How to monitor several beacons in an open area with one Hub.

[Vikindio]

Hi.

We are a Norwegian company trying to create a prototype to monitoring people. We are already waiting our BLE 5 with ANT capabilities to start creating the prototype. But we are right now having a hard time to find the right and best device to monitor all the beacons. Do you have any idea or suggestion of what we could use as a hub, reader/receiver for all those beacons we want to deploy in a open space area? The Hub/reader need to be able to handle 50 to 100 beacons at a time, ant this reader/hub is the only device connected to the main PC by ethernet. We plan to extend and improve the options, like 2 way comunication and other type of sensors. But for now only we could get the beacons send a small amount of date to position them (triangulate) in an area that will have several Hubs/readers so we can triangulate them, but each hub/reader needs to be able to handle from 50 to 100 beacons at on time.

[Daniel Wang]

The hub needs to be connected to the PC by Ethernet? Why can't you use USB? Is there any more requirements? Where do you process the data and do the triangulation? On the PC? What are you planning to use to do the triangulation? RSSI?

[Vikindio]

Hi Daniel. Doesnt matter usb or ethernet. But yes the PC will be the one handling all the triangulation and data from the beacons. I have not yet found out what would be the best way to do the triangulation, we are working on the prototype right now. But this must be as simple as possible and reliable, its for big companies we are developing this. Do you have any suggestion for the hubs/readers ? As mentioned before, we just got our hands on the latest BLE 5 nRF52840 that will have mesh network capabilities, as well with other goodies, but we want to have a very low consumption of energy, and limit the data transfer only for positioning. the software will have several function specific for the company, but the beacons and hubs/readers will do what they do best, positioning. Just recently PIXIE POINT is able to position the beacon by inches, thats amazing and that is our aim point.