Why LoRaWAN is a Must-have for Automated Temperature Monitoring
Are you in the market for an automated temperature monitoring system? You can easily find a variety of WiFi—and Bluetooth-powered temperature sensors online.
While affordable, these sensors only work well for personal home usage.
However, you'll need something more robust for everyone who works with commercial walk-ins, industrial freezers, and other industry-grade refrigeration.
This begs several questions:
Can your phone reliably and consistently receive WiFi or Bluetooth signals in your walk-in? Can you trust a sensor that doesn't maintain a consistent connection during potentially critical moments?
So, what makes an automated temperature monitoring system ‘robust’ and ‘reliable’?
Before buying your first (or next) monitoring platform, let's break down everything you need to know.
Consistent uptime and connectivity are crucial
You’ll miss out on critical data and urgent alerts when your sensors are offline. WiFi and Bluetooth are susceptible to these issues, as they struggle with poor connectivity in dense environments.
Commercial refrigeration units with multiple layers of steel and insulation make it especially difficult for signals to maintain consistent connectivity.
Let's take a quick look at WiFI and Bluetooth, two very familiar connection types, to better understand their limitations.
What is WiFi?
Now considered a common need in human lives, WiFi is pretty much everywhere these days. But what exactly is it, and how does it work?
WiFi stands for Wireless Fidelity, and it functions by sending radio waves between devices. WiFi is unique because it relies on a centralized router that can connect to multiple devices at once.
WiFi became a popular choice for use in temperature sensors because… well, it’s simply everywhere. Worldwide, 60% of people use WiFi to connect to the internet, with 50% of those users browsing via mobile devices.
Unfortunately, WiFi sensors are heavily hindered in commercial buildings and cease functionality without a consistent electrical connection.
So if there’s a power interruption, your WiFi goes bye-bye.
Additionally, the strength of your internet signal impacts the performance of your WiFi systems. If you were to use WiFi in a rural or isolated region or a building containing WiFi-hindering materials (such as thick steel walls), you would experience poor connection issues.
Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of relying on WiFI-powered temperature sensors:
Pros:
- Can upload large amounts of data quickly with extraordinary bandwidth
- Connections are available at a distance
Cons:
- Can't function without power
- Requires an internet connection
That’s your everyday WiFi. How about Bluetooth?
What is Bluetooth?
In contrast to WiFi, Bluetooth sends signals directly between two individual devices without the need for a centralized router.
As mobile device usage increased, Bluetooth became an excellent option for connecting them with other devices like speakers or headphones that previously relied on wires and cables.
Bluetooth doesn’t require an internet connection to send signals, making it usable almost anywhere. Additionally, Bluetooth doesn’t require a wired electrical connection, enabling Bluetooth-enabled devices to operate for as long as their internal battery lasts.
On the contrary, Bluetooth devices can sometimes interfere with each other, causing a loss of connection.
The other drawback of Bluetooth is the relatively short range that the signal travels. In many commercial devices, connectivity may wane over several feet.
Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of relying on Bluetooth-powered temperature sensors:
Pros:
- Doesn't require constant power
- Doesn't require an internet connection
Cons:
- Has trouble transmitting signals over long distances or through metal
- Is unreliable in settings with many devices
With WiFi and Bluetooth-powered monitoring devices out of the question, what connection type should you look for?
Enter—LoRaWAN.
What is LoRaWAN?
Short for Long-Range Wide Area Network, it’s a signal code used within the Internet of Things (IoT) to transmit data from one device to another.
LoRaWAN sensors use a long-range, low-power radio signal to transmit data from sensors to a data-processing hub.
Turns out, this type of signal can easily penetrate thick walls and doors, such as those found in walk-ins, coolers, freezers, and low-boys.
This makes the LoRaWAN connection more robust and reliable in busy and dense foodservice business environments.
First time hearing about LoRaWAN? While this application of LoRaWAN is relatively new, the technology itself isn’t. Its integration into IoT technology began at the dawn of the 2010s, and its reputation has been building ever since.
Here’s a summary of the pros and cons of using LoRaWAN-powered temperature monitoring devices:
Pros:
- Doesn’t require a wired electrical connection or WiFi to operate
- Able to function consistently in areas with physical, signal-dampening obstructions
Cons:
- Every location requires a hub to transmit sensor signals
- Low bandwidth restricts the amount of data transmitted
Sure, all the connection types we mentioned above have their fair share of pros and cons, but LoRaWAN still has an edge over WiFi and Bluetooth—it still functions at full capacity in dense environments.
How LoRaWAN compares to WiFi and Bluetooth
When comparing temperature monitoring systems, consider the qualities of your business and its specific needs.
For example:
Bluetooth is still a good option for foodservice establishments with open kitchens and fewer electronic devices.
Facilities in rural areas should rule out WiFi since you’ll need a stable and consistent internet connection.
Multi-use buildings with significant infrastructure benefit from LoRaWAN due to its reliability in maintaining connection even through dense materials.
While more common and widespread, WiFi and Bluetooth still rely on goldilocks-level conditions to function reliably.
This is why LoRaWAN should take the top spot in your list of temperature monitoring criteria.
Where can you start looking for LoRaWAN-powered devices?
GlacierGrid's LoRaWAN-powered remote monitoring system is the premier choice for commercial refrigeration with unparalleled range and connectivity.
We designed our platform to provide 99% uptime in commercial environments—ensuring you get critical data whenever and wherever you need it.
So, why choose GlacierGrid Monitoring?
Connection reaches more than 1,200 feet
Even through thick walls, your sensor will stay connected to your hub, where critical data is collected. This reliable range allows us to keep managers and operators continually informed.
Critical data is thoroughly protected
Our LoRaWAN sensors offer military-grade data security, helping to protect your business from hacks and data mining.
Continuous data collection
Our proprietary software records your equipment continuously. In the event of a power outage, your system will still record temperature data during the outage. You can then view this data once power is restored.
Here’s a quote that summarizes LoRaWAN’s role in revolutionizing temperature monitoring technology:
“With the integration of LoRaWAN into our product suite, we are able to provide exceptional connectivity in dense, noisy, chaotic environments where other wireless devices have struggled or failed.”
—Andrew Hager, CTO of GlacierGrid
Be a part of the temperature monitoring revolution
If you’re looking for a reliable and robust temperature monitoring system—try GlacierGrid now!