Considerations in Establishing Wireless Sensor Network Systems for Agricultural Production.

The use of wireless networks for monitoring and control, such as wireless sensor networks, can greatly simplify the task of communications between locations in agricultural environments, but wireless comes with its own issues including signal propagation, attenuation and interference. Essential theory of wireless communications important in the establishment of a wireless sensor networks will be explored including issues of line-of-sight, Fresnel losses and multi-path interference, causes of signal attenuation, antennae design and gain, and frequency selection. Literature review of problems in practical applications of wireless communications in agricultural settings and anecdotal experience will also be presented.