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What, in your view, is the best wireless communications channel for passing data between from the underground parking garage (two levels below ground) to the top of a condo in the same building (27 floors up); with all the concrete in between?
Well that's quite a question. I bounced this on to a colleague of mine, Paul, to see what he said.
His reply:
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Arduino radio communication:
I haven't physically ever tried this, but I did research what was the most common radio link used for Arduino projects and I bought three transceiver pairs to try out. They're still on my bench, untested!
433Mhz RF Decoder Transmitter With Receiver Module Kit For ARM MCU Wireless - US$1.39|Shopping UK
I chose this version because the transmitter antenna can be added, rather than already being soldered on board.
Unsurprisingly it is Russian-based buyers who account for most purchases of these modules, and the reviews/feedback are poor in providing useful information.
SMETS2 meters have two (sometimes three) different transmission systems.
- Wide Area Network at either 400MHz (old ITV analogue) or Telefonica/Orange 3G GSM frequency
- In-home links to IHD and gas meter; Zigbee at 2.4GHz
which is now being augmented with 800MHz due to poor signal penetration
- sometimes a Mesh network in rural areas where Telefonica signal strength is low (I have this)
I also have a Honeywell wireless doorbell system in my house which is Mesh technology at 916.8MHz or 868MHz and is definitely better penetration than the 2.4GHz Zigbee.
I have no direct experience of LoRa, but I doubt that even this running at the lowest 433MHz could penetrate 30 floors. It's not the concrete which concerns me, but the steel reinforcing bars acting as a Faraday Cage.
If I was wanting to achieve this feat, I'd be fully expecting it to require "signal relay/filter/boosters" at intervals.
Paul
I assume that you are not allowed to attach anything to the building?
My initial thoughts:
1. Could you use existing power distribution wiring in the building to run ethernet over? e.g. Powerline adapters or similar.
2. Could you use a microwave link perhaps bounced off relay within the grounds.
3. Could you run a cable (or fibre optic) cable down the outside of the building?
4. Is there anything that would allow you to install a radio signal relay halfway down the building (eg, a friendly neighbor)
As I said, that's quite a question you've posed.