Gateways are a vital component to any LoRaWAN IoT solution. With so many options it can be hard to know which one to choose. To help you with your selection we’ve prepared a short blog to highlight some of the key factors you may want to take into consideration when selecting your IoT gateway solution.
What does an IoT Gateway Solution do?
LoRaWAN gateways play a critical role in your IoT solutions. Regardless of your application, an IoT solution will typically consist of sensors, a gateway, a network server and an application server. Your sensors will collect data and monitor the specific parameters they are designed for. The data collected is then passed to the gateway which bridges the gap between the connected IoT sensors and the network server. From the network server, the data is then transmitted to an application server for visualisation. By connecting the field to the cloud IoT gateways are a key access point for network connectivity.
The Things Network
Things to Consider
1. Indoor/Outdoor Gateways
The first thing to consider when selecting your IoT gateway solution is the vertical it’s going to be applied to. Smart Agriculture and Smart Utility solutions for example are likely to have very different requirements. One may require an outdoor gateway, whereas the other may only need to be used indoors.
2. Network Coverage
The second factor to take into account is the network coverage. Some areas may have coverage blackspots which can result in delays or a loss of data. Many gateways have integrated failover features, the type of backhaul however, differs between different gateway devices.
3. Suitability
The size of your application and the number of messages you will be recording will have an impact on the IoT gateway solution you require. As will the installation environment, it is important to assess the external factors and how they may effect the gateway you require.
4. Integration
While you can connect any of our IoT gateway solutions to your preferred LoRaWAN network server. Many gateway manufacturers have their own servers too. If you use an LNS from a gateway manufacturer you can expect tighter integration with their gateways which may help you to decipher your chosen gateway brand.
Alliot’s Gateway Range
We partner with some of the world’s leading gateway manufacturers including LORIXone, Kerlink and MultiTech. Whatever your requirements you can rest assured Alliot has an IoT gateway solution for you.
To simplify your selection we’ve put together a LoRaWAN gateway comparison chart.
Get started with MultiTech’s Starter Kit
MultiTech offer a LoRa starter kit for those looking to get started with IoT. Ideal for testing, this kit includes everything you need to demonstrate your solutions.
Contact the Alliot Team today for expert advice on selecting the right IoT gateway solution for your projects.