How to Choose the Best Solar IoT Gateway for Remote Deployments

Expanding business operations into remote and challenging environments, such as oil & gas fields, mining sites, and agricultural lands, presents unique challenges. Harsh weather conditions, lack of infrastructure, and the need for long-term reliability make choosing the right IoT connectivity solution critical. 

When developing KONA Photon gateway, our engineers kept in mind these challenges and aimed to create a solution that is not only robust and efficient but also simple to deploy and maintain. We understand that businesses operating in remote areas require technology that ensures uninterrupted connectivity, minimal operational overhead, and long-lasting performance. 

What factors should you consider when selecting the best solar IoT gateway?  How do different solutions compare in terms of performance and reliability?  

In this article, we will guide you through key considerations and present a comparison with one of the other solar gateways available on the market today.  

How Does a Solar Gateway Work?   

Before we jump to the checkpoints you should consider when selecting the best solar gateway, let’s quickly review how such gateways actually work.  

A solar-powered IoT gateway operates by harnessing energy from the sun through photovoltaic panels, which convert sunlight into electrical energy. This energy is stored in built-in high-capacity batteries to ensure uninterrupted operation even during periods of low sunlight.  

The gateway powers IoT devices, collects data, and transmits it via long-range connectivity such as LoRaWAN® or cellular networks. Key components of a solar gateway include: 

• Solar Panels: Capture and convert sunlight into energy. 

• Mounting & Enclosure: Weatherproofed gateway and solar panels to protect from weather, dust, and water ingress. 

• Battery Storage: Stores excess energy for nighttime or cloudy conditions. 

• Power Management System: Regulates energy flow and optimizes consumption. 

• Communication Module: Transmits collected data to cloud platforms or network servers. 

• Remote Monitoring Capabilities: Allows real-time performance tracking and troubleshooting. 

This self-sufficient operation makes solar-powered gateways ideal for deployment in remote locations where access to traditional power sources is limited or nonexistent. 

Where Do Solar-Powered Gateways Fit Best?  

Solar-powered gateways are ideal for industries and applications that require connectivity in areas with limited or no access to grid power, such as: 

• Oil & Gas Fields 

• Mining Operations 

• Smart Agriculture 

• Environmental Monitoring 

• Remote Infrastructure Surveillance 

How Does a Solar Gateway Compare to a Standard Gateway?  

Let’s review the differences between solar-powered and standard gateways, as it is important for making the right choice for your IoT deployment. Here’s how they compare: 

• Power Source: Standard gateways rely on grid power, while solar gateways harness renewable energy from the sun, offering independence from traditional power sources. 

• Deployment Flexibility: Solar gateways can be deployed in remote or off-grid locations without infrastructure, whereas standard gateways need proximity to power lines. 

• Operational Costs: Solar gateways provide long-term cost savings by reducing electricity bills and minimizing maintenance, while standard gateways can incur ongoing power expenses. Additionally, solar-powered gateways can achieve a lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), making them a more economical choice for long-term deployments. 

• Environmental Impact: Solar gateways contribute to sustainability by utilizing renewable energy, whereas standard gateways have a larger carbon footprint. 

Benefits of Solar-Powered IoT Gateways 

Below we collected some main benefits to help you understand why solar gateways an excellent investment for your IoT are needs: 

• Cost Savings: They significantly reduce operational costs by eliminating electricity expenses and reducing maintenance needs through efficient power management. 

• Scalability: Businesses can expand their IoT networks to remote and previously inaccessible locations, ensuring better monitoring and data collection. 

• Sustainability: Solar gateways contribute to reducing the environmental footprint by utilizing clean energy and aligning with green initiatives. 

• Resilience in Harsh Conditions: Designed to withstand extreme weather, solar gateways provide reliable connectivity in tough environments. 

• Reduced Carbon Footprint: Solar-powered gateways contribute to reducing carbon emissions by relying on renewable energy. 

• Flexibility in Deployment: Solar gateways can be deployed in virtually any location, making them highly versatile for remote or hard-to-reach areas. 

• Remote Management: Advanced monitoring features allow businesses to track performance, battery levels, and overall system health in real time. 

Now that we have an understanding of how solar gateways work and the numerous benefits they provide, let’s dive deeper into the specific features you should focus on when looking for the best option for your business. 

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Solar-Powered IoT Gateway 

1.Integration vs. Separate Components  

Some vendors provide a solar-powered gateway that consists of separate devices—a gateway, solar panel, and battery connected via external cables. Such an approach might seem flexible, but in reality, it introduces additional complexity during installation and maintenance. Loose cables can become a point of failure, and improper positioning of the panel can obstruct GPS signals, leading to performance issues. 

You should also consider specific recommendations for parts positioning, which can be challenging to manage without specialized technical expertise. Mistakes made during installation may lead to future problems that could disrupt operations. Below are a few critical requirements that are difficult to manage when using separate components: 

• Distance from Solar Panel to Battery: It’s important to minimize the distance between solar panels and batteries. Longer, thinner cables lead to energy loss due to resistance. Opting for a shorter, thicker cable reduces this loss and improves efficiency. 

• Distance from Battery to Gateway: Longer cables can result in voltage drops, which affect device performance. Low voltage at the gateway end may cause unreliable operation or even system failure. Keeping this distance short ensures optimal performance. 

With an integrated solution like TEKTELIC’s KONA Photon, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that all three components—solar panel, battery, and gateway—are seamlessly combined into one robust unit. The convenience of installing a single device that integrates all three components makes it a standout feature for businesses. This streamlined design reduces installation time (under two hours) and enhances reliability by eliminating potential failure points. By choosing KONA Photon, businesses can focus on their operations without worrying about technical complexities or future disruptions. 

2. Power Management Capabilities  

Power is a critical factor for remote IoT deployments, where consistent sunlight availability cannot always be guaranteed. A reliable solar gateway should offer flexible power options and intelligent energy management to extend operational life. 

For example, KONA Photon supports multiple solar panel configurations (50W and 95W), allowing it to perform efficiently in diverse climates. Additionally, the gateway’s optimized power consumption (~2W) and high-capacity lithium iron phosphate batteries provide up to 100 hours of backup power, ensuring uninterrupted operation even in prolonged low-light conditions. 

3. Environmental Resilience  

Deploying IoT solutions in remote locations means exposure to extreme temperatures, humidity, and potential physical threats like high winds and lightning. When evaluating solar gateways, it’s essential to check the environmental rating sand build quality. 

A well-designed solar gateway should offer: 

• An IP67-rated enclosure to withstand dust and water ingress. 

• The ability to operate in temperature ranges from -30°C to +50°C. 

• Integrated Surge and Lightning Protection to safeguard against unpredictable weather conditions and ensure continuous operation. 

TEKTELIC’s KONA Photon meets all these criteria, making it ideal for deployment in harsh environments. Its robust design provides reliability and durability, ensuring uninterrupted performance even in the toughest conditions. 

4. Ease of Deployment and Maintenance  

A solar-powered gateway should not only be easy to install but also simple to monitor and maintain remotely. Traditional solutions often require manual intervention for configuration and troubleshooting, which can lead to increased operational costs. 

KONA Photon offers full remote monitoring through TEKTELIC’s KONA Element OAM platform, allowing users to check battery performance, discharge capacity, and even receive maintenance alerts when the solar panel is obstructed by dust or snow. This proactive approach helps minimize downtime and maximizes efficiency. 

5. Antenna Placement and Connectivity  

Proper antenna placement is crucial for ensuring reliable LoRaWAN® coverage and GPS accuracy. Some solar-powered gateways on the market utilize shared external antennas for GPS and cellular connectivity, leading to interference and performance limitations. 

In contrast, KONA Photon features built-in, separate GPS and cellular antennas strategically positioned to avoid obstructions, ensuring seamless connectivity even in challenging terrains. 

 6. Wind Resistance and Structural Integrity  

High winds are a common challenge in remote locations, particularly in open landscapes such as deserts and coastal areas. A gateway’s mounting system should be designed to withstand strong winds without compromising stability. 

KONA Photon is engineered with an optimally placed bracket that balances the center of gravity, enabling it to endure wind speeds up to 150 mph (Category 1 hurricane). This level of durability ensures long-term reliability in the toughest conditions.  

Comparison with Other Market Solutions  

With a lack of technical knowledge, it can be challenging to compare products accurately. Often, businesses focus solely on price, which may not always be the best criterion. Making an informed decision at the beginning can save significant costs in the future by ensuring better reliability, lower maintenance expenses, and longer operational lifespan.  

To help you make an informed decision, here is a detailed comparison of KONA Photon with another solar-powered gateway available on the market today: 

Feature	Other Solar Gateway	KONA Photon
Relative Humidity	0% to 95%	Upto  100% Condensing
Charging Temperature	-20°C to +50°C	-30°C to +50°C Charging    -40°C to +60°C Discharging
Battery life	Up to 4 days without sunlight, tested under laboratory conditions for guideline purpose only	Photon Gen 2 supports 100 hours of battery life
Solar Panel options	30W panel (Optional 45W panel)	50 and 95W options
Sensitivity	-140 dBm Sensitivity @292bps	-141 dBm Sensitivity @ SF12, 293 bits/sec
GPS	1 x External Antenna (Shared by GPS and Cellular) The gateway provides a single external antenna shared by cellular and GPS, leading to signal interference, reduced performance, limited placement flexibility, troubleshooting challenges, increased design complexity, and potential regulatory compliance issues. Additionally the panel blocks the GPS/cellular communication.	Built-in and Separate GPS and Cellular Antennas.  Positioning of the antennas enables unobstructed RF communication.
Cellular
Withstand High Windspeeds	The Bracket placement is not optimized to withstand high windspeed (shown in the picture).	The Bracket is optimally placed to balance Center of Gravity.  Photon gateway can withstand 150 mile/hr windspeed (aka Hurricane windspeed)

In the schematic illustration provided below, we have highlighted potential challenges that other market solutions might encounter. These include issues such as GPS and cellular communication obstruction caused by solar panel placement, suboptimal bracket positioning that affects wind resistance, and other design inefficiencies.  

Paying attention to these aspects can help you choose a solution that ensures long-term reliability and performance.   

Why Choose KONA Photon? 

Many customers are already using KONA Photon to power their IoT networks in remote and challenging environments. Here’s why customers trust KONA Photon for their IoT needs: 

• Reduced Deployment Complexity & Cost: Zero-footprint installation in under two hours with built-in flexible mounting brackets, allowing deployment anywhere. 

• Carrier-Grade Design: Designed for 10+ years of continuous operation in any environment, ensuring long-term reliability and reduced replacement costs. The PHOTON battery is engineered to last 5000 charge cycles, meaning over 10 years of consistent performance with one charge cycle per day. 

• High Availability & Performance: Charges in under two hours and provides up to 100 hours of continuous operation with optimized power consumption (~2W). Its advanced battery design ensures long-lasting reliability, even in remote or demanding locations. 

• Future-Proof Connectivity: Supports cellular and future satellite backhaul for global connectivity. 

• Intelligent Monitoring: Integrated with TEKTELIC’s KONA Element OAM platform for full remote management, enabling proactive monitoring and reducing maintenance efforts. 

• Open Ecosystem Compatibility: Seamlessly integrates with any LoRaWAN® Network Server, providing flexibility and scalability for various IoT applications. 

• Environmental Resilience: Built to withstand extreme weather conditions, including high humidity, extreme temperatures, and strong winds. 

• Integrated Surge & Lightning Protection: Ensures reliable operation by protecting against power surges and lightning strikes, enhancing system durability in unpredictable environments. 

Conclusion 

At TEKTELIC, our engineers have more than 15 years of experience in developing IoT solutions that address real-world challenges. We always keep in mind the operational needs of our customers and your business’s success, ensuring our products offer reliability, efficiency, and ease of deployment. 

If you’re looking for a solar-powered IoT gateway that can truly support your business, our team is here to assist you every step of the way. Contact us for a free consultation right now.