Radair mini gateway is a multiple-purpose gateway with LoRaWAN, WiFi 6E, Bluetooth and Ethernet connectivity, a Quectel GNSS module, the ability to connect to the Helium network to mine HNT cryptocurrency, as well as a 4-in-1 Bosch environmental sensor to monitor temperature, humidity, pressure, and air quality.
Radair mini gateway specifications:
- SoC – Quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 “crypto” CPU
- System Memory – 2GB DDR3
- Storage – 16GB eMMC flash, MicroSD card socket
- Connectivity
- WM1302 LoRa concentrator for LoRaWAN support
- Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 port
- 802.11 b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.2 via Mediatek MT7921AU module
- Dual Antenna – Wi-Fi 6E, LoRa
- GPS – Quectel GNSS module
- 4-in-1 Bosch environmental sensor
- Temperature & Humidity
- Pressure (Altitude accuracy +/- 1M)
- Air Quality (Carbon Monoxide, Bacteria, Smoke, Sulfur, Hydrogen)
- USB – 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type C port (in front) for external accessories
- HW security – Microchip Technologies ECC608 secure element
- Misc – Reset/Bluetooth button, status indicator
- Power Supply – 5V/3A via USB Type-C port
- Temperature Range – -10° +50
We’re told the Radair mini gateway can mine HNT, and will also support IOT and HWIFI allowing users to earn tokens over WiFi besides LoRaWAN. The Bosch sensor will help “contribute data and better understand your environment”, while Wi-Fi 6E will increase coverage and support future networks. The GPS and barometric pressure (altitude) sensor will allegedly make the gateway future-proof against changes in earning protocols.
Future firmware upgrades will also enable the system to be used as a Smart Home gateway with capabilities such as pet tracking, sound and motion detection, household automation, window and door sensors, water leak detection, and more. I’ve never really understood the benefit of crypto tokens (except for speculation), but LoRaWAN specialists RAKwireless launched the MNTD gateway connecting to the Helium network last year, and those always seem to be out of stock due to the high demand.
Radair selected the MNTD gateway, the Bobcat 300, and the Nebra Helium gateways in the comparison table above. I’m not sure all the extra features are worth it even though it looks like they may make the system more future-proof to updates to the Helium protocol, and at least the price is lower. The $299 price tag is only for the first 1,000 devices after which it will go up to $399. Shipping is scheduled to start in December 2022. You may find additional information on the product page.
Thanks to theguyuk for the tip.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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At last! A device that allows you to actively contribute to man-made climate change whilst monitoring your progress with environmental sensors. A stroke of pure bloody genius.
Hmmm… This Helium thing sounds pretty scammy.[1][2] Anyone have real experience with it?
1. The Helium Network is a huge Ponzi scheme, May 6, 2022 by John Flores
https://cyberbump.net/the-helium-network-is-a-huge-ponzi-scheme/
2. Why the Helium network is one of the most centralized and most overvalued cryptocurrency.
https://tszaboo.medium.com/why-the-helium-network-is-one-of-the-most-centralized-and-most-overvalued-cryptocurrency-90aa3f26da9
Consider Helium in it’s Alpha test phase. The issue is, early on, there was a gold rush of ROI based investment. This is one of the few “services as a crypto” projects & it’s accelerated to a rather large project that does generate passive value without a large learning curve. The real issue becomes controversy drives clicks – and an alpha test project suddenly not returning as much benefit as previous speculated is currently on a down tick. Many hotspots we’re bought at peaks of even $10k *each* with potential for *massive* gaming/abuse to see quick returns. You can imagine how some content producers – who also spent a LARGE sum of money at the peak, would then be salty AF. They want to frame this as a rug pull, to decrease usage & therefore increase rewards based on it being a critical mass/coverage oriented project.