Off-grid · links where there's no power
Wireless links that run on sun and battery, where there's no power to plug into.
Plenty of the spots that need a link the most have no mains anywhere near them: a relay on a hill, a bore, a gate, a hut at the back of the property. We power the radio and the relay off solar and battery, sized so it rides through the cloudy week, not just the sunny one.
How we power a remote link
Off-grid done properly is about sizing, not hope. Get the numbers right and it just runs.
Sized to the load
We measure what the radios and any extras actually draw and build the power system around that real figure, not a rough guess.
Autonomy for bad weather
The battery is sized for days of cloud, not a perfect forecast, so a run of overcast days does not take the link down.
Solar and a proper controller
Panels and an MPPT charge controller, angled and sized for the worst season at that site, not just midsummer.
Low-power radios
Efficient gear chosen so the whole power system stays small, affordable and easy to keep charged.
Built to be left alone
A remote site you have to keep visiting is a failed design. These run themselves.
Weatherproof enclosures
Gear sealed against dust, heat and damp, so the elements at an exposed site are not what brings it down.
Power monitoring
We watch the battery and charge as well as the link, so a tiring battery shows up as a trend long before it leaves you dark.
Remote management
Most issues get diagnosed and fixed over the link itself, so a long drive to a remote site is the exception, not the routine.
Serviceable by design
Laid out so the rare on-site job is quick and safe, with the parts that wear, like the battery, easy to get at.
How we build it
Size the load and site the panels
We work out the draw and the worst-case weather, then size the panels and battery and find the best spot and angle for the sun.
Install link and power
We put up the radio or relay and the solar power system together, in weatherproof enclosures built to last out there.
Monitor power and link
We watch both the connection and the power, so the site keeps running and any drift is caught from the desk.
Where off-grid links fit
Remote relay sites
A relay or repeater on a hill or ridge with no mains, kept running on solar to bridge a long or blocked path.
Bores, tanks and gates
Connectivity out at the infrastructure that has never had power or a signal. Pairs with Rural IoT for remote sensing.
Off-grid dwellings and huts
A cabin, shed or second dwelling beyond the power and the network, finally brought online over a solar-powered link.
Temporary sites
A worksite, camp or event corner with no mains that needs connectivity for the duration and nothing left behind after.
Off-grid power, for the rest of the network
Solar power is what lets the other services reach the hard places. It runs a remote relay or repeater, keeps a far point-to-point end alive, and powers the sensors behind Rural IoT. It all starts with a survey of the site and the sun.
Questions people ask
Can solar really run a wireless link?
Yes. Modern outdoor radios and relays draw very little power, so a modest solar panel and battery run them comfortably. The trick is sizing the system for the load and the worst weather, which is exactly what we do.
What happens during a week of cloud?
We size the battery for days of autonomy, not a perfect forecast, so the link rides through a run of overcast days. We also monitor the battery and charge, so if a bad season is drawing it down we know before it goes flat.
How much maintenance does an off-grid site need?
Very little. The gear is sealed against weather and laid out to be serviced quickly on the rare visit. Most of what could go wrong shows up first in the remote monitoring, so a problem is usually diagnosed before anyone drives out.
Can an off-grid site also power a camera or sensors?
Often yes. If you want a camera, gate controller or sensors at the same remote point, we factor their power into the design from the start. Our sister service Rural IoT covers remote sensing on the same kind of off-grid sites.
What keeps the link up at night?
The battery. The panels charge it through the day with enough surplus to carry the night and then some, and the charge controller manages it all, so the link runs around the clock without a thought.
No power out there? It can still get online.
Tell us the remote spot you need connected and what it has to run. We will size the link and the solar, and price it.
Get a quote