Building Wireless Sensing Networks – Using Open Source Hardware

Over the last couple of days, I have been busy setting up a wireless sensor network as part of the preparations in readiness for a web controlled central heating and energy monitor system. The various hardware modules are all open source designs – and I chose to use a mix and match approach to the system which was put together using hardware from a variety of vendors.  Compatible devices were used from JeeLabs, Openenergymonitor and Nanode Ltd.

If you haven’t looked recently, there are new offerings of ethernet gateways, wireless sensor nodes and open data services from a number of providers – the arena is starting to get interesting. Here’s a brief description of what is needed. A fuller report will appear in a later post.

There are four main parts to the system...