AirGate Combo

Multifunctional gateway for wireless telemetry

The gateway is used to broadcast data received from 7bit AirPoint wireless modules via the Lora radio channel or from built-in interfaces (RS-485 / Modbus TCP – via a local network or the Internet) to the MQTT broker.

Unlike the basic 7bit AirGate module, the Combo version combines many more functions:

  • the housing has an increased degree of protection
  • power supply from the network ~220V
  • GPRS module
  • serial port for direct interrogation of automation devices
  • Lua scripting environment – turns a node into a remote wireless controller
Applicatoins
  • Collecting telemetry data at utility facilities (water utilities, heating networks, etc.), surveying metering devices, especially in places without fixed internet.
  • Connect signals to automation or monitoring systems from remote systems and devices.
  • Building management, HVAC, heating stations
Overview of functions

The module is a communication gateway that sends the received data to the MQTT broker. The data source can be the following:

  • 7bit AirPoint wireless modules
  • Data read from RS-485, Modbus TCP interfaces
  • Internal calculated parameters are obtained using the built-in Lua scripting language.

Data can be transferred in any format (JSON, XML, text).

In general, the system consists of one or more wireless, stand-alone 7Bit Airpoint radio modules and 7Bit Airgate data gateway(s) that receive messages over the radio channel and transmit them to any upper-level system, such as a WebHMI, SCADA second or cloud-based IoT platforms such as : Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure, and others, over a local network or over the Internet, using the MQTT protocol.

Up to 10 km in the open countryside

Up to 10 km in the open countryside

Depending on the type of antenna selected, the communication range between AirPoint and AirGate can reach 10 km.

500 - 1000 m within urban areas

500 - 1000 m within urban areas

Within an urban area, even a single gateway can create a fairly large coverage area.

Anywhere in the building

Anywhere in the building

As a rule, with a good gateway location, modules can be installed anywhere in any building.

  • Protected housing allows you to mount the housing even outside without unnecessary structures
  • Fastest possible deployment of the data collection system
  • Ability to connect to various cloud services
  • Ability to connect non-standard devices to the communication interface
  • Option of a small expansion card (2 x AI, 2 x DI, 1 x DO – instead of the Lora interface)
Data reception / transmission interfaces
Wireless from 7bit AirPoint modules Radio channel 868 MHz, 25 mW, LoRa* (external SMA 3dBi* antenna)
RS-485 / TTL Galvanic isolation of the port, support for Modbus RTU or user protocol written in Lua scripting language
Ethernet SupportsModbus TCP
WiFi For settings – access point mode, for operation – “client” mode
Interfaces TTL/ RS-485 / Mbus
Mobile network GSM/GPRS
Lora signal reach Up to 10 km w/ 8dBi antenna
Control
Programming language Lua , v. 5.3
Environmental, weight, dimensions
Power supply External 100 .. 220 VAC or 12 .. 24VDC
Виконання For outdoor installations, protection class IP65
Operating temperatures -25 + 60 °С
Dimensions 110 х 110 х 50 mm.
Storage conditions -25°C – 70°C, 5 – 95% (w/o condensing)
Weight 80 g.

This protocol is widely used in the IoT (Internet of Things) world. Its main difference from most industrial protocols is that the initiator of the exchange is the slave device (sensor), not the data collection system. Information transfer is realized according to the Publisher/Subscriber scheme and takes place through an intermediate server (Broker). The data source (Publisher) sends data to the server (Broker), and other systems and devices, being subscribers, read it from there. This method of interaction is well suited for transmitting events and messages when devices periodically communicate themselves. Thus, MQTT is not really a “real-time” protocol and is mainly used for data collection rather than control.