This guide explains how to choose the best antennas and other accessories for any FOAM Zone Anchor. Antenna selection is dependent on the individual set up. There is no one antenna-for-all available that will work for every Zone Anchor. In addition to reading this guide, you should consult with the FOAM team on your antenna selection, before making a purchase.
You will need the following parts listed below, for each Zone Anchor (consider that a Zone is made up of four Zone Anchors). These parts are not included in the Assembly Manual. This guide aims to provide recommendations for each of these parts, since there is some flexibility in terms of which specific model you can use for each.
📡 Receiving Antenna
📡 Transmission Antenna
🛰️ GPS Antenna
〰️ Two Coax Cables
⚡ Two Lightning Arrestors
☀️ Solar Equipment (Optional)
🔌 Power over Ethernet Equipment (Optional)
Currently, a Zone Anchor requires two antennas that operate in LoRa frequency band. One for receiving (Rx) and one for transmitting (Tx). Antenna selection requires matching the environment with the right directivity (i.e. directional or omnidirectional) and gain antenna (gain is measured in dbi). At a high-level, FOAM recommends the following antennas based on these factors:
🏙️ Low visibility and/or urban landscapes