Helium Hotspot & LoRaWAN Antenna Setup Planner
Planning a Helium hotspot or LoRaWAN gateway install? Tell us where the antenna will go and we'll suggest compatible parts from our catalogue: antenna, low-loss cable, lightning arrestor, mount and enclosure. You'll see how they connect and figures calculated from manufacturer specifications, and you can add the parts to your cart in one click.
How to plan a Helium hotspot antenna setup
Pick where the antenna will go: indoors at a window, in an attic, on an outside wall, or on a roof, mast or tower. Then describe what is around it. Dense buildings, open countryside and hills each call for a different antenna pattern. Set the height of the antenna above the ground, and tell us whether the hotspot will stay inside (with a cable out to the antenna) or sit outside in a weatherproof enclosure beside it. If the hotspot stays inside, choose how the cable gets in, through the wall or under a closed window, and how long the run is.
The planner then lists compatible parts from our catalogue and shows how they connect, from the antenna's connector through the lightning arrestor and cable to the hotspot's RP-SMA port. It picks the shortest in-stock cable that covers your run and shows three figures: the antenna's rated gain, the total feedline loss, and the line-of-sight horizon for your mounting height. Untick anything you already own and add the rest to your cart.
Every figure comes from manufacturer specifications and standard radio formulas, so you can check it yourself. The planner does not predict coverage, network rewards or earnings.
Helium hotspot antenna FAQ
What's the best antenna for a Helium hotspot?
It depends on the terrain around your site and how high you can mount the antenna, which is what the planner works out. Low-gain antennas (around 3 dBi) radiate a wide vertical pattern that suits indoor use and cluttered city sites. Mid-gain antennas (about 5.8 to 6 dBi) are the usual choice for suburbs and towns. Higher-gain antennas (7.5 dBi and up) concentrate signal toward the horizon, which suits high mounts over flat, open land. A directional panel focuses signal in one direction when you only need to reach one area.
What cable should I use between a Helium hotspot and its antenna?
Use the shortest run that reaches your antenna. At 900 MHz, Times Microwave rates LMR-400 at 12.8 dB per 100 m against 32.6 dB for LMR-200, so choose LMR-400 for anything longer than a few metres. Indoor Helium hotspots such as the SenseCAP M1 and Nebra use an RP-SMA antenna port, while outdoor antennas use N-type connectors. For a McGill omni antenna (N-male), choose a cable with an N-female end for the antenna and an RP-SMA male end for the hotspot. McGill directional panels have an N-female connector, so add an N-male to N-male adaptor. Our cart checks that the parts you add connect together.
Where should I place my Helium hotspot antenna?
As high as is practical, with a clear line of sight over nearby roofs and trees, away from metal surfaces, and outdoors when you can. Height extends the line-of-sight horizon: using the standard radio-horizon formula with the receiving device at 1.5 m, an antenna at 3 m has a horizon of about 12 km and one at 10 m about 18 km. That is a geometric limit over smooth ground, not a coverage estimate. A higher mount usually means a longer cable, so weigh the extra cable loss, and follow local bylaws and safety rules for work at height.
How much signal does coax cable lose?
At 900 MHz, Times Microwave rates LMR-400 at 12.8 dB per 100 m, which is about 1.3 dB over 10 m, so roughly 74% of the power arrives. Thinner LMR-200 loses 32.6 dB per 100 m, about 3.3 dB over 10 m, so roughly 47% arrives. Every connector and adaptor adds a little more. Keep cable runs short, or put the hotspot in an outdoor enclosure beside the antenna.
Do I need a lightning arrestor?
Yes, for any outdoor antenna. RAKwireless recommends an arrestor on every N-type antenna connection. An arrestor only works when it is bonded to your building's grounding system following your local electrical code, and no device can guarantee protection from a direct strike. If you are unsure, use a qualified installer.
Does the planner estimate coverage or earnings?
No. It suggests parts that connect together and shows figures from manufacturer specifications: antenna gain, feedline loss and the geometric line-of-sight horizon. Real-world coverage depends on terrain, buildings, trees and network conditions, and the planner makes no promise about network rewards or earnings.
Helium hotspot antenna guides
See live Helium IoT network statistics
How we calculate. Feedline loss uses each cable's typical attenuation at 900 MHz from the manufacturer's datasheet (Times Microwave LMR-400: 12.8 dB/100 m, LMR-200: 32.6 dB/100 m, LMR-100A: 74.9 dB/100 m), multiplied by the cable length. We add the arrestor's rated loss (RAKwireless ≤0.2 dB, Laird under 0.25 dB at 1000 MHz) and 0.1 dB for each connection or adaptor. Antenna gain is the manufacturer's rating. The line-of-sight horizon uses the standard radio-horizon formula d = 4.12 × (√(antenna height) + √(device height)) km, with the device at 1.5 m. It's a geometric limit over smooth terrain, not a prediction of coverage.
Important. This planner suggests parts that connect together and shows figures calculated from manufacturer specifications. It is general information only. It is not professional installation, engineering, legal or financial advice. It makes no promise or estimate of coverage, performance, network rewards or earnings. Results depend on your site, equipment and network conditions, which are outside our control. Working at height or near power lines is dangerous: use a qualified installer where appropriate, follow manufacturer instructions, ground outdoor equipment to your local electrical code, and make sure your installation meets ISED (Canada) or FCC (US) radio rules. To the extent permitted by law, Mapping Network accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from use of this planner.