Sensor, logger, gateway and controller
A sensor produces a measurement. A logger stores observations. A gateway connects devices to another network or platform. A controller operates equipment according to rules or commands. One enclosure may perform several roles, but a purchase specification should identify each role separately.
Monitoring and control place different requirements on the same network. A moisture alert is a different capability from switching a valve, confirming flow and stopping irrigation when a fault occurs. A sequence specification identifies triggering inputs, outputs, confirmation measurements and fault responses.
Electrical and protocol compatibility
A matching connector does not prove compatibility. Check power voltage, current demand, wiring, signal levels, protocol, address configuration, units and supported commands. SDI-12 is an interface commonly used by environmental instruments. RS485 identifies an electrical communications layer; it does not by itself establish a shared application protocol or register map.
Ask for a supported-device list and a tested wiring example for each model. For actuators, confirm whether an output drives the load directly or needs a relay, contactor or dedicated controller. Treat pump and mains-power integration as a designed electrical installation.
Field radio and internet connectivity
A wireless node may send data to an on-farm gateway while that gateway uses cellular service or a wired connection to reach a platform. Test both links at the intended site. Terrain, vegetation, mounting and network availability can all affect delivery.
LoRa is a radio technology; LoRaWAN is a networking specification with its own device and server architecture. A product listing LoRa does not establish LoRaWAN interoperability. Verify the actual protocol, regional radio configuration and supported network before mixing vendors.
Energy demand and data continuity
At one transmission per minute, a device schedules 1,440 transmissions per day. At one per 15 minutes, it schedules 96. These counts do not predict battery life: measurement load, connection setup, retransmissions and sleep behaviour also contribute. Size power for the actual sensor package and the least favourable expected solar conditions.
Ask what remains stored during an outage, how much can be buffered, and whether original timestamps survive reconnection. Confirm data ownership, export formats and access after a service contract ends.
Compare gateways and measurement loggers
Pulse, CR350 and UG65 represent three architectures: a modular sensor gateway, a programmable measurement logger, and a LoRaWAN network gateway. Their role in a farm system determines which instruments they can connect and where control logic runs.
Configurable modem, radio and sliding modules
Deep Orbital Pulse
A modular choice for a farm expected to add different instruments over time. Its current listing offers flowmeter and two-port SDI-12 sliding modules, with configurable cellular and regional radio options.
Choose sensor modules and modem alongside the gateway; verify third-party integration.
View product details ↗
CR350 logger; communications options vary
Campbell Scientific CR350
A measurement-and-control logger for projects requiring direct analog inputs, digital instruments and local programs. It offers dedicated serial ports and configurable communications options.
Requires program configuration, power, an enclosure and suitable communications.
View product details ↗
Indoor / semi-outdoor LoRaWAN gateway; cellular optional
Milesight UG65
A LoRaWAN gateway with an embedded network server for compatible end devices. It is useful when the system is built around LoRaWAN sensors rather than direct wired probes.
Sensor and actuator measurements belong to separate end devices; installation exposure matters.
View product details ↗| Model | Measurement / role | Data connection | Coverage / installation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Orbital Pulse | Gateway for compatible sensors and actuators | Cellular, Wi-Fi and LoRa; interfaces added through selected modules | Mixed wired instruments and local wireless devices |
| Campbell Scientific CR350 | Analog and digital measurements with programmable control | SDI-12, two RS232/RS485 ports, USB-C; optional communications | Wired instrument installations with local data acquisition |
| Milesight UG65 | LoRaWAN network gateway rather than a direct soil probe | LoRaWAN with Ethernet, Wi-Fi and optional cellular internet connection | LoRaWAN devices around a farm building or sheltered installation |
Where a modular gateway fits
Pulse is a strong candidate when a farm needs to grow from one measurement task into several. Its sliding-module design allows the selected hardware to follow the application. The current shop lists flowmeter and two-port SDI-12 modules, together with modem and regional radio choices.
For custom analog measurements and programmed local sequences, CR350 offers direct measurement terminals and control functions. For compatible LoRaWAN end devices, UG65 provides a network server and an internet connection. A radio gateway does not replace the sensor or actuator electronics at the end device.
Request a wiring example, supported-device list and offline operating sequence for the exact package. Confirm the current modules and modem before ordering. The same sensor-integration approach can extend to water monitoring, greenhouse conditions and other environmental measurements.
Automation commissioning
Commissioning combines independent checks of measurement quality, alert behaviour and actuator operation. Control rules require defined minimum and maximum operating times, a permitted measurement age and a response to invalid inputs. Valve state, flow or pressure provide confirmation separate from the command. Manual operation and a documented recovery procedure support continued operation after a fault.
Set an explicit response to lost connectivity and invalid readings. Control decisions should not depend on treating an absent measurement as a real zero. Record rule changes so that subsequent irrigation events can be explained.
Terminology
- Internet connection
- The link carrying gateway data to a remote platform.
- Interoperability
- Verified ability of specified devices and software to exchange and use information.
- Stale data
- A reading older than the acceptable age for a decision.
- Actuator
- A device that changes a physical state, such as a valve or motor.
From logging to connected control
Field loggers allow records to be collected without continuous internet access. Telemetry adds remote visibility, while connected controllers add commands. These capabilities can be combined, but local operation, timestamp integrity and recovery remain distinct requirements.
Can a gateway control irrigation without internet?
Only if the supplied controller and firmware support local rules and the required inputs and outputs. Request a demonstrated offline sequence. Remote access and local autonomy are separate features.
