Rural Hampshire cellular internet

Could Burmarc provide a satellite internet solution for the farm where mobile reception was patchy and live video calling was needed?

Yes of course we could but

• Some detailed online location research showed the potential for some cellular connectivity on one particular carrier and possible overlap from another.
• Using a cellular solution would provide the client with lower operational data cost, lower latency and higher bandwidth than satellite.
• Initial site survey confirmed client's experience with handheld devices on-site, but also demonstrated significant reception improvements were acheived via high performance external antennae.
• All four UK cellular networks tested and the results aligned reasonably with the original online reseach.
• Power was available on-site (although there was planty of scope to add off-grid solution should it have been required).

The proposed solution:

• Peplink Transit 5G coupled to mast-mounted Poynting Puck-5 & Puck-2 array plus an AP-one Mini.
• Mobile hardened router was selected due to the wide range of temperature & humidity likely to be found in the outbuilding despite being in a dry location.
• 5G version provided future proof performance - able to make the most of the forthcoming 5G infrastructure rollout and at the same time provide the best available throughput today.
• Puck-5 provided dual cellular antennae and GPS & WiFi elements - the latter provides Wi-Fi to handheld devices around the paddock area. Puck-2 added the further 2 cellular antennae to provide the full array required for the Cat-20 modem.
• AP-One Mini provided the in-building access point.
• Expansion for CCTV and other potential uses was also possible.

Installation:

• One-day schedule was possible due to the prior site survey
• The discrete antennae were mast mounted just above ridge line for 360 access to signals
• Equipment & cabling enclosed for aesthics and discretion
• 2x top-performing SIMs were installed and tested in the mounted hardware with solid 20Mbps downlink from both, however, the carrier which on paper looked to provide the best direct coverage delivered only 2Mpbs uplink versus the 10Mpbs from the alternative network.
• The primary SIM was set to use the strongest field-test network with failover to the second provider.
• During the first 25-days 100% internet availability was reported on the primary SIM and only after a storm event caused an issue with the cell tower on that network did the router switch over to the second SIM but this ensured the client was still connected .
• Remote access & support is provided via the Peplink InControl2 platform which enabled Burmarc to support this project from the office once the site works were complete.