Sparrow Development Kit
Build and deploy LoRa-based device clusters
Reduce Operation Costs for Fixed Location Deployments
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- Lower communications costs using shared cellular connectivity with clustered devices.
- Fastest time to market with out-of-the-box connectivity.
- Simple implementation - Sparrow Sensors pair to Sparrow Gateway instantly.
- A complete solution with reference hardware, example firmware, and an easy-to-deploy web application.
- Simple commercial model - no contract nor subscription needed with Blues Wireless.
- Deploy an end-to-end reference application in less than a day.
- Save even more money by building your own sensors from our open source Sparrow hardware designs.
About Device Cluster Deployment with Sparrow
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Sparrow enables low-cost, easy-to-configure LoRa-based sensor cluster deployments. When programmed with Sparrow firmware, devices are deployable in minutes by securely pairing them with a Sparrow Gateway. Once paired, sensor data is delivered to the customers cloud over Wi-Fi or Cellular and our Notehub.io cloud service.
- Deploy clusters of sensors while sharing a single cellular backhaul.
- Sparrow sensors connect via LoRa to the Sparrow Gateway.
- Sparrow Gateway orchestrates the sensors and connects to the cellular network and Notehub.
- Data is routed to your preferred cloud app or database through Notehub, our thin cloud layer.
The Sparrow Product Family
Sparrow deployments consist of a Sparrow Gateway and one or more Sparrow sensors. Your gateway can use NB-IoT, Cat-1, Cat-M, or Wi-Fi for communication backhaul. Blues hardware is pre-certified with FCC and PTCRB certifications.
The Sparrow Reference Web App
The Sparrow Reference Web App is an open-source project for jump-starting professional Sparrow solutions, by providing a customizable dashboard for viewing and updating Sparrow data.
Start Fast
Easily start a Sparrow-based web application with our ready made user interface. All source files available on Github.
Route and Store
Route your Sparrow Sensor data from Notehub, and store it in a Postgres database.
Interactive Dashboard
View, and manage your data on an interactive web dashboard.
Publish
Host your web app and database on a number of popular hosting platforms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sparrow is a great fit for deployments where there are several sensors located near each other and the sensors or devices don't move around much.
There are no hard-and-fast rules that dictate how far apart you can place LoRa devices because the optimal distance depends on whether your devices have a clear line-of-sight, or the signal needs to penetrate walls, concrete, and the like. Out in the open, devices can reach one another across 1 KM or more. In a home or building, devices will need to be placed closer together, ideally less than a hundred meters apart. As with anything, we strongly suggest you test your application under real-world circumstances prior to deployment.
We recommend connecting no more than 15 sensors to a gateway to ensure data sent from the sensors is received without conflict.
We recommend purchasing a Sparrow development kit and completing the Sparrow quickstart.
You can use either a Cellular or Wi-Fi Notecard with Sparrow.
No, the Sparrow gateway uses either a Cellular or Wi-Fi Notecard to pump accumulated sensor data to the cloud. There is no LoRaWAN-based Notecard.
Different models of the Blues Wireless Notecard are available that connect to LTE-M, NB-IoT, and Cat-1 networks globally. When LTE-M, NB-IoT, or Cat-1 aren’t available, the Notecard is also supported by UMTS/HSPA+ and GSM/GPRS/EDGE wireless standards.
Global coverage is available in 135 countries, with direct support provided by leading providers and carriers. For a full list, please see our documentation article on Notecard’s supported countries.
A system on module (SoM) is a circuit board that integrates a system function on a single module/device. Unlike a single board computer like the Raspberry Pi or a microcontroller, a SoM generally serves a single special function.
The Blues Wireless Notecard is a cellular SoM. The Notecard is a secure device-to-cloud data-pump that comes with 500 MB of data and 10 years of cellular service. The Notecard itself is a tiny 30mm x 35mm SoM and ships ready to embed in a project via its m.2 connector. To make prototyping IoT solutions even easier, Blues Wireless also provides a series of expansion boards to host the Notecard called Notecarriers.
A cellular IoT module is a system on module (SoM) that integrates a system function (e.g. cellular) on a single module or device. Unlike a single board computer or a microcontroller, a SoM generally serves a single unique function.
The Blues Wireless Notecard is a cellular IoT module. The Notecard is a secure device-to-cloud data-pump that comes with 500 MB of data and 10 years of cellular service. The Notecard itself is a tiny 30mm x 35mm SoM and ships ready to embed in a project via its m.2 connector. To make things even easier, Blues Wireless also provides a series of expansion boards to host the Notecard called Notecarriers.
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