Grape Networks Monitors Agricultural with Cellular

Grape Networks, Inc. is a wireless sensor networking company serving the agricultural industry. Grape Networks' mesh network-based management platform monitors environmental factors, such as water, temperature and the micro-climate of an area anywhere in the world via the Internet.

Challenges

Working with some of the largest wineries in the world, Grape Networks originally developed its portable Climate Genie™ sensor system for Beringer Vineyards in California’s Napa Valley.

The Climate Genie works on a mesh network, providing more than just point-to-point communication capabilities. Nodes can send messages through other nodes within a 2,000 foot range or provide backup capabilities if one of the nodes goes down. In order to take its sensor solution the last mile and relay real-time data from the mesh networked nodes, Grape Networks needed solid wireless uplinks with more dependable uptime to ensure fast, efficient data transmission.

Solution

Grape Networks began incorporating the Sierra Wireless AirLink Raven X intelligent gateway. With the auto re-set functionality built into ALEOS, the Raven X is able to automatically re-establish a lost cellular connection, which is vital to the effectiveness of Grape Networks’ Climate Genie sensor system.

“We can get solid cellular connectivity pretty much anywhere, which is not the case with WiFi,” explained Peter Tsepeleff, founder, president & CEO of Grape Networks. “Satellite is significantly more expensive, making cellular the best option in regard to both cost and coverage.”

Beringer Vineyards is currently using 15 Climate Genie nodes throughout 20 acres of its Merlot block. A single AirLink Raven X is able to provide an Internet uplink for up to 50 nodes and cover from 100 – 200 acres of vineyard.

The Grape Networks Climate Genie system with Sierra Wireless’ AirLink Raven X
have provided Beringer and other large vineyards with the following benefits:

• Reduction in potential profit loss – Automated monitoring and notifications provide ability for quick action to protect fragile crops affected by unpredictable climate change
• Reduction in labor costs – Two-way communication provided by Raven X allows users to automate actions when measurement thresholds are reached, while ALEOS’ auto re-set functionality eliminates the need for manual re-dialing on lost cellular connections
• On-demand access to real-time information – Environmental data is sent from the field to the Internet for viewing anytime, from anywhere in the world with a PC or Internet-enabled mobile phone