Many of the temperature sensors that are deployed across industries are Wi-Fi-enabled. That’s to say the temperature data the sensor collects is transmitted to the cloud by way of a local Wi-Fi hotspot near the sensor.
On paper, this route seems convenient as it enables personnel to monitor temperature from any location with an existing Wi-Fi hotspot. But a Wi-Fi connection itself presents innate challenges. Among them:
- Wi-Fi has difficulty penetrating the walls and floors of buildings, especially large-scale buildings
- When Wi-Fi connections go out, the sensor often has to be re-initiated to re-establish a connection
- Wi-Fi is inherently susceptible to hacking that can expose private, sensitive data
With these issues top of mind, it raises the question of how to monitor temperature remotely without Wi-Fi. Is there an alternative, and does it effectively address the issues noted above? In the case of LoRa wireless technology, the answer is yes.
Trading in Wi-Fi-Enabled Temperature Sensors for LoRa-Enabled Sensors
If you’re wondering what LoRa stands out for, the name is a nod to the benefits of this wireless communication technology. Short for long range, LoRa is designed specifically to form long-distance communication links via IoT and machine-to-machine applications.
Where Wi-Fi struggles with sustained reliability, LoRa succeeds. To put this in perspective, LoRa wireless signals can travel 10 miles outdoors with no obstructions. Albeit with some limits, LoRa wireless signals can penetrate concrete and cinder block walls and floors — usually about 20 or 30 walls and three to five floors, depending on building construction.
Considering their reliability, LoRa wireless signals even have the power to travel between buildings with only a single gateway required to enable communications — which, for you, means faster installation times and lower costs. For instance, if the freezers or refrigerators you want to monitor are in campus buildings across the street from each other, you may be able to monitor them all with one gateway.
From a security standpoint, LoRa also greatly surpasses Wi-Fi. With enhanced security measures built into its architecture — including end-to-end encryption and enhanced network visibility — LoRa communications are virtually impossible to be intercepted by an unauthorized user.
CORIS Enables Remote Temperature Monitoring Without Wi-Fi
Recognizing the challenges of Wi-Fi-enabled remote temperature monitoring systems, the CORIS team saw an opportunity to leverage the power of LoRa as an alternative. Using this technology to back our state-of-the-art system, we can assure our customers get the real-time temperature data they need, with fewer concerns about reliability, ease of installation or other vulnerabilities.
Consider the real-world case where Tulane University’s National Primate Research Center (TNPRC) needed to accurately and consistently monitor internal temperatures in hundreds of freezers across all 22 buildings of the TNPRC campus. With LoRa-based temperature sensors, TNPRC was able to achieve stronger wireless communication with just two gateways throughout its multi-building campus. Precious contents were kept safe, while data was securely shared and stored in the CORIS cloud for easy access.
Experience the difference LoRa makes in your wireless temperature monitoring. Contact the CORIS team today.
