Meter needs WIFI

@Grupieted19

It would work with a mobile router, but the normal devices can only be set up in a protected location and as soon as something weatherproof is needed, the range will be smaller and the price will be a lot higher.

You also have to take out a subscription for such a mobile router.

@Grupieted19

The SIM cards are probably not the problem.

Assuming that large amounts of real-time data are not produced, this is probably enough for CHF 4/month:

[https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product/digitec-iot-daten-flat-30-tage-unlimitiert-04-mbits-mobile-abo-sim-karte-12335815?supplier=406802] (https://www.digitec.ch/de/s1/product/digitec-iot-daten-flat-30-tage-unlimitiert-04-mbits-mobile-abo-sim-karte-12335815?supplier=406802)

Since your sensors themselves do not contain cellular modems, you will probably also need mobile routers or cell phone hotspots and then comes the question of weather resistance.

Depending on whether it is protected indoors or exposed to the weather outside, the price varies.

If the mobile router is dry, it will cost less than CHF 100 per location.

If it is supposed to be a cheap project, old 4G-capable used cell phones may also work as mobile hotspots.

The more stable the locations are supposed to be, the more expensive it will be.

@Grupieted19

Connecting via the IoT LoRaWAN spontaneously comes to mind. There are also commercial offers from Swisscom, which, however, are priced more for professional users.

There are also several hobby communities where the motto is “one for all, all for one”, i.e. everyone lets everyone connect on the nodes they built themselves.

I’ve had to deal with this before, let’s see if I can find the contacts again.

Another classic M2M application!

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_to_Machine

Let’s go through the different ways to implement M2M (radio) communication.

Based on the amount of data to be transmitted and the power consumption of the hardware and measuring equipment used, the optimal means of communication and the necessary communication hardware and computer hardware must be selected. If the demands on the computing power of the computer hardware are high, a power-hungry microprocessor or SoC must be used. If the computing power requirements are small, a power-saving microcontroller or DSP can be used.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microprocessor

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_of_Microprocessors

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microcontroller

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liste_of_Microcontrollers

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/System-on-a-Chip

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitaler_Signalprocessor

In general, the safety instructions for the Internet connection of an M2M application should be observed:

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Corporate-Application-Access-Public-IP-auf-Mobile-Abo-sicherheit/m-p/716791] (https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Corporate-Application-Access-Public-IP-auf-Mobile-Abo-sicherheit/m-p/716791)

I recommend using a Raspberry Pi as an SPI firewall and VPN endpoint at every “outside location”. Pack Raspberry Pi in a weatherproof housing and supply it with power using “Power over Ethernet”. Connect Raspberry Pi to the Internet and set up your own wireless network (WLAN, LoRaWAN or Bluetooth) from the Raspberry Pi to the measuring devices. Alternatively, connect the measuring devices to the Raspberry Pi using a USB cable.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_over_Ethernet

Important: DO NOT forget the lightning protection module on the (Ethernet) cable when entering the building!

The following offers an introduction to the world of Raspberry Pies:

[https://www.lancom-forum.de/aktuelle-lancom-router-serie-f41/vdsl-umzug-glasfarben-neuer-router-t17926.html#p101750] (https://www.lancom-forum.de/aktuelle-lancom-router-serie-f41/vdsl-umzug-glasfarben-neuer-router-t17926.html#p101750)

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raspberry_Pi

The Raspberry Pi can independently enable communication with the measuring devices via WLAN or Bluetooth or via USB cable. The Raspberry Pi can provide an Internet connection via a mobile radio module that can be connected via a USB cable. Alternatively, the Internet connection is implemented via the Ethernet network cable (via a mobile phone router).

If the Internet connection is to be implemented via mobile communications, the information below should be:

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/TeleButler-4G-Empfangsproblems-in-6644-Orselina/m-p/690713](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/TeleButler-4G- Reception problems-in-6644-Orselina/m-p/690713)

https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/Wlan-Handynetz/m-p/714354#M10260

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Mobile/4G-VoLTE-telefonieren-mit-externer-antenna-oder-analogem-telefon/m-p/654826](https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/ Mobile/4G-VoLTE-telephoning-with-external-antenna-or-analog-phone/m-p/654826)

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Internet-Allgemein/Internet-%C3%BCber-Mobile-auf-der-Alp/m-p/668531#M62675] (https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/Internet-Allgemein/Internet-%C3%BCber-Mobile-auf-der-Alp/m-p/668531#M62675)

be taken into account.

In general, I recommend creating your own wireless network between the measuring devices and the Raspberry Pi. This can be WLAN, Bluetooth or LoRaWAN.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Range_Wide_Area_Network

If you operate the LoRaWAN with your own LoRaWAN gateway, this is a very future-proof and cost-effective solution. LoRaWAN gateways for “standalone operation” (no LoRAWAN gateway from Swisscom required) are easily available with a Raspberry Pi connection.

Offer an introduction to the world of LoRaWAN:

[https://www.swisscom.ch/de/magazin/neue-technologies/iot-lpn-kuh-tracker/](https://www.swisscom.ch/de/magazin/neue-technologies/iot-lpn -cow tracker/)

http://www.pc-treff-bb.de/Vortraege/LoRaWAN.pdf

When using LoRaWAN, it should be noted that communication via LoRaWAN takes place via datagrams (short messages à la SMS):

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datagramm

An alternative to LoRaWAN could be Meshtastic, which is also based on “LoRa” wireless technology. Meshtastic enables the realization of self-sufficient, mesh radio networks for the exchange of datagrams.

https://meshtastic.org/

https://www.heise.de/select/ct/2022/13/2210307225814749688

A good description of what a self-sufficient, mesh wireless network is can be found at:

https://www.javatpoint.com/mobile-adhoc-network

If the view of the sky is unrestricted, the use of a satellite communication module such as the “Iridium Edge” based on Iridium Short Burst Data (SBD) could also be a sensible alternative to the mobile phone router or mobile phone module.

https://www.iridium.com/services/iridium-sbd/

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridium\_(communication system)](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iridium_(communication system))

[https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/telefonie-Wissensbox/2025-ist-Schluss-3G-macht-Platz-f%C3%BCr-mehr-leistung/tac-p/719142#M614] (https://community.swisscom.ch/t5/telefonie-Wissensbox/2025-ist-Schluss-3G-macht-Platz-f%C3%BCr-mehr-leistung/tac-p/719142#M614)

[https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite Communication](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite Communication)

When using Iridium SBD, it is important to note that the datagrams transmitted via the Iridium satellite are usually sent unencrypted, i.e. in plain text for everyone to read!

[https://www.rtl-sdr.com/talk-decoding-data-from-iridium-satellites/](https://www.rtl-sdr.com/talk-decoding-data-from-iridium-satellites /)

And connecting the Iridium SBD satellite communication module to the Raspberry Pi will almost certainly be a tricky, time-consuming (electronic) nut to solve yourself! Here are some possible solutions:

[https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/downloads/pdf/using-the-rockblock-iridium-modem.pdf](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/downloads/pdf/using-the- rockblock-iridium-modem.pdf)

[https://www.okdo.com/project/satellite-messaging-with-raspberry-pi-pico-and-rockblock/](https://www.okdo.com/project/satellite-messaging-with-raspberry -pi-pico-and-rockblock/)

http://www.spice-center.org/files/final-event/Yoneki.pdf

https://www.adafruit.com/product/4521

An alternative to Iridium SBD could also be Globalstar.

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalstar

https://www.globalstar.com/en-gb/

https://www.globalstar.com/en-gb/products/iot

Before using Globalstar for the first time, check the current network coverage!

https://www.globalstar.com/en-gb/coverage-maps

The most cost-effective satellite communications solution is probably Orbcomm:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbcomm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orbcomm

The following provides an introduction to the world of microcontrollers:

https://www.heise.de/select/make/2019/6/1577220628743436

https://www.heise.de/select/make/2022/3/2208808255068404680

https://www.heise.de/select/make/2021/3/2109811415303580186

https://www.heise.de/select/make/2022/4/2216407360229342785

https://www.heise.de/select/make/2021/1/2033609402116788503

The ESP32 microcontroller and the Arduino platform are popular for “craft projects”:

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESP32

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arduino_(Platform)

I can only recommend digitec IoT, it works great and managing many SIMs is very easy. The only problem could be that Sunrise has poor reception there or not enough reception for a stable connection. Be sure to clarify this beforehand