Farm Water Tank Level Monitoring with LoRaWAN

October 15, 2026

Mapping Network sells hardware only. We make no promises about Helium network rewards, token value or earnings, and nothing here is financial advice. Check current details on the official Helium network page.

Checking a stock tank or a cistern by hand means a drive or a walk, often in bad weather. A LoRaWAN level sensor can report the water level for you, from a field or barn far from any Wi-Fi. On the Helium network, it needs no contract or SIM card. This guide explains how a tank level setup fits together on a Canadian farm.

How tank level sensors work

The most common type is an ultrasonic distance sensor mounted on the tank lid, pointing down. It measures the distance to the water surface and sends it in a small message. You turn that distance into a level or volume using the tank's height and shape. Helium's featured products page lists the Dragino LDDS75 distance sensor as an agriculture example. Other types include pressure sensors that sit at the bottom of the tank. Which one suits you depends on the tank, the water and the maker's specifications.

We don't have tank level sensors in stock right now. Ask us using the chat button and we'll tell you what we can get. If you want to build your own, the SenseCAP K1100 prototype kit and the Helium Developer Kit are LoRaWAN starting points. See all sensors and kits.

Step 1: Check coverage at the tanks

Rural coverage is often thin. Check each tank location on the Helium IoT network map, and see our map and explorer guide for how to read it. A field tester such as the Glamos Walker (needs a yearly app subscription after a two-month trial) lets you walk the property and see where messages get through. See all mappers and testers.

Step 2: Put coverage where the farm is

Your own coverage for your sensors. If the map shows no hotspot near your site, put one there. A hotspot is a LoRaWAN gateway: it listens for your sensors and passes their messages over your internet connection to the Helium network and on to your console. It needs power and an internet connection (Wi-Fi or Ethernet). Good starting points: the SenseCAP M1 bundle with outdoor enclosure and 3 dBi antenna, the SenseCAP M1 bundle with the Nebra 5.8 dBi antenna, the SenseCAP M1 indoor hotspot or the SenseCAP M2 data-only gateway. See all Helium hotspots and LoRaWAN gateways. Hotspot sales are final, as listed on each product.

On a farm, the hotspot usually goes in the house or the shop, where the internet is, with the antenna as high as you can get it. A clear line of sight to the fields helps far more than antenna gain alone.

Getting the antenna outside. A roof or wall antenna usually hears far more than one indoors. A no-adaptor chain we stock: McGill 6 dBi antenna, LMR-400 N-female to N-male cable, Laird lightning surge arrestor, 1 m N-male window pass-through and an L-type wall mounting pole, about CAD $274.95 in total. Our antenna buying guide explains the choices. Browse antennas, cables, antenna accessories and enclosures.

Step 3: Power at the tank

Most LoRaWAN level sensors run on batteries. If your sensor or a DIY build needs more power, a small panel such as the Seeed 12 W outdoor solar panel can supply it where there is no grid. Browse off-grid power. The hotspot itself still needs steady power and internet.

Step 4: Connect and set alerts

Add the sensor to a LoRaWAN console using our step-by-step sensor guide. Then set a low-level alert in your console or the app connected to it. How alerts are set up depends on the platform, so follow its instructions.

What it costs to run

Data on Helium is paid in Data Credits, a pay-as-you-go data cost, not an investment. At MeteoScientific's listed US$0.0001 per DC, a sensor sending a small reading every 15 minutes uses about 2,900 DC a month, about US$0.29. Hourly readings cost under US$1 a year. These are estimates, and prices can change.

FAQ

How far can a sensor be from the hotspot?
It depends on terrain, trees, buildings and antenna height. We don't promise a distance. Test before you rely on it.

Can one hotspot cover several tanks and other sensors?
Yes, if they're all in range. The same hotspot can carry messages from gate, soil or barn sensors, and from trailer trackers.

Does a level alert replace checking the animals?
No. It's a warning tool. Keep your usual checks.