Determining the best position for an indoor gateway

The gateway can connect to the sensors from up to 500 meters/546 yards away in open field, but due to metals and plants in the greenhouse, correct positioning is key to ensuring a good connection to all your sensors. Most cultivations and greenhouse set ups have different obstacles for the signal, and often the range is 60-100m/66-110yd in practice.

The best location

The gateway can be placed above the walking path (middle or on the side) or above the plants. We recommend to install it above the walking path, as this is often the easiest way to install the gateway. However, in some cases it is preferred to install the gateway above the plants. 

We always aim to determine the installation place in the order phase. If you are unsure about the positioning and/or want install the gateway elsewhere, please do not hesitate to contact your Growth Success Manager or support@growficient.com for assistance.

The best position

Finding the best position of the gateway is important as this determines the range and quality of the wireless network. Please keep the following three things in mind when finding the best position:

1. Make sure that the antenna is free, and no metal or other objects are within 1m/3 yards of the gateway
2. Place the gateway as high as possible; in general, the higher the gateway, the better the coverage
3.  Place the antenna under the sunscreens, as screens can contain metal that may reduce the strength of the wireless network

In general we recommend to place the gateway right beneath the sunscreen with the antenna pointing downwards. 

Examples

Here are some picture examples of well placed gateways:

Above the walking path

At the side of the walking path