Description
IoT Sensors need a MQTT Gateway. MQTT is the foundation for nearly all IoT cloud applications, so building a MQTT Gateway for connection to the NCD ecosystem of IoT sensors was an absolute requirement.
The NCD WiFi Micro Gateway connects NCD Wireless IoT Sensors directly to a MQTT broker with an average setup time of about 5 minutes. The NCD WiFi Micro Gateway listens for sensor data from NCD Wireless IoT Sensors up to 2 miles away and converts the incoming data into JSON strings with real-world human-readable values. Use the MQTT Gateway to quickly and easily measure temperature and post directly to your own MQTT broker. Send humidity data, current measurements for power consumption, light level data, counter data, and much more. The NCD Micro Gateway is compatible with the entire NCD Enterprise product line of wireless IoT sensors.
Our MQTT Gateway user interface supports up to 10 IoT sensors while in configuration mode, displaying the signal strength and sensor data for each sensor during setup. In Run mode (daily use), the NCD Micro Gateway will work with as many IoT sensors as memory will allow (estimated to be greater than 20, but we did not set a hard limit). The NCD Micro Gateway may also be used for configuration of basic settings of remote wireless IoT sensors.
Ubidots Compatibility
This device has been tested with the Ubidots IoT Cloud Platform for compatibility. Ubidots is an official partner of NCD, and we are working together to connect our entire line of IoT connected hardware to the Ubidots platform. Learn more about Ubidots by clicking here.
What Frequency Do I Need?
During purchase, you will see three frequency options. Not all options are legal for use in all areas, so it’s important to make the right selection during purchase. We will build your product and accessories based on the options chosen. Here, we will explain these options in much greater detail, but please check your local laws BEFORE purchase.
900MHz for North America (U.S., Canada, and Mexico)
If you are located in North America, the 900MHz Option will provide the longest range currently supported with the best penetration through walls, buildings, industrial equipment, and trees. This option is also the best choice for long range applications. The official Line of Sight rating for this option is 2 Miles with included antennas or 28 Miles with high-gain antennas. We suggest contacting Digi.com for a high-gain antenna recommendation if required. Please check your local laws before choosing this option.
868MHz for Europe Only
If you are located in Europe, the 868MHz Option is the longest range choice available at this time. This option offers better penetration through walls, buildings, trees, and industrial equipment than 2.4GHz. The official line of site rating for this option is 14.5km using 2.1dBi antennas. Please check your local laws before choosing this option.
2.4Ghz for Worldwide Use
The 2.4GHz option should be chosen if 900MHz and 868MHz are not legal for use in your country. This option is now certified for use worldwide, including Europe, United States, Japan, Australia, Brazil, and South Korea. Please check your local laws before choosing this option just in case 2.4GHz is not legal in your area.
Not Sure?
If you are unsure of which sensor option to choose, please contact us. We may be able to help determine which sensors are legal for use in your area.
MQTT Gateway Configuration Pages
The MQTT Gateway includes a embedded web page configuration screen that makes setup easy, simply register the gateway with your WiFi router by selecting the network name and entering your password, then setup your MQTT login and password:
MQTT Gateway Configuration Screen for use with NCD IoT Long Range Wireless Sensors
Watch Data Stream In from NCD Wireless Sensors and Review Sensor Readings so you Know your Network is Active!
Change Advanced Settings for use with Managed Networks
IoT Security and Transparency Statement
All IoT Device Manufacturers should commit to IoT Security and Transparency. As a consumer, you have the right to a IoT Security and Transparency Statement BEFORE purchase, and we encourage all customers to demand this information from all IoT Manufacturers and Vendors. In an effort to be fully transparent with our customers, we will always disclose the most important security related information at the bottom of each product page for all IoT Devices. Under no circumstances does NCD use IoT devices to collect customer data, sensor readings, or other information without full disclosure. As a matter of NCD IoT Security Policy, any IoT device that collects any form of data must be disclosed in the IoT Security and Transparency Statement. In the statements below, we will use the term “Wireless” to indicate localized communications between the Sensors and the Gateway. We will use the term “WiFi” to indicate communications between the Gateway and the Internet. Relevant Security Information pertaining to this particular device is Indicated Below:
- This Device Connects to the Internet for the Purposes of Forwarding Wireless AES Encrypted Sensor Data to a 3rd Party Cloud Platform using WiFi Communications
- This Gateway Follows the Security Standards as Defined by the 3rd Party Cloud Platform
- This Gateway Cannot Function Without Following the Security Standards Set Forth by the 3rd Party Cloud Platform
- This Device Utilizes a Write-Only Application Layer, It is Not Possible to Remotely (Over the Internet) Upload Files or Launch Applications on this Device
- This Device Uses 128-Bit AES Encrypted Wireless Communications (Minimum) for Connection to NCD Wireless Sensors
- This Device is Equipped with a Default Wireless AES Encryption Key Common to All NCD Wireless Sensors at the Time of Shipping
- Users Have the Ability to Change the Default Wireless AES Encryption Key
- This Device Requires Physical Access to Change the Wireless AES Encryption Key
- Factory Resetting This Device will Not Alter the Wireless AES Encryption Key
- The Wireless AES Encryption Key is Stored in Protected Memory and Cannot be Accessed by our Firmware or Externally in Any Known Possible Way
- Disabling the Wireless AES Encryption Key is Not Supported by this Gateway or Sensors
- This Device Communicates to NCD Servers Upon Bootup for the Purposes of Checking for Firmware Updates ONLY
- This Device Communicates to NCD Servers Once per Day for the Purposes of Checking for Firmware Updates ONLY
- This Device Will Not Automatically Download or Install Firmware Updates
- This Device Does Not Send Access Keys, Tokens, Passwords, Encryption Keys or Any Form of Customer Data or any form of Sensor Data to NCD Servers
- Firmware Upgrades Require Physical Access to this Device that May be Initiated by Users, Installers, or NCD Engineers with Physical Access to the Device
- Firmware Upgrades Cannot be Initiated Remotely (Over the Internet)
- This Device is Configured Using a Secure WiFi Connection Connected Directly to your Computer or Smart Phone
- This Device Does Not Require an App for Configuration
- This Device Temporarily Stores Limited Sensor Data While in Configuration Mode for the Purposes of Demonstration and Configuration or Remote Sensors
- This Device Does Not Permanently Store Any Sensor Data While in Runtime (Daily Operation) Mode
- WiFi Communications is Limited to 2.4GHz
- WiFi Communications is Secured using WPA-PSK2 Security Standards during Device Configuration ONLY
- WiFi Communications is Secured by the Security Standards Defined by the Customer Router for Daily Use
- NCD Does Not Recommend the Use of This Device on a Open, Unsecured Networks
- WiFi Communications Supports the Following Security Standards for Daily Operation: OPEN, WEP, WPA_PSK, WPA2_PSK, WPA_WPA2_PSK, WPA2_ENTERPRISE
- This Device Will Store Access Keys, Tokens, and Passwords for the Purposes of Performing the Operations for which it is Intended
- This Device Supports a Hardware Reset Feature which Clears All Access Keys, Tokens, and Passwords from Memory and Erases Everything Except the Wireless AES Encryption Key
- NCD Does Have the Ability to Retrieve Access Keys, Tokens, and Passwords from this Device, but only if this Device is Physically Returned to our Office
- It is Possible for 3rd Parties to Retrieve Access Keys, Tokens, and Passwords from this Device with Extensive Programming Skills and Physical Access to this Device
- NCD is not Aware of Any Method or Process of Remotely Retrieving Access Keys, Tokens, or Passwords Without Physical Access to this Device
- Should this Device be Returned, NCD Will Not Send Any Data Extracted from this Device, Including Access Keys, Tokens, or Passwords to Any Party Under Any Circumstances
Where do I send my IoT Sensor Data?
Your Sensors...Your Data...
NCD IoT Sensor Data can be sent anywhere with NO FEES OR HIDDEN COSTS, NOT NOW, NOT EVER! NCD IoT Sensors always provide an open protocol, so you are not tied to any cloud platform. You own your data, so you can do whatever you want with it, no subscriptions, no service contracts, and you can integrate NCD sensors into any software, embedded system, or cloud platform of your own free choice.
Send IoT Sensor Data Anywhere. Send IoT Sensor Data EVERYWHERE!
Whether you need IoT sensor data on a desktop computer, an IoT cloud platform, or an embedded platform, we have you covered. NCD IoT sensors broadcast data, so data handling is very easy, expandable, and versatile. Send IoT sensor data to Gateways when you want to talk directly to IoT cloud platforms. Send IoT Sensor data to Modems when you want to talk to local computers. Of course you can always send data to both gateways and modems simultaneously, so you always have access to your sensor data locally and remotely. Use multiple Gateways when you need data redundancy or if you need to send sensor data to multiple IoT cloud platforms.
Organize Your IoT Sensors for Large Installations
IoT Sensor Clusters are also possible. You can build a cluster of IoT sensors on every floor of a high-rise building, sending data to gateways and modems on each floor. Clustering makes it possible to keep your IoT sensor data separated for easier management. Each Gateway and Modem can be configured to listen to a different cluster of IoT sensors. Because NCD devices support thousands of clusters, expanding your IoT sensor network is virtually limitless.
Modem or Gateway?
- Gateways are used to translate data from sensors into human-readable values and post the results on common cloud platforms such as Amazon, Azure, Losant, and MQTT using WiFi for communications.
- Modems on the other hand are used to transfer raw sensor data byte values into different communication formats such as WiFi, Bluetooth, USB, RS-485, RS-232, and MQTT.
- MQTT Gateways are different from MQTT Modems. A MQTT Gateway is preferred for most users, as it handles sensor translation for you. MQTT Modems do not translate data, they send the raw sensor data to the MQTT broker for parsing on the server.
- IoT Edge Computers are small computers that may be programmed to communicate to any cloud platform. NCD IoT Edge Computers run Node-RED and require experience working with this platform. This solution is best for industrial customers with complex installation requirements. This solution also supports cellular and ethernet connectivity. Note: Plugging a USB Modem into a standard computer running Node-RED is roughly a hardware equivalent solution (with the exception of cellular connectivity).
- Mixing Modems and Gateways. NCD IoT Sensors broadcast data, which can be picked up by multiple Modems, Gateways, and IoT Edge Computers. You can have as may modems and gateways as your application requires, you are not limited to choosing a single IoT endpoint solution.
Send IoT Sensor Data to Amazon® AWS® IoT
Collect IoT Sensor Data up to Two Miles Away and send your data to Amazon® AWS® IoT using the NCD Micro Gateway for Amazon AWS. Leverage the power of the Amazon® AWS® IoT to connect to the complete ecosystem of NCD IoT Wireless Sensors. The NCD Micro Gateway for Amazon® AWS® automatically provisions the gateway on the Amazon® AWS® Cloud and registers all IoT sensors as children of the gateway. Watch IoT Sensor data arrive on the Amazon® AWS® cloud with minimal setup time.
Setup could not be easier. The NCD Micro Gateway uses SoftAP and includes embedded web pages for configuration. Simply connect your WiFi capable computer to the NCD Micro Gateway Access Point and the Configuration Pages will appear. All you need are Amazon® AWS® connection credentials and a WiFi network with internet connectivity.
Send IoT Sensor Data to Microsoft® Azure® IoT
Collect IoT Sensor Data up to Two Miles Away and send your data to Microsoft® Azure® using the NCD Micro Gateway for Connection to Azure.
The Micro Gateway for Microsoft® Azure® reports all incoming IoT sensor telemetry as real-world values to Microsoft® Azure® through the connected Device Twin, and/or Device to Cloud Messages.
Setup could not be easier. The NCD Micro Gateway uses SoftAP and includes embedded web pages for configuration. Simply connect your WiFi capable computer to the NCD Micro Gateway Access Point and the Configuration Pages will appear. All you need is an Azure® Device Connection String to register this device to your Azure® account and a WiFi network with internet connectivity.
Send IoT Sensor Data to your MQTT Broker
Collect IoT Sensor Data up to Two Miles Away and send your data to your own MQTT broker using the NCD Micro Gateway for MQTT. Build your own cloud using the complete ecosystem of NCD IoT Wireless Sensors. The NCD Micro Gateway for MQTT sends JSON strings in human-readable values for easy integration into your own dedicated cloud applications. Build your own MQTT Broker or use Ubidots for displaying tiles of NCD IoT Sensor Data in just a few minutes!
Setup could not be easier. The NCD Micro Gateway uses SoftAP and includes embedded web pages for configuration. Simply connect your WiFi capable computer to the NCD Micro Gateway Access Point and the Configuration Pages will appear. All you need are MQTT credentials and a WiFi network with internet connectivity.
Send IoT Sensor Data to Ubidots using MQTT!
Send IoT Sensor Data to Losant
Collect IoT Sensor Data up to Two Miles Away and send your data to Losant using the NCD Micro Gateway. Leverage the power of the Losant Flow Builder to build a stunning dashboard that displays graphs of sensor telemetry over time.
The NCD Micro Gateway for Losant automatically provisions the gateway on the Losant Cloud and registers all IoT sensors as children of the gateway. Watch IoT Sensor data arrive on the Losant cloud with minimal setup time.
Setup could not be easier. The NCD Micro Gateway uses SoftAP and includes embedded web pages for configuration. Simply connect your WiFi capable computer to the NCD Micro Gateway Access Point and the Configuration Pages will appear. All you need are Losant connection credentials (Application ID and Application Token) and a WiFi network with internet connectivity.
Losant is an Official Partner of National Control Devices, Learn More about Losant Here.
IoT Edge Computer with LTE Cellular WiFi and Ethernet
You’ve been asking for Cellular/Ethernet Solution and we’ve been listening! Pre-loaded with Node-RED and NCD Wireless Sensor Libraries help you get your sensor data connected to a cellular network or connect to WiFi and Ethernet with unprecedented flexibility. This is a perfect solution for developers who are experienced with Node-RED and need the hardware to help get NCD sensors connected for complex integration tasks. Requires experience with Node-RED.
Using Modems with NCD IoT Sensors
Modems are ideal for communicating to localized computers, servers, and embedded systems. The main purpose of a modem is to convert data from Wireless Sensors and endNode controllers into standard hardware communication formats such as USB Virtual COM Port, Bluetooth Virtual COM Port, WiFi TCP, WiFi MQTT, Ethernet TCP, RS-232, and RS-485. Multiple modems may be used simultaneously, so you are not limited to making a single choice. Add more modems as needed to cover larger areas or explore other communication technologies. Both Modems and Gateways offer long range wireless communications up to 2-Miles line-of-sight. Modems and Gateways may also be used in a Wireless Mesh network to “Hop” data across the wireless network to cover longer distances. Both Modems and Gateways may be grouped into separate networks on each floor of a high-rise building without interference between floors.
Send IoT Sensor Data to Visual Studio
We Developed Alpha Station using Visual Studio to demonstrate how IoT sensor data can be received and converted to real-world values. Alpha Station allows you to view and set basic configuration settings of remote sensors up to 2 miles away. Alpha Station supports our Wireless USB Modem, our Mega Modem, and our Wireless Ethernet Modem. The source code and run-time application is available for download on our web site at https://ncd.io/alpha.
Send IoT Sensor Data to Node-RED
We Developed a complete set of Drivers for Node-RED, so you can build your own flows and dashboards to help get you connected. Send NCD IoT sensor data to Node-RED and use flows to build logic operations to send alerts or turn things on or off. Combining Node-RED with NCD IoT sensors gives you limitless power to monitor, control, and visualize data locally and remotely.
The Node-RED Flow Builder is powerful, allowing you to build complex graphs and dashboards in minutes. Node-RED may also be used for advanced Gateway applications. Send data to your favorite IoT Cloud service such as MQTT, Losant, Microsoft® Azure®, or Amazon® AWS®. Since Node-RED runs on a local computer, a USB, RS-232, Ethernet or Mega Modem is required.
NCD Node-RED Libraries are always expanding, you can read about how to integrate our sensor into Node-RED Here.
Send IoT Sensor Data to LabVIEW®
Configure & Test IoT Sensors with LabVIEW®
We Developed a complete set of tutorials for working with NCD IoT Sensors using LabVIEW®. Use LabVIEW® to configure advanced sensor settings or to graph incoming sensor data. Monitor the battery level of remote sensors and watch sensor data flow over time. We will be adding source code for LabVIEW® in the future, but for now, please contact us if you have a urgent need for source code. Since LabVIEW® runs on a local computer, a USB, RS-232, Ethernet or Mega Modem is required.
Data Logging
Using our LabView software, data logging from a single sensor is also possible. Simply run the software and watch the graph fill with data over time. Export the data into comma delimited tables for use in Excel or into other data analysis tools. Logging data from multiple sensors simultaneously is not supported at this time in our software, but can be accomplished using Losant or Azure web services.
Please check the “Resources” tab above for resources relevant to this product or Click Here to see all of our LabVIEW® resources.
IoT Security and Transparency Statement
All IoT Device Manufacturers should commit to IoT Security and Transparency. As a consumer, you have the right to a IoT Security and Transparency Statement BEFORE purchase, and we encourage all customers to demand this information from all IoT Manufacturers and Vendors. In an effort to be fully transparent with our customers, we will always disclose the most important security related information at the bottom of each product page for all IoT Devices. Under no circumstances does NCD use IoT devices to collect customer data, sensor readings, or other information without full disclosure. As a matter of NCD IoT Security Policy, any IoT device that collects any form of data must be disclosed in the IoT Security and Transparency Statement. Relevant Security Information pertaining to this particular device is Indicated Below:
- This Device does not directly communicate to the internet
- This Device requires a Gateway for communication to the internet
- This Device Uses 128-Bit AES Encrypted Wireless Communications (Minimum)
- This Device is Equipped with a Default AES Encryption Key Common to All NCD Wireless Sensors at the Time of Shipping
- Users Have the Ability to Change the Default AES Encryption Key
- This Device Requires Physical Access to Change the AES Encryption Key
- This Device Does Not Have the Ability to Communicate to NCD Servers
- Firmware Upgrades Require Physical Access to this Device by NCD Engineers ONLY
