Get started quickly!

Get started quickly!

Welcome! You just received your Sigrow order...now what? Please treat this article as an information hub on how to get started.

Quick links to related articles:

Connectivity and Range of your Sensors

Placement of your Sensors

Intro to the App

Let's first go over what is in each Sigrow kit:

  1. Central station - this is the gateway of your kit. It receives the data readings from your sensors and pushes it to the cloud. Whether this is done over ethernet connection or over mobile data depends on the model of your central station.
  2. Sensors - While we refer to them as sensors, our products are actually a conglomeration of several different sensors in one. Depending on the model, our sensors measure several light, air, and soil variables. The sensors automatically take measurements at their set timesample so there is no need for activation or pairing, only charging if the battery is low. The data readings are wirelessly communicated to the central station via LoRa radio.
  3. Sigrow Web app - You have access to the data readings via Sigrow Web App. Your login credentials are shared in your order shipping email.
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The key thing to note in this ecosystem is that the sensors and central station must be within range of each other for messages to be received and visualized in the app.

Now Let's go over what you need to get started

1. Pre-installation check

Before placing your sensors in the far reaches of your facility, we recommend to first test connectivity and configuration. This helps to establish that all your sensors are working properly. In this way, should some sensor not report in the app once placed in the desired location, you can be sure that distance/ signal interference is the issue.

  1. Have the central station and sensors all next to each other
  2. Plugin your central station, the center will illuminate magenta and/ or green.
  3. Wait at least 15 minutes (and up to 1 hour) for the center to turn blue. The blue color indicates it is receiving messages from the sensors. If the light remains magenta or green, please contact us: support@sigrow.com
  4. Check in the app that the sensor readings have updated (check "uploaded x minutes ago" in the upper left of each sensor tile)
  5. If the central station is blue and the sensor readings are updating, you can be sure configurations are correct and you can proceed with your installation.

2. Installation

There are two key points to cover in order to properly setup your installation: connectivity and placement.

  1. Connectivity: make sure everything can communicate with each other. Performing the connectivity and configuration check listed in the installation check above helps to establish this.
  2. Placement: proper placement to avoid damages to the sensor, but also so that what you measure is meaningful and what you intend

2.a. Connectivity

Each installation location is unique. What we mean with this is that walls, doors, and the materials they are composed of, influence the absorption and angles at which the radio signals between your central station and sensors are reflected. This absorption and bouncing of the signal reduces the overall distance the message is able to travel.

As a general rule, we recommend 1. sensors should be placed within a radius of 500m of your central station and  2. For most optimal reception, place your central station within direct line of sight of your sensors. Placing the central station high encourages better signal propagation within the greenhouse.

Diagram. Top-down view

This diagram demonstrates 3 scenarios: Sensor completely within range, sensor out of range, or sensor behind a wall, and thus signal is reduced.
This diagram demonstrates 3 scenarios: Sensor completely within range, sensor out of range, or sensor behind a wall, and thus signal is reduced.

For more information, we recommend the article: Connectivity and Range of your Sensors

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When selecting a location to plugin your central station keep in mind:
  1. Sensors should be placed within a radius of 500m of your central station.
  2. Place your central station with direct line of sight to your sensors, in a high position, away from metal objects.

2.b. Placement

Details of proper placement are described in the following article:  Placement of your Sensors

Navigating the Sigrow App

To get started with the functionalities of our web app, please check out our article: Intro to the App!

Contact us

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us at support@sigrow.com

We look forward to working with you to Sense.Discover.Improve!