I am trying to find a transmitter for a project that involves transmitting serial data. Since I am using the arduino, the obvious choice would be an xbee. But I need it to do more than I think the xbee can handle.
The device itself will be a portable remote control unit for stage lighting dimmers. It will be used when focusing lights. The receiver will be located in the equipment rack that contains the dimmers. This absolutely has to work 100%, at all places within the auditorium, including high in the air surrounded by metal pipes and girders. This is a problem because the rack is separated from that space by a foot of concrete. In addition, directly above it is a very large metal air duct. Depending on how people may use the device in the future, it may be necessary for it to transmit through multiple walls. The effective range of the device, walls and all, should be a couple hundred feet.
Communication only has to be one way, and fast baud rate is not important. It can be as low as needed, because I will only be transmitting short strings of numbers. The number one priority is reliability. If it can't work 100% of the time, I might as well not build it at all.
So is there a transmitter out there that can suit my needs?
The device itself will be a portable remote control unit for stage lighting dimmers. It will be used when focusing lights. The receiver will be located in the equipment rack that contains the dimmers. This absolutely has to work 100%, at all places within the auditorium, including high in the air surrounded by metal pipes and girders. This is a problem because the rack is separated from that space by a foot of concrete. In addition, directly above it is a very large metal air duct. Depending on how people may use the device in the future, it may be necessary for it to transmit through multiple walls. The effective range of the device, walls and all, should be a couple hundred feet.
Communication only has to be one way, and fast baud rate is not important. It can be as low as needed, because I will only be transmitting short strings of numbers. The number one priority is reliability. If it can't work 100% of the time, I might as well not build it at all.
So is there a transmitter out there that can suit my needs?