User's Manual

CubiSens
TM
N-Series AH100 User Manual
Updated April 2019
Page 10 / 11
Wireless Performance
1. Environmental Factors
Contact with water should be avoided during operation to ensure proper operation. Exposure to water
will shift radio frequency of the integrated antenna and hamper wireless communication. The gateway is
optimized to a limited frequency band for optimal performance; therefore, significant shifts in radio
frequency will prevent transmitted packets from being received.
Placing the sensor on a metal surface can either enhance or degrade wireless distance depending on the
orientation and surrounding environment.
2. Sensor Orientation and Polarization
AH100’s wireless performance depends on the orientation of the sensor relative to the location of the
Gateway. The antenna is designed to be omni-directional, with a null in one axis. The weakest radio wave
propagation is along the Z axis (red arrow) in the diagram below. The strongest propagation is along the
plane formed by X and Y axes (blue and green arrows). To achieve best wireless performance, AH100 unit
should be oriented so that the Z axis (red arrow) is perpendicular to the line connecting the AH100 and
the antenna of the radio receiver. Orientation of the antenna on the Gateway relative to the orientation
of the AH100 is equally important for strong radio reception. The antenna of the Gateway should be
rotated such that it is parallel to the plane formed by the X and Y axes for optimal reception. Note that if
multiple AH100’s are deployed it is preferred to keep them all aligned to the same X-Y plane.
AH100 Antenna Radiation Pattern & Orientation