Need solution to reduce the effect of Metal surface on BLE signal.

[g.joshi]

I would like to know how to dampen the effect of metal surface on BLE signal . Let me give you an instance, i am installing a wireless sensor inside a metal box and this sensor network using nRF52832 sends the readings to the BLE receiver which will be around 30 meters away. I am sure the metal box will have a drastic effect on the Electromagnetic signal from BLE and might even totally block it. I would like to know if their is any way i can overcome this issue maybe by using some kind of repeater or What!

Thanks in advance :)

[endnode]

Like make a hole to the metal box which will allow you to do some kind of directional radiation pattern (also depends on antenna tuning on your actual BLE device inside the box) so it might reach certain distance in that direction? If you need to have your box "hermetic" then you pare pretty much out of luck;)

[g.joshi]

In case i have multiple sensors can i make a mesh network and push the data to the a common signal amplifier (maybe some kind of repeater)which can maybe push the over all signal to the receiver?

[endnode]

If the box is really "ideal" Faraday cage then nothing will help you. If it isn't then you need to test what are real properties of the system and maybe you will find that it works OK (if you have good BLE module and antenna, throttle Tx Power to max and place radio module to ideal position inside the box. If not then you will see what is actual range and if you need to place some repeater and where (it might be 10m in one direction and 30cm in another). These things can be simulated in specialized SW but then you need very accurate inputs, running experiment is sometimes faster and definitely cheaper.

[Turbo J]

If you really need the metal box, use an external antenna connected via cable to your BLE module. BTDT.

[g.joshi]

Thanks guys !!