At Worldsensing, we believe resilient remote monitoring demands open, future-proof networks. That is why we have successfully tested and validated third-party LoRaWAN gateways for use with our CMT Cloud platform.

Among these, the SG50 gateway stands out: a general-purpose LoRaWAN gateway specifically designed for low power consumption. With its integrated solar panel, internal backup batteries, and compact, ready-to-install design, the SG50 is ideally suited for remote deployments where energy efficiency and plug-and-play setup are critical.

This validation empowers users to connect existing LoRaWAN infrastructure or expand with non-proprietary, low-maintenance gateways—without compromising reliability or performance. Read below how we did it.

Test setup

To validate the feasibility of a low-power installation capable of continuous data transmission across varying geographies, we conducted a series of simulations using solar-powered configurations. The first step involved characterizing the gateway’s power consumption under different data loads—ranging from just a few to over a thousand messages per minute. This analysis enabled us to estimate a worst-case energy demand of approximately 30 Wh, factoring in efficiency losses.

Using this consumption profile, we then simulated power availability across three locations with differing solar conditions: Barcelona (ES), London (UK), and Aberdeen (UK). The simulations also considered different powering kits, including the standard setup and configurations with external battery extensions.

Test Results

The simulations confirmed that the SG50 gateway can reliably sustain operations across a range of environmental conditions, with fewer than 1% of days experiencing downtime in all tested scenarios. In high solar radiation settings like Barcelona, the default configuration—45W solar panel and 25Ah battery—was sufficient to maintain continuous uptime. For locations with lower solar exposure, such as London, a 100W panel provided the required energy balance. In the most demanding scenario, Aberdeen, performance remained reliable with the addition of a 50Ah external battery. These results demonstrate the flexibility and robustness of the gateway’s power solutions under diverse geographic and climatic conditions.

Conclusions

These findings not only confirm the resilience of the SG50 gateway under realistic field conditions, but also highlight the adaptability of our Open LoRaWAN capabilities. By successfully integrating third-party gateways and validating performance in diverse environments, we offer users greater control over network design and scalability. Benefits include:

• Interoperability with third-party gateways for more flexible deployments
  
• Optimized performance through tested power configurations suited to a range of climates
  
• Reliable access to CMT Cloud, enabling centralized management of distributed networks
  
• Reduced dependency on proprietary hardware for improved cost-efficiency and adaptability
  

These advancements empower engineers and monitoring professionals to build robust, energy-efficient networks tailored to their specific project and location requirements.