Apiary Solutions, a supplier of operations management solutions to the commercial beekeeping industry under the iAPIS brand, has selected the Quectel EG21-G Mini PCIe form factor LTE Cat 1 module for its Apiary Master device which supports customers across New Zealand and Australia. The iAPIS system covers works management, asset management, harvest and extraction, and hive conditions. The iAPIS hardware is specifically designed for beekeeping utilizing apiary masters, hive scales, hive monitors and other environmental sensors to monitor bee health and productivity in remote locations beyond terrestrial network coverage.

The Quectel EG21 is used in the Apiary Master hub device. The Apiary Master is an IoT device used by beekeepers to collect data from various sensor devices in an apiary. The Apiary Master is a solar powered battery device equipped with Wi-Fi to communicate with sensor devices and uses the Quectel EG21 to send data to the iAPIS Servers via the Starlink Direct to Cell (DTC) network. The Direct to Cell network is compatible with Cat 1 IoT modems and will provide critical connectivity to companies like Apiary Solutions with remote LTE deployments outside of terrestrial coverage. With One NZ being the first cellular network in the world to deliver DTC as a commercial offering, the iAPIS monitoring solution will become one of the first commercially available IoT device in the world to utilize the Starlink DTC network. The Apiary Master can be placed anywhere in New Zealand and is able to reach the iAPIS server via the One NZ DTC and terrestrial networks.

This allows the device to be placed in areas that do not receive terrestrial LTE coverage, which differentiates it from similar IoT devices that only use terrestrial networks. The Apiary Master also uses a standard SIM card from One NZ and the Quectel EG21 to reach the DTC network. This differentiates it from similar IoT devices that use other satellite networks with low-speed, small data package networks at high cost, as these devices require custom modems and cannot swap between terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks using a single communications module.

Apiary Solutions chose the Quectel EG21-G because it is compatible with many telecommunications companies around the world including the Starlink DTC Network. In addition, the module is priced competitively; and is easily integrated into the company’s hardware and firmware architecture. The Quectel EG21-G is an LTE Cat 1 module that offers maximum speeds of 10Mbps downlink and 5Mbps uplink. Measuring 51.0mm x 30.0mm x 4.9mm, the module operates in an extended temperature range of -40°C to +80°C.

“We’re proud to have been selected for this world-first deployment by Apiary Solutions,” says Michael Wallon, SVP Sales APAC and ANZ at Quectel Wireless solutions. “The Apiary Master is delivering substantial benefits to beekeepers and showcases the benefits of the One NZ partnership with the SpaceXDTC network. The Quectel EG21-G offers the form factors, low power consumption and performance that beekeepers need to manage their hives efficiently and we look forward to working with Apiary Solutions as it continues to develop solutions.”

Previously, Apiary Solutions used satellite communications via Globalstar and SWARM and had extensive experience with low-speed radio data networks such as MPT1327 and P25. With the end of the SWARM network and following its early work with SpaceX, the company took the leap of faith that Direct to Cell would be the optimal carrier technology to focus on for the future. This combination of a tried and proven product, upgraded and enabled for global deployment and self-sufficiency was very important.

“Being at the bleeding edge of any technology is tough and risky,” confirms Kaspar White-Harris, product manager at Apiary Solutions. “In this case it was bleeding edge for everyone; SpaceX, One NZ, Quectel and ourselves. We had to re-engineer both our hardware and firmware to utilize the EG21 across both terrestrial and satellite. This was made even more difficult during R&D as the Starlink network is still being deployed so we have an evolving platform on which to test and develop.”

Key requirements for the Apiary Master device included low power consumption because devices are battery powered with solar charging, compatibility with standard cellular frequencies to ensure the modem is compatible with networks across the globe, and low cost to ensure the Apiary Master is economically viable for customers who are under pressure from rising costs and reduced margins.

In addition, Apiary Solutions needed the device to offer multiple form factors so it required a modem that came in Mini PCIe and LGA form factors, with the Mini PCIe variant used for retrofitting existing devices and the LGA variant for future production runs.

“With coverage like never before our self-powered high reliability solution will be updated to enable deployment for other industries that need remote near-time analysis of sensor data and alerts,” adds White-Harris. “Our solution allows beekeepers to remotely manage their beehives, even when they are located it inaccessible areas with no terrestrial network coverage.  This data allows them to make informed business decisions, improving the productivity and efficiency of their operations, increasing honey yield per hive, meeting ESG targets, and lowering costs from miss timed visits.”

Additional benefits include a rapid return on investment (ROI) along with a lower carbon footprint, enhanced peace of mind, ability to make data driven decisions with historic and forward trends, reduced waste, and clear evidence of beekeeping, as an industry, applying enhanced sustainable business practices.

“Beekeepers are improving bee health, hive yields, reducing costs and demonstrating a commitment to continuously adopting sustainable business practices employing the latest technology,” says Andrew Thompson, the CEO of Apiary Solutions. “We have had an excellent experience working with Quectel to date and look forward to continuing to work with them in the future.”