Another possible way of sending data from arduino to a remote location

Projects Networking, Protocols, and Devices
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Hello!! I am currently working on a project that requires that every received data be sent to a remote location whilst maintaining time integrity.

I want the data to be sent wirelessly. You know if one were to use the Esp8266 or arduino wifi et al; there must be internet connection. I was wondering which other way are there??? One that do not need internet but only a remote database??

Also, the arduino atmega2560 that I am currently using can only take quite a few amount of data as I have to use it for timing purpose. Is there another bigger memory than the External I2C EEPROM???

Thanks in advance for your swift and helpful reply!!!!!

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I want the data to be sent wirelessly. You know if one were to use the Esp8266 or arduino wifi et al; there must be internet connection. I was wondering which other way are there?

There are many different transport means: RF unlicensed radio, RF-Amature band, commercial RF/cellular, and point-point laser. The decision in many cases is the data speed and the distance.

There is also a technology called "mesh network" which uses many low-powered transceivers to create a kind of repeater system.

Also, you state ESP8266 is "Internet" but more correctly it is intranet ... a regular AP would be required to be a router/firewall to the Internet. (Yes, there are other methodologies, but they are basically out in left-field.)

So what kind of traffic do you intend on moving? What is the maximum distance you need? What are the obstructions between the two end points?

Ray

Read more:
RF and embedded processors for short-range

ESP8266 to ESP8266 via UDP broadcast

Point-Point overview

3

Thanks @mrburnette for the swift and eye-opening response!!! Actually, it is like a data logging system whose data needs to be sent to a remote location (approximately 1km far away from the data logging-ish device).
Buildings could obstruct.

Thanks in advance, for another eye-opening response and advise!!!!

4

Godknows:
Thanks @mrburnette for the swift and eye-opening response!!! Actually, it is like a data logging system whose data needs to be sent to a remote location (approximately 1km far away from the data logging-ish device).
Buildings could obstruct.

Thanks in advance, for another eye-opening response and advise!!!!

Great, now we have some specifics to think about. Obstructions rule out point-to-point laser and microwave systems (unless you wanted to bounce stuff around corners!) Point-to-point systems are great for campus environments where the administration can go from rooftop to rooftop; more complex in residential and small business areas where the user does not have building rights and local authorities may require permits. If you are immune from these requirements (have rights to building tops or can erect poles, without special permits, then you may wish to reconsider this option.)

If we rule out commercial Internet (which is what I believe you want to do), then we are left with 3 options: aerial or buried cable, low-powered and unlicensed RF and licensed RF (commercial, inc. cellular technology.)

  1. In a building park or on campus property there may already be building to building conduit that could support a wired-cable solution.

2a) Consulting this link we have the following information:

Assume that you have a 2.4GHz multipoint radio system consisting of

a transmitter at 24 dBm (250 mW)
with a 6 dBi omni antenna,
5 dB of cabling loss on the antenna tower (2 connectors and 75 feet of LMR-400)
sending to a receiver with a 24 dBi directional antenna
6 dB of cabling loss (2 connector and 30 feet of LMR-195) and
a receiver sensitivity of -80 dBm.
The maximum allowable loss would be 123 dB. If we want a 15 dB link margin to protect against weather, then we are at 108 dB allowance for distance, which would be 1.6 miles.

which is roughly 4x your need. However, this is a point-to-point and because it is high-frequency, trees, buildings, and other obstruction will significantly cut the range or simply cause the signal to be absorbed.

2b) Dropping our frequency down to the 900MHz unlicensed band and consulting this link we find:

Features

License-free 900 MHz ISM band
Range of 25+ miles (40+ km)
SmartSpectrumTM technology for maximum data integrity in noisy, industrial environments
RS-232/RS-485 data ports
AES-256 bit Encryption
Separate RS-232 DB9 port for configuration
Operates as Master, Remote, Repeater or Repeater/Remote
User adjustable hop patterns and frequency zones for refined operation of close proximity networks

Well, looks like this made a huge difference in our distance. But, this is commercial manufactured hardware so the price will be a consideration.

2c) Similar to the 2a, these modules offer another VHF solution in the ISM band.

This ED article will help you to gain a better understanding of the options in the unlicensed spectrum. Of course, if you are not in the USA the rules are a bit different and you will have to do some more research for your specific entity.

  1. Cellular data radio using a commercial carrier is likely the easiest to implement but the data charges could be significant. Here is an overview of this option.

So what about those cheap-o RF12B and RF69 radios? [This YouTube short video should help.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRGY1KvX4bYcellular packet radio) Unfortunately around 250 Meters in open air is not going to work for you.

Low-power mesh networks do not seem applicable to your need.

The big negative to what you are wanting to do is the distance, over one-half mile in a non-point-to-point scenario. This presentation from GWU sums up the above and other options.

If someone else is paying the cellular bill, then cellular packet radio is the easiest to implement. Otherwise, ADSL from an ISP provider is likely the second best although still not cheap.

You could try experimenting with the 900MHz ISM no-license band. This could actually work out for you if you could get access to the roof of the two buildings for an external antenna.

Good luck,

Ray

5

Thank you very much, Ray, for the clear direction!!!! The point-to-point connection seems to be the best option due to the fact that it might be for a campus environment alone. The cellular option sounds very expensive and the wired cable option seems to not suit this application as the probability that each building is connected to each other is quite very low.
I would prefer a licensed approach to an unlicensed approach due to legal reasons.

In a scenario where the sensing element will be inside separate offices, what sort of transmitter/transceiver could I use?? Also, what sort of database could be deployed in the receiving end as I would like to be monitoring the data live instead of the sd card that I am using to store the data.

Thanks in advance for your swift and indispensable response in advance!!!

6

You have not mentioned data speed requirements. Actually there is another way if the buildings are all part of a single entity. It is an almost certainty that there is a single PBX telephone system connecting all the buildings and offices by wire.

If the entity owns or leases the PBX system, you will be able to access the wiring at the central system and at the remote building. Find two twisted pair going to the locations you desire. Jumper the wires at the PBX so there is continuous copper between each location.

Purchase Limited Distance Modems and connect them to the copper wires at your locations. Now you can send and receive RS-232 data between the locations. Some of the modems can use rather high data speeds.

Years ago I had to do this at a bank in Brownsville, Texas. They had a main office building and a separate operations center separated by a large parking lot. They were so proud of themselves of having wired both building for the mini-computer and for terminals at all the teller stations and offices.

I asked how they wired the two buildings together so the computer in one building could talk to the terminals in the other? Their faces went blank "I never thought of that"!

I used the above connections to solve that problem for them. This could also work for the OP. Be aware, the building alarm system may also be using the telephone cable pairs.

Paul

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GSM shield

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Thank you very much everyone for the stimulating response!! I feel the GSM shield will be useful. However, I do not know how fast it is. Do you have any idea about this, sir???

Thanks in advance!!!!

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I think the fastness is directly proportional to the service provider's speed