Got Signal Strength? Hot Tips for Optimal Wireless IoT Performance

Following a major IoT deployment, a project manager noticed that performance had dropped significantly for cellular devices at a certain location. But he didn’t know what had caused the dip in signal strength and what to do next.

The fact is, multiple factors from weather to physical obstructions can impact signal reception and inhibit connectivity. Follow these best practices — preferably before your next IoT deployment — for the best possible connectivity and overall performance.

1. Conduct Comprehensive Site Surveys

Successful machine-to-machine installations and consistent signal strength go hand in hand. That’s why it’s always a good idea to conduct a site survey during pre-deployment. Check with those who work either onsite or nearby to identify potential issues with cellular service. Better yet, walk the location yourself or with a member of your team.

Note the carriers with a reputation for optimal signal strength in your location. When testing out the signal with your cell phone, open your Internet browser and see how fast a given website loads. This will help you observe your capacity to access data, which is critical since IoT devices use data.

If it’s difficult to use a cell phone indoors (or if users must go outside to use their phones), take that as a warning. Your indoor IoT router will likely experience the same problems with cellular reception.

2. Test Service Quality in Various Locations

Since outdoor reception may also be spotty, you’ll want to test service quality in multiple areas. This is especially critical for equipment that is always outside (e.g., digital billboards, smart irrigation systems, EV chargers, and others).

Both natural and artificial environmental factors can influence signal strength. For example, rain, fog, snow, or even high humidity can absorb or scatter radio signals, thereby reducing overall communication quality. Heavy machinery in industrial zones may generate electromagnetic interference (EMI) that disrupts the signal.

Certainly, rural or remote areas can experience poor network coverage and instability. Large buildings, basements, or underground locations can also be trouble zones for cellular equipment.

But forewarned is forearmed. To ensure the best placement of your devices, test and test again.

3. Implement the Right Antenna for Your IoT Device

Having the right antenna is crucial for signal strength and efficient data transmission in IoT. But which antenna to choose?

The most popular antennas for IoT and M2M applications are based on environment, device type, and communication network (e.g., cellular, Wi-Fi, LPWAN). Typically, antenna types include:

Omnidirectional Antennas (Rubber Duck, Fiberglass, Puck) – good for radiating signals uniformly in all directions
Directional Antennas (Yagi, Panel, Parabolic Dish) – good for long-range communication and point-to-multipoint IoT
Embedded Antennas (Chip, Flexible PCB) – for use in devices like smart home or other limited-space IoT applications
MIMO Antennas (LTE MIMO, Wi-Fi MIMO) – multiple input, multiple output antennas for high-data or industrial IoT uses
Specialized Antennas (GPS/GNSS, LoRa/LoRaWAN, Multi-Band) – For use with location tracking or multiple networks

The choice of antenna will depend on the specific requirements of your IoT application – such as range, power consumption, environment, and communication network. Talk to a cellular expert to ensure the right match.

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4. Strategize Placement for Optimal Reception

Careful antenna placement is the most important factor for strong signal strength. For reference, here’s how we recommend placing the antennas included with our OptConnect routers:

Place the antenna on top of the mounting surface – as near to the center as possible and away from edges. Also, make sure the antenna sits away from any known interferences like refrigeration equipment, neon signs, and so forth.
While it’s important to place your antenna as high as possible, do not use antenna cable extensions, as these will decrease signal strength. For this reason, the OptConnect team always includes cabling that is pre-tuned for the specific antenna kitted with our routers.
Always mount antennas in a vertical orientation, never horizontal. Also, as you mount the antenna, ensure the wiring isn’t tightly bound or wrapped with power cords or other cabling.
Avoid placing your antenna inside a metal enclosure. If possible, also avoid placement inside a basement, walled-in enclosure, or below-ground structure. If you need help determining the right placement zone, contact an expert (hint: our OptConnect pros can always steer you in the right direction).
For mobile service trailers, food service vehicles, or inside steel or aluminum buildings, mount the antenna on the outside of the structure or vehicle.
Dual antennas should be separated by 2x the length of the antenna. For example, a 4″ antenna pair needs to be spaced at least 8″ apart.
Never use mismatched antennas. Dual antennas should be the same size, type, and specification.
Do not use an antenna designed for 2G/3G on a 4G/LTE device. Likewise, ensure your antenna is intended for use with your chosen carrier.

Proper antenna placement goes beyond mere execution—it’s also about precision. Aim high, follow the aforementioned best practices, and enjoy an uninterrupted connection for your connected equipment.

5. Optimize Device Firmware and Software

Firmware and software updates can impact cellular signal strength in several ways. First, updates generally include bug fixes, optimizations, and new features that improve performance. Second, new protocols can synchronize with network standards to enhance signal strength.

Radio firmware controls the router’s modem and its interaction with the network. By updating the radio firmware, your device can improve signal detection, reduce interference, and better manage weak signals. A firmware update can also optimize carrier aggregation, benefitting areas of weak signals or network congestion.

Sometimes, older firmware is less compatible with carrier network updates. Taking care of regular firmware updates can improve compatibility and signal strength.

In addition to firmware, software optimization contributes significantly to signal performance. This includes refining the application layer to be more responsive and less resource intensive – which helps maintain a strong signal.

6. Monitor Signal Performance Regularly

Signal performance is just one piece of cellular connectivity – but it’s a big piece. To effectively monitor signal strength:

Use built-in diagnostic tools (e.g. RSSI, RSRP, RSRQ, and SINR signal-strength indicators) and cellular modem logs
Deploy network monitoring software (SNMP tools) or create a custom script via AT commands or APIs
Use field test equipment like a cellular signal or portable spectrum analyzer around your IoT devices
Monitor SIM and network performance (this is especially important for multi-SIM devices that fail over and fail back)
Monitor signal strength in a cloud-based IoT management platform like OptConnect Summit or Lattigo
Set thresholds and alerts for acceptable signal strength levels and automate alerts from your management platform
Perform regular audits both before new deployments and on an ongoing basis

Remember – these days, you don’t need to do all the heavy lifting yourself. Consider implementing fully managed connectivity to simplify and automate monitoring of your IoT portfolio.

7. Consider Redundancies for Signal Backup

Your router is only as reliable as its redundancies, which help systems switch to alternate pathways for continuous communication. In short, if you want reliable operation, create redundancies. Here are a few ways you can do it:

Dual-SIM, Wi-Fi, and LoRaWAN

When you use an IoT device with dual-SIM slots, the device can switch from your primary carrier to a secondary carrier if a network fails or if something happens to the wired line.

Wi-Fi routers can do something similar, switching to Wi-Fi if a cellular network fails (or vice versa). For rural or remote areas, combining LoRaWAN with cellular also adds another layer of redundancy.

Local Data Storage

Consider implementing local data storage on the device so it stores data even if the network goes down. Once your connection is restored, your device can then sync the stored data with the cloud.

Other Backup Channels

For critical alerts or data transmission, use SMS as a backup communication channel. If you are connecting equipment in extremely remote areas, consider using satellite as a backup.

Redundant Antenna Systems and Locations

While you’re at it, don’t limit your redundancies to just the cellular router. Use devices with multiple antennas (MIMO) to improve signal strength and reliability. Similarly, you can position antennas in various locations to reduce risk.

Why multiple locations? Having a few devices in a neighboring location can help prevent total system failure – particularly in the aftermath of a natural disaster.

8. Get Help from a Managed Wireless Services Pro

When your cellular signal is weak, you can’t always run to your carrier for help. Fortunately, there’s an easier way to optimize signal performance and keep your IoT devices running like clockwork.

Before your next IoT deployment, think long and hard about your ability to monitor and manage your devices on your own. Who will provision and configure your equipment? When problems occur, who will troubleshoot them? If you don’t have access to a team of cellular engineers, then managed wireless services might be a better solution.

At OptConnect, we simplify cellular connectivity with a wide range of managed services, from the most straightforward SIM-card provisioning to complex embedded solutions. And because we’ve developed strong relationships with all major global carriers, our team can leverage those relationships for the best-possible connectivity.

For simple signal fixes, try the best practices listed here.

For problems you can’t fix, try the expertise of OptConnect.

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