interference from other ISM equipment.
When loggers communicate intermittently and/or when signal quality is < 50% the historical log is not transmitted to the central remote database via the gateway. However the Logger continuously broadcasts the last measured value. This broadcast functionality of the Logger is to ensure full alarm functionality is maintained in case of temporary disturbance in the wireless communication due to possible interference on the ISM radio band.
For reliable communication of environmental measurement data and time the communication quality of the Logger must be > 60%.
2. Problem Description
After deployment of Controlant Loggers in a warehouse, where loggers are attached to a metal struts or other metal surfaces of the shelving system, in few instances the loggers communicate intermittently and/or with low signal quality, below 50%, as measured by the Controlant Gateway and displayed in the user interface.
Example of Logger installation:
Document title:
SB 01 Resolving Low and Intermittent Logger Signal Quality
Doc. No & Vers.
160 - 20
2.1. Examples of display in user interface:
Display indicates no connection
Display indicates low quality of connection
3. Corrective Action
By isolating the Logger chassis from the metal surface of the shelving the communication quality is increased and the data is transmitted normally. This is achieved by placing a thin sheet of any isolated material (plastic, paper etc.) between the metal surface of the shelving and the back of the Logger when attaching the Logger using plastic cable ties. Verify signal quality is improved and above limit of 60%, preferably between 75% and 100%.
Document title:
SB 01 Resolving Low and Intermittent Logger Signal Quality
Doc. No & Vers.
160 - 20
Example installation with isolation