Did you know the way we make cell phone calls has changed recently?
My relatively “old-school” iPhone 6 persistently prompted me to switch to the 4G network, and no doubt many people were forced to replace their phones entirely after they stopped making calls after the shutdown of 2G and 3G networks throughout NZ.
Why does this matter? Our data collection units rely on cellular networks too.
We have been working through our network and upgrading all of our systems that operated on 2G and 3G. We completed the final two sites requiring upgrades last month.
Both customers are measuring water levels in streams; one site has cellular reception at the sampling location, while the other does not.
This requires two different solutions.
Our first customer will keep their existing vanwaltDataNode with a Sensor that pings data up to a vanwaltDataHub sitting on the top of the hill.
This vanwaltDataHub will be upgraded to a vanwaltDataGateway running on the 4G/5G network.
If you look (very) closely at the bluest part of the horizon (circled in orange), you can see the vanwaltDataGateway positioned at the top of the hill.
The vanwaltDataGateway has a cell signal at that location, allowing the data to continue to be delivered to the customer’s desktop.
The second customer does have cell signal at the sampling location, which makes things a bit simpler. Rather than installing two pieces of hardware, we can get away with one.
A vanwaltKISS pod is perfectly suited to this site. It is more cost-effective, quicker to install, and a much more discreet option, especially for a site in the public eye, without the need for a large box or solar panel.
In this photo, Holly is removing the old vanwaltDataHub with a solar panel mounted on a post.
The photos below show the new vanwaltKISS in place utilizing the post that was already installed – tidy & discreet.
We will always consider all the variables on-site, making sure we find the right solution for your project.
If you are unsure what equipment you need, please reach out. We are always happy to help.
Mandy, Dirk, Casey and Holly (New Zealand)