4G M2M / GSM Temperature Data Loggers with Built-in SIM

Wi-Fi loggers are only as reliable as the Wi-Fi. Cold rooms have insulated steel walls that block signal, warehouses and godowns often have no network in the storage area, and many hospitals and plants will not allow new devices on the corporate network. A cellular logger removes all three problems: it connects directly to the mobile network, so installation is plug in, fix to the wall and fit the probe.

Cellular connectivity also makes a remote temperature monitoring system practical across many sites. A pharmacy chain, a state vaccine store network or a group of cold stores can be monitored from one dashboard without configuring a network at each location. For transport and field use, the GPS models add location to every reading.

Each Ideabytes 4G logger ships with a built-in M2M SIM, so there is no consumer SIM to buy, recharge or swap. Ideabytes IoT is a DOT-approved M2M service provider. The MT120, MT350, MTD120, MTH120, MTH50 and MTH70 use 4G LTE Cat1 with 2G fallback, so they stay connected where 4G coverage is weak; the MT70 GPS logger uses 4G LTE Cat-M1.

Readings are sent at a default interval of 15 minutes, which is configurable. If the mobile network drops, the logger keeps recording: the single-channel, dual-channel and temperature and humidity models store 90 days of readings at a 15-minute interval, and the 4 and 8-channel models store 40,000 records.

The model number shows the measurement and range. MT means temperature, MTH temperature and humidity, MTD dual channel and MTR a multi-channel PT100 logger; the CN suffix adds GPS.

A data logger with alarm is only useful if the right person hears it in time. Ideabytes 4G loggers raise live alerts and app push notifications on the web and mobile apps (iOS and Android), and SMS alerts are available. Because the alarm travels over the logger's own cellular link, it still gets through when the site network or router is down. The GPS models also support a door sensor and a local buzzer as accessories.

Every alarm is kept in an alarm log with an audit trail, and excursions can be closed with a CAPA entry. Reports are 21 CFR Part 11 compliant PDFs with trend graphs and mean kinetic temperature, available on demand or scheduled daily, weekly or monthly. Software features are provided in different plans.

The MT70 combines 4G LTE Cat-M1 with GPS and an external stainless-steel probe on a GX12 connector, measuring -30 °C to +70 °C. It has LED status indicators instead of a display, a 4400 mAh battery with up to 30 hours of back-up and 15 days of storage at a 15-minute interval. The MT120-CN (-40 °C to +110 °C) and MTH120-CN (-40 °C to +110 °C with 0 to 100% RH) add a 1.3-inch OLED display and 90 days of storage, and the dashboard shows each logger on a map.

A 4G logger has an ongoing cost that a USB or standalone logger does not: a subscription that covers M2M connectivity and the cloud software plan. Ask for it to be quoted alongside the hardware so the total cost over the life of the installation is clear.

The loggers run from a 5V/1A DC supply. The single-channel, dual-channel and temperature and humidity models have a 4000 to 4400 mAh Li-ion battery with up to 20 hours of back-up during a power failure, and the 4 and 8-channel models an 8000 mAh battery with up to 18 hours.

Ideabytes IoT manufactures its loggers in India, has built data loggers since 2009, is registered on GeM and is a QCI-approved OEM. The 4G loggers are classified under HSN heading 9025, with temperature and humidity models under 90258090; the exact code is shown on each quotation. NABL-traceable calibration certificates are available on request, and probes for the external-sensor models are ordered separately with customisable cable lengths.