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Communication hardware selection advice for development

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    • 2023-09-18 at 2:47 PM #18065
      Mark E.
      Participant

        I may be helping a friend with some software development on a Mayfly logger. He uses an LTE Bee module in the field when his loggers are deployed, but I don’t anticipate being in the field myself. Communications in the field require IP service. Instead of using an LTE Bee module while I’m developing, I’m considering an EnviroDIY WiFi Bee module or commercially available WiFi shield. Then I’d just connect both the logger and my development computer to my home WiFi and have at it without needing to setup and pay for LTE service from a provider. When we’re ready to test on a the real system, we’d swap out the WiFi for LTE and (hopefully) change a few lines of code.

        So my questions…

        Does this development approach generally make sense?

        Is the WiFi Bee module still actively supported in software?

        Would it be simpler or more complicated to use another WiFi shield instead?

        (Note: I’m very new to both the Mayfly and Arduino software so please pardon my naïveté)

        Best Regards,

        -M

      • 2023-09-18 at 2:53 PM #18066
        Sara Damiano
        Moderator

          The WiFi bee is actively being supported. It’s what I test with on my desk. Switching back and forth between WiFi and LTE is fairly simple. But you should still do some LTE testing on your desk before moving to the field.

          If you’re using a Mayfly, I’d go with the WiFi Bee. It plugs right in. Any other shield would require jumper wires or other connections.

        • 2023-09-18 at 3:01 PM #18067
          Mark E.
          Participant

            Great! Thanks for the quick reply.

            One followup question: I think I saw a reference in some of the documentation about the LTE module having restricted source and destination IP addresses i.e. once configured it will only work with a single destination address. Is that correct? And if so, does the WiFi Bee have a similar restriction?  (Or maybe I’m confusing the EnviroDIY Bees with some other XBee modules that I read about…)

            -M

          • 2023-09-18 at 3:05 PM #18068
            Sara Damiano
            Moderator

              The LTE Bee (and WiFi) can change IP addresses at any time.

            • 2023-10-27 at 7:17 AM #18144
              Rick Vogel
              Participant

                If you are worried about paying for cellular service you might look into Twilio. They have a SuperSim that we used in our XBee-NB/IOT units that will connect to 4 carriers. It costs $2 month for the card and they only charge you for usage. We were running MQTT w/TLS with small messages for temp every 5 and precip every 15 with other hourly products, FTPS for remote updates. Cost us less than $10 month

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