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Last summer, we set out to build a high-power version of our Relay Station. If you were going to build a better version of goTenna Mesh, which attributes would you choose to improve upon? We decided to tackle range and receiver sensitivity, basically make the goTenna transmit farther and hear distant signals better. We used a 2-watt bullet amplifier that mounts at the antenna (for zero signal loss) and provides 12 dB of low-noise amplification plus receiver filtering. We paired the amplifier with a Laird 6 dBd ISM-band Omni antenna and added separate power supplies for both the amplifier and the goTenna. The amplifier actually uses a DC-injector, which we housed inside the Relay Station's weatherproof fiberglass enclosure. This long-range version is a formidable build and you can expect coverage to exceed 2-3x that of a typical goTenna Mesh unit mounted at a similar elevation. Improving both the forward link and reverse link are impressive achievements in wireless communications, and we are proud with the end results of this product. If you are interested in learning more or would like a quote, please feel free to email us or drop a line on our contact page. We would be happy to run RF propagation plots for your specific location and show you the power of long-range! -TW Last year, we spent a significant amount of time testing with goTenna Pro... in the field - validating coverage, in the office - learning how to navigate the Pro Portal & create frequency sets, and finally building a portable, high-power relay. We tested both VHF and UHF frequency bands and ultimately decided to develop with UHF 450 Mhz due to the smaller antenna sizes and generally wider selection of available RF components. Below is a photo gallery of our field testing and the prototype relay we built. The relay consists of a vented & cooled weatherproof NEMA enclosure with goTenna Pro feeding a 20-watt UHF amplifier, powered by LiPo battery, and includes telescoping tripod mast with 3 dB omni antenna. The portable relay can be deployed in a matter of minutes and is small enough to fit in the back of a small SUV. The relay provides greater than 2x increase in range and during our tests we achieved 9.5+ miles (>90% reliability) with plenty of headroom to go much farther! We tested between our HQ in Oceanside CA and our favorite high point - Double Peak Park in San Marcos CA. If you have any specific needs involving goTenna Pro, please feel free to reach out. We would be more than happy to consult on your project and have the ability to rapidly prototype custom solutions. We also offer support with Pro Portal administration, creating frequency sets/QR codes for offline deployment, and RF propagation plots for your specific deployment locations. -TW |
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