Increasing Coverage of nRF51822 BLE module

[Vaio]

For some sort of geofencing application, we want to include the BLE module nRF51822 into a Base Station (BS), and a small mobile device (MS). The MS should detect the presence of a signal from the BS. If it is/is not present, certain actions are being triggered.

1.) While the maximum TxPower seems to be +4dBm, I heard that using an amplifier one can send up to the regulated limit of +20dBm.

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2.) Alternatively, I heard on the nRF51822 a custom protocol can be implemented. The design goal would be to reach maximum coverage (ideally, beyond walls inside a house).

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For both cases, the same questions arise:

Does anybody have experience / more infos on this? Mainly:

• what is the maximum coverage (in theory and practice)?
• what are the implications on power consumption (as this will be done in the BS, it shouldn't really matter)?

Thanks!

[NK]

Hi @Vaio,

if you have managed to make any progress on this question [with regards to increasing coverage/range of NRF51822] - whether by means of reducing the data-rate in the Gazelle proprietary protocol as discussed in one of the answers below, or some other manner, could you kindly share your experience? Thanks.