Our EM2050 module is designed to be integrated right into IoT sensors to provide direct-to-satellite connectivity via our LoRa®-enabled IoT network, wherever and whenever required. But, if you have several sensors in one area collecting different information, there is now a more efficient way of transmitting your data. Symes has developed an innovative satellite hub solution to which multiple sensors can connect and send data via our LoRa®-enabled satellite IoT network. In this blog, we explore this new hub’s features, benefits and applications.
What is Symes’ new satellite hub?
Electronic design manufacturer Symes specialises in connected objects and IoT technology. Its latest product, Starget, is a satellite hub ideal for applications that collect data on different aspects from multiple IoT sensors. These could include humidity, temperature, water levels, movement or any other data set you need to monitor remotely.
How does Starget work?
Currently, each Starget satellite hub can simultaneously collect data from up to three IoT sensors, using an app and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection to ‘tune into’ the required devices. The hub can also read analogue sensors wired directly to the hub with 4-20mA or 0 to 42V output.
Starget then sends the data in 50-byte data packets via our LoRa®-enabled IoT satellite network to the user’s specified central platform every 1-2 hours, depending on the target need. With the dual-mode connectivity of our LoRa®-enabled IoT satellite network, the hub can also use terrestrial networks where available.
This hub solution can also interact with its environment, providing two outputs. For example, it can switch warning lights or an emergency siren on and off when a specified threshold has been reached, such as maximum water levels or temperature.
What are the key benefits of this technology?
Continuous satellite connectivity for remote areas
Starget leverages the EM2050 module that offers direct-to-satellite connectivity via our LoRa®-enabled IoT network. With this access to satellite coverage, Starget can provide reliable connectivity in any area of Europe, including remote locations and harsh environments. This advantage offers significant value to industries operating in these regions that require coverage where terrestrial networks do not reach.
Low-power LoRaWAN® technology
Utilising LoRaWAN® technology, Starget offers low-power consumption, whether operating over satellite or terrestrial networks. This advantage not only offers practical benefits, increasing battery life to around one year and reducing the need for regular replacements but also enhances cost efficiencies. The hub can also use an external 10/30V power supply where available. Furthermore, there is a future opportunity to harness solar power with a panel attached to the battery pack.
Waterproofing and temperature resilience
Starget is waterproof up to IP66, meaning that it is protected against powerful water jets that could otherwise harm the hub technology. In addition, its operating temperatures are between -30 and +70°C, making it resilient in almost any outdoor environment.
Ease of deployment
Starget offers excellent portability, with dimensions of 160 x 80 x 90 mm and a weight of 510g. Furthermore, as it is battery-powered and has an integrated internal antenna, deployment in the field is easy, and applications can be seamlessly scaled should multiple hub be required in various locations.
What are the potential applications of Starget?
The applications for this satellite hub are countless. In any scenario requiring the collection and transmission of different datasets from a variety of sensors, Starget provides an efficient and effective option. The hub becomes even more valuable when applications are in remote environments or those where traditional terrestrial networks do not reach.
For example:
Monitor beehive activity
One current application using Starget is Honey Instruments Connected Hive Scales. This ‘Dual-Connect’ hub solution collects all the information needed to monitor hives, delivering data on honey flow, reserve status, colony health, theft or looting alerts, and local weather. The data is delivered to a smartphone or desktop in real time via terrestrial or satellite connectivity, meaning that even when hives are situated in remote locations, transmission is consistent and reliable.
Lighthouse sensors on the sea
A potential opportunity for the Starget hub solution is lighthouse monitoring and management. This application could work in several ways. For example, Symes provides a solution for monitoring maritime signal lightings, currently leveraging GPS, Sigfox and Bluetooth communication technologies. However, there is the opportunity to extend its capabilities to include satellite connectivity via Starget.
Additionally, IoT sensors could collect environmental data on aspects such as weather, sea or visibility conditions, further supporting safer navigation around hazardous areas. They could also be deployed to monitor the structural health of the lighthouse, performing integrity checks to prevent cracks, corrosion or other structural weaknesses.
Data from all these types of sensors could be transmitted to Starget, collated, and successfully delivered to the end destination. With lighthouses often located in isolated locations where terrestrial coverage is limited, satellite connectivity would play a critical role in ensuring reliable data access.
Precision agriculture
Another area where Starget would offer immense value is agriculture and farming management. IoT sensors are already on the market for gathering data on aspects such as soil moisture, crop health, and weather conditions. With these sensors spread across large, remote farms, having one or more satellite hubs, like Starget, to collect and transmit the data would enable farmers to receive all this information in real time, collated on central dashboards accessed via a smartphone or desktop. This capability would support more efficient data-driven decisions about activities including irrigation, planting, and harvesting, optimising resource use and increasing crop yields.
The Unlimited Future
Starget provides a reliable way to collect data from multiple sensors and send it to a centralised location, delivering benefits in a multitude of scenarios. For example, in the future, the satellite hub could be used to collect data from sensors that monitor the condition of critical infrastructure, supporting proactive maintenance and avoiding costly repairs and potentially life-threatening incidents. It could also be leveraged in environmental settings, where sensors are deployed to collect information on weather conditions, moisture or pollution levels, enabling informed decision-making on climate activity and potentially preventing natural disasters, such as flooding or wildfires.
In fact, the opportunities for gaining value from Starget span numerous industries and scenarios. The only limitation is our imagination and innovation.
To learn more about these IoT connectivity solutions, please get in touch with our team.