Weather monitoring projects often need to collect temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, and other meteorological data from outdoor or distributed locations.
For many projects, choosing a suitable sensor is only part of the challenge. Customers also need to consider how data will be transmitted, how field devices will be powered, whether long-distance cabling is practical, how many monitoring points are required, and how users will access the data remotely.
Traditional wired weather monitoring systems usually require long-distance cabling, power construction, data acquisition equipment, and on-site integration. This can increase installation cost and make deployment more complicated when monitoring points are outdoors, remote, or widely distributed.
A LoRaWAN-based weather monitoring system provides another approach by combining meteorological sensors, LoRaWAN nodes, gateways, and a data platform into a wireless monitoring architecture.
So, how does LoRaWAN weather monitoring compare with traditional wired monitoring, and when is it more suitable for remote sites?
What Is a Traditional Wired Weather Monitoring System?
A wired meteorological monitoring system typically connects field sensors to data acquisition or monitoring equipment through physical cables.
Depending on the project, this may involve:
Signal cables between field sensors and acquisition equipment
Power cabling or on-site power construction
Data acquisition devices
Communication equipment
On-site system integration
Additional wiring when new monitoring points are added
This approach can be practical when monitoring equipment is concentrated in one location and both power and cable installation are readily available.
However, remote meteorological monitoring projects often have different conditions.
A customer may need to install sensors across farmland, roads, construction sites, industrial parks, campuses, or other outdoor locations. The site may not have mains power, long-distance wiring may be expensive or inconvenient, and users may need to access data from several monitoring points remotely.
These are the situations where wireless meteorological monitoring becomes particularly useful.
What Is LoRaWAN Weather Monitoring?
A LoRaWAN weather monitoring system uses wireless LoRaWAN communication to transmit meteorological data from field monitoring points toward a gateway and data platform.
The BGT HYDROMET solution uses the following basic architecture:
Rather than purchasing only a standalone weather sensor, customers can therefore configure a complete wireless monitoring package according to their project requirements.
LoRaWAN vs. Wired Weather Monitoring
The main difference between the two approaches is how field data is transmitted and how monitoring points are deployed.
Comparison
Wired Weather Monitoring
LoRaWAN Weather Monitoring
Data transmission
Physical signal cables
Wireless LoRaWAN transmission
Long-distance cabling
Usually required
Reduced between field nodes and gateway
Remote deployment
May require additional construction
Suitable for distributed outdoor monitoring
Power options
Depends on site infrastructure
Battery, solar, or external power options
Multiple monitoring points
Additional cabling may be required
Multiple wireless nodes can be deployed
Remote access
Depends on system design
PC dashboard or mobile app available when configured
Future expansion
May require new cabling
Nodes and gateways can be added as required
The key point is not that wireless systems should replace wired monitoring in every project.
Instead, LoRaWAN becomes particularly valuable when wiring, power access, remote deployment, or future expansion are major project concerns.
1. LoRaWAN Reduces Long-Distance Cabling
One of the main selling points of the LoRaWAN meteorological monitoring solution is reduced dependence on long-distance signal cabling.
Traditional systems may require physical cables from monitoring points to acquisition equipment.
In a LoRaWAN system, the meteorological sensor is connected locally to a LoRaWAN node, while long-distance data transmission between the node and gateway is wireless.
This means customers do not need to lay long signal cables across farmland, roads, construction sites, industrial areas, or other distributed monitoring locations.
For projects where excavation, cable routing, or construction work is inconvenient, this can significantly simplify deployment.
It is particularly relevant for:
Farmland
Orchards
Construction sites
Roadsides
Industrial parks
Campuses
Remote field monitoring points
2. LoRaWAN Supports Low-Power Remote Monitoring
Another common customer concern is power supply.
Many outdoor monitoring sites do not have mains electricity available.
The BGT HYDROMET solution can be configured with:
Battery-powered nodes
Solar-powered nodes
External power supply
Solar panel + battery + charge controller
A battery-powered node can be considered for low-power sensors and sites without mains power, while solar-powered configurations are suitable for outdoor long-term monitoring locations.
However, there is no single fixed battery-life figure that applies to every project.
Battery life depends on factors such as:
Data reporting interval
Ambient temperature
Sensor power consumption
Operating conditions
The reporting interval is particularly important.
For most meteorological monitoring projects, a 15-minute reporting interval is recommended in the current solution documentation.
A shorter interval such as five minutes can be used when more frequent data updates are required, but shorter reporting intervals increase power consumption and reduce battery life.
This is why customers should confirm both their required data frequency and available power conditions before the final system configuration is selected.
3. How Far Can LoRaWAN Weather Sensors Transmit?
Communication range is one of the most common questions from customers considering wireless weather monitoring.
According to the current BGT HYDROMET solution documentation, the typical reference communication distance is approximately:
5–10 km in open areas
1–2 km in urban environments
Actual transmission distance depends on terrain, buildings, antenna height, gateway position, and surrounding conditions.
For this reason, communication distance should not be treated as a fixed guaranteed value.
For larger monitoring areas, additional gateways can be installed to expand network coverage.
The current solution documentation also states that one gateway can generally support hundreds of LoRaWAN sensor nodes, although the actual network capacity should be confirmed according to the project configuration.
This makes LoRaWAN suitable for projects where monitoring points are distributed across a relatively large area.
4. Where Should the Sensor and Gateway Be Installed?
Correct installation has a direct impact on both meteorological measurement and LoRaWAN communication.
The meteorological sensor should generally be installed in an open and unobstructed location, away from:
Buildings
Trees
Walls
Other major obstacles
As a general recommendation in the supplied project documentation, the distance from obstacles should be at least twice the height of the obstacle.
For the LoRaWAN gateway, the recommended installation height is approximately 3–5 meters.
The gateway should be kept away from strong electromagnetic interference sources such as:
High-voltage power lines
Large motors
The antenna should also have an unobstructed field of view as much as possible.
Before final deployment, the customer can first place the sensor node approximately 3–5 meters from the gateway to test communication.
Once the connection has been confirmed, the monitoring equipment can be moved to its final installation location.
5. Is a LoRaWAN Weather Monitoring System Difficult to Install?
This is another common question from customers, especially those who do not have a dedicated meteorological engineering team.
When using the BGT HYDROMET gateway and platform, the basic field installation process is relatively straightforward.
Typical installation work includes:
Secure the mounting bracket.
Install the meteorological sensor.
Install and power the LoRaWAN node.
Confirm that the node is within gateway coverage.
Join the device to the LoRaWAN network.
Confirm that data is being uploaded correctly.
The full project deployment process described in the solution documentation includes requirement confirmation, solution configuration, pre-configuration before shipment, on-site installation, network joining, data verification, and subsequent operation and maintenance.
Deployment guidance and remote technical assistance can also be provided when required.
This makes the system particularly attractive for customers who want to avoid complex long-distance wiring and extensive on-site integration work.
6. What Configuration Is Required After Installation?
For projects using a LoRaWAN network server, the node needs to be properly onboarded before normal data transmission begins.
The supplied meteorological FAQ describes the following initialization process:
Enter the device's OTAA credentials into the LoRaWAN Network Server.
Power on the device.
Initiate the network-joining process.
Confirm that the device successfully joins the LoRaWAN network.
Verify that a data packet can be transmitted and received.
For the current node configuration described in the customer material, the rotary switch can be used for network joining and test transmission.
The exact onboarding procedure should therefore be followed according to the supplied node and platform configuration.
For customers, the important point is that the wireless sensor is not simply powered on and left unmanaged: network onboarding and data verification are part of the deployment process.
7. How Can Customers View Weather Data Remotely?
Remote data access is one of the main advantages of the complete LoRaWAN solution.
When using the BGT HYDROMET platform and gateway, users can access meteorological data through a PC dashboard and/or mobile app.
Depending on project requirements, the platform can support:
Real-time data viewing
Historical data curves
Device status monitoring
Excel or CSV data export
Alarm notification, if configured
Integration with the customer's own platform
This allows users to monitor multiple field locations without physically visiting every sensor.
For example, an agricultural customer can view weather information from distributed farmland monitoring points, while an industrial or construction customer can access monitoring data from different areas of the site.
8. Can the System Connect to a Customer's Own Platform?
Yes, platform integration can be discussed according to actual project requirements.
Some customers already have their own:
IoT platform
Data management system
LoRaWAN Network Server
Gateway infrastructure
In these situations, the project does not necessarily need to use a completely new data platform.
Before order confirmation, however, several technical details need to be confirmed, including:
Communication method
Data format
MQTT requirements
Platform integration method
Required API functions
The available API functions should be confirmed according to the actual project scope.
This is an important sales consideration for system integrators and customers who already operate their own monitoring infrastructure.
9. Can the Sensor Work with Other LoRaWAN Gateways?
Compatibility is another common B2B purchasing question.
The supplied meteorological FAQ states that the LoRaWAN devices follow the standard LoRaWAN protocol and can be integrated with mainstream LoRaWAN gateways and network servers.
If the customer already has a LoRaWAN network, the most important step is to confirm compatibility and onboarding requirements before ordering.
The Case Study also specifically notes that customers may already have their own:
LoRaWAN gateway
Network server
Data platform
Device onboarding and data integration should therefore be discussed during project confirmation rather than assumed after installation.
10. Why Use LoRaWAN Instead of 4G/5G or Wi-Fi at Every Monitoring Point?
Customers do not only compare LoRaWAN with wired monitoring. They may also ask why each sensor point should not simply use Wi-Fi or cellular communication.
The meteorological solution materials position low power consumption and long-range communication as important reasons for using LoRaWAN in distributed outdoor monitoring.
This is particularly relevant when:
Monitoring points are widely distributed.
Mains power is not available.
Battery or solar operation is required.
Long-distance wireless communication is needed.
Installing cellular communication equipment at every monitoring point is undesirable.
LoRaWAN can allow multiple sensor nodes to communicate toward a gateway, rather than requiring every field point to operate as an independent cellular connection.
However, the final communication architecture should still be selected according to the customer's actual site conditions, network availability, power supply, and project requirements.
11. Which Weather Parameters Can Be Monitored?
The typical sensor used in the current BGT HYDROMET solution is a Louver Box Temperature, Humidity and Pressure Sensor.
It measures:
Temperature
Humidity
Atmospheric pressure
The sensor communicates through RS485 and is recommended for use together with a LoRaWAN node for wireless data transmission.
Other meteorological parameters can also be selected according to project needs.
This is why the first question during project configuration should not simply be "How many weather stations do you need?"
It should be:
What parameters do you actually need to monitor?
12. What Questions Should Be Asked Before Choosing the System?
A major part of configuring a LoRaWAN weather monitoring system is understanding the customer's real application.
Before recommending a solution, the following questions should be confirmed.
Monitoring Location
Where will the system be deployed?
For example:
Farmland
Orchard
Construction site
Urban area
Road
Industrial park
Remote field location
Monitoring Parameters
Which parameters need to be measured?
The standard solution can monitor temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure, while other parameters may be selected according to the project.
Number of Monitoring Points
How many monitoring locations are required?
This affects the number of sensors and LoRaWAN nodes as well as gateway coverage planning.
Site Power Conditions
Is mains power available?
If not, should the project use:
Battery power
Solar power
Solar panel + battery configuration
Communication Environment
What is the approximate distance between monitoring points and the gateway?
Are there major buildings, trees, terrain differences, or other obstacles?
Data Reporting Interval
How frequently does the customer need updated data?
For example:
Every 5 minutes
Every 15 minutes
Another project-specific interval
Data Application
How will the data be used?
For example:
Remote monitoring
Historical analysis
Alarm notification
Operational reference
Integration with another system
Platform Requirements
Does the customer need the BGT HYDROMET platform, or do they already have their own platform?
LoRaWAN Frequency
Which country or region will the equipment be used in?
The required LoRaWAN frequency configuration should be confirmed before shipment.
Local Requirements
Are there any local certification or import requirements that need to be considered?
These questions correspond closely to the information required for final project configuration.
13. Typical Applications for LoRaWAN Weather Monitoring
Agricultural Meteorological Monitoring
In farmland, greenhouse surroundings, orchards, and irrigation areas, temperature, humidity, and atmospheric pressure data can help users understand local microclimate conditions and support agricultural management.
Construction Site Monitoring
Meteorological data can support safety management, environmental monitoring, and weather-related work planning at construction sites.
Smart City Monitoring
The system can be installed in parks, streets, campuses, residential communities, and public facilities to collect basic weather and environmental data.
Road and Transportation Weather Monitoring
Weather data can support road condition assessment, early warning, and transportation management, particularly in areas affected by fog, rain, temperature changes, or strong wind.
Industrial Park Monitoring
Distributed weather monitoring can support environmental monitoring, safety management, or equipment operation reference in industrial parks.
Remote Field Monitoring
For outdoor sites without convenient power or communication infrastructure, the LoRaWAN solution provides a practical wireless monitoring method.
When Is Wired Weather Monitoring Still a Good Choice?
LoRaWAN is not automatically the best option for every meteorological monitoring project.
A wired system may still be practical when:
Monitoring points are concentrated in a small area.
Cable installation is easy.
Stable mains power is already available.
Existing wired infrastructure can be reused.
Wireless communication provides no meaningful deployment advantage.
The choice should therefore be based on actual site conditions rather than assuming wireless is always better.
For remote, outdoor, or distributed projects, however, LoRaWAN offers several clear practical advantages:
Reduced long-distance cabling
Flexible field installation
Low-power operation
Battery and solar power options
Long-range wireless transmission
Remote data access
Multiple monitoring point deployment
Flexible platform integration
Conclusion
The choice between LoRaWAN and wired weather monitoring depends on the project environment, power conditions, communication requirements, number of monitoring points, and data platform requirements.
Traditional wired monitoring can remain practical where sensors are concentrated and both power and cabling are easy to provide.
For remote, outdoor, or widely distributed monitoring sites, a LoRaWAN-based meteorological monitoring solution can reduce long-distance cabling requirements and provide greater flexibility for low-power deployment, remote data access, and future expansion.
Instead of selling only a weather sensor, the solution addresses the complete monitoring process—from environmental sensing and RS485 data acquisition to wireless transmission, gateway communication, and remote data management.
For customers evaluating a wireless weather monitoring project, the most important next step is to confirm the monitoring parameters, number of sites, installation environment, power conditions, communication distance, reporting interval, LoRaWAN frequency, and platform requirements before selecting the final configuration.
