I am using rfm95 lora radio shield for my weather balloon project. Basically, it will send the sensor data from 20~30km above the earth to the receiving module. Will rfm95 with wire antenna would be powerful enough to send sensor data from a great height? Or, do I need better antenna or radio module for this kind of project?
Similar questions are coming up now and then. Google ought to give You examples.
A simple wire will be plenty good enough.
The normal antenna for a HAB (@434Mhz) is a 1/4 wave wire with radials, made with wire on the outside of the payload box.
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is radial necessary for the antenna? My lora shield only has a one strip of wire attached to the antenna connection of the lora module.
If you want a properly matched antenna for maximum radiated power, then yes you need the radials.
How far you would get with an unmatched, poor antenna, I would not be certain.
My wire antenna is matched to the wavelength but it does not have radials. If I need to connect radials, do I connect sma connector or a coaxial cable to the ground pin and antenna pin of my lora module?
Depends on how you are connecting the LoRa module you are using.
The instructions linked to above were for a LoRa module\setup that had an SMA connector on it.
My LoRa module unfortunately doesn't have a sma connector. Then, do I just connect coaxial cable to Antenna pin and Ground pin of the LoRa module? Or do I just use wire antenna matched with the wavelength without radials?
I will repeat what I said already;
"If you want a properly matched antenna for maximum radiated power, then yes you need the radials"
Thus you can assume you need to use co-ax and assemble the antenna as in the link already provided.
What is the size\weight of the payload, and can you provide a schmatic and pictures of your current setup ?
My payload is approximately 800 grams. I don't have a schematic for my payload but here's the picture.
This arduino with different kinds of shields will be installed in styrofoam cooler with camera and power bank onboard. The sensor shield includes very basic sensors: BME280 temperature, pressure(altitude), humidity sensor and accelerometer.
Solar charger shield
Lora shield
Sensor shield
The design of the LoRa shield in not that good, it would have easy enough to add the pads to take a SMA edge connector.
You will need to find a GND pad near the ANT on the board to solder the co-ax screen too.
Yes, I think so...
I am using the link provided above for reference for my antenna design and antenna connection to my LoRa shield. Thanks for your help!!
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