Knowledge Base
IoT and M2M Resources
Twenty-five years in cellular IoT and M2M leaves you with a lot of hard-won knowledge. This is where I put it in writing. These IoT and M2M resources are not vendor guides or manufacturer datasheets – they reference pieces built from real deployments, real problems, and real mistakes.
Connectivity
3 articlesReference Hub
Connectivity Resources
Signal metrics, antenna selection, band behaviour, and the gap between what network coverage maps promise and what you actually get in the field.
Explore connectivity resources →Cellular Standards
LTE and 5G Categories and Bands Explained
What LTE categories actually mean, how 5G bands are structured, and why the band your device supports matters more than the generation on the box.
Read the guide →Power over Ethernet
2 comingPoE Reference
Active vs Passive PoE: What the Difference Actually Means
IEEE 802.3af, 802.3at, 802.3bt – and why passive PoE still exists, what it is, and when it will damage your equipment if you get it wrong.
PoE + Calculator
Understanding PoE Power Budgets
How to calculate your PoE power budget, what switch wattage means in practice, and an interactive tool to work out whether your switch can feed your device estate.
VoIP, VoLTE and Legacy Serial
3 comingVoice over LTE
VoLTE Explained: Voice on 4G and 5G Networks
How VoLTE works, what happens when your device does not support it, and why it matters as 2G and 3G switch-off continues across UK networks.
Legacy Migration
Replacing a Dial-Up or PSTN Modem with 4G
Real-world examples of replacing traditional dial-up and PSTN modems with 4G cellular. SCADA connections, alarm panels, vending machines, and payment terminals – with the actual configuration steps involved.
Serial Communications
RS232 and RS485 over Cellular: Replacing Serial Modems with 4G Routers
How to replace legacy RS232 and RS485 serial modems with cellular router solutions. Serial-to-IP conversion, virtual COM ports, industrial automation applications, and the configuration approaches that work in practice. With real deployment examples.
RF, Signal and Antenna
1 comingRF Reference
Understanding Signal Loss in Antenna Cables
Coaxial cable loss per metre by cable type and frequency, connector loss, how to calculate your total path loss, and what it means for your received signal level. Includes a worked example comparing LMR195, LMR400, and RG58 across 4G and 5G bands.
Routers and Gateways
ComingChoosing an Industrial 4G Router
What the specifications actually mean, what to ignore, and what matters for your deployment environment.
Dual SIM Router Configuration
Failover vs load balancing, how to configure each, and which approach suits which application.
Router Security Hardening
Default credentials, firewall rules, VPN configuration, and the minimum security baseline for an internet-connected router on an industrial site.
5G Router Selection for Fixed Wireless
Sub-6GHz band support, antenna port configuration, and what you actually need for a fixed wireless access deployment vs mobile IoT.
VLAN Configuration on Industrial Routers
Traffic segregation for IoT devices, separating management from data plane, and practical VLAN setups for Teltonika and similar platforms.
Out-of-Band Management with Cellular
Using a cellular router as an OOB management path for infrastructure that has lost its primary connection.
Antennas
ComingOmni vs Directional Antennas
When to use each, how to calculate gain trade-offs, and the scenarios where directional becomes the only viable option.
Outdoor Antenna Mounting and Cable Runs
Mast selection, weatherproofing, cable routing, and the installation details that determine whether an antenna actually performs.
MIMO Antenna Configuration
What MIMO means in practice, how to position multiple antennas for maximum gain, and common installation mistakes.
Remote Access
ComingVPN over Cellular: OpenVPN vs WireGuard
Performance, configuration complexity, and which protocol suits IoT remote access deployments on cellular connections.
Remote Access on Private APN
How private APNs work, when they are worth the cost, and how to configure remote access on a private APN deployment.
NAT Traversal for Cellular IoT
Why standard port forwarding does not work on cellular connections, and the approaches that do – including STUN, reverse tunnels, and cloud relay.