BLADE™ subsurface LoRaWAN soil moisture sensor.

Measurements and sensing

• Measured parameters: volumetric soil moisture, surface temperature and a multi-depth moisture profile.
• Depth sampling: readings at 3 in and 6 in, plus an aggregate root-zone value.
• Sampling interval: every 15 minutes by default, configurable on request.

Communications and data

• Protocol: LoRaWAN, long range and low power.
• Range: over one mile in open field conditions. Range varies with the environment and gateway placement.
• Web application: BLADE™ reports into an affordable web application from Harmony Analytica, sold separately, with real-time analytics, alerts, notifications and historical reporting.
• Platform agnostic: works with Harmony Analytica dashboards and, through the API, with third-party platforms and BI tools. Third-party gateways are available on orders of 12 or more units.
• Easy setup: InstaRead™ magnetic activation gives an immediate on-site reading during installation or maintenance.
• Offline behaviour: recent readings are buffered locally if the link drops and forwarded when it returns.

Physical and environmental

• Form factor: a potted sensor designed to be fully buried under turf, which preserves safety, aesthetics and turf usability.
• Ingress protection: fully potted, waterproof construction built to withstand irrigation, soil contact and field traffic.
• Operating environment: designed for the temperature and moisture ranges turf sees.
• Durability: ruggedized housing for long-term field deployment.

Power and maintenance

• Battery life: about 3 years at 15-minute reporting. At 30- or 60-minute intervals, 5 years or more, depending on signal strength, climate and network use.
• Maintenance: little to none. Put it in the ground and let it work; InstaRead™ activation simplifies commissioning and site checks.

Firmware and updates

• Firmware updates: over-the-air updates for enhancements and fixes, delivered through the LoRaWAN gateway when available.

Integration and compatibility

• Gateway compatibility: Harmony Analytica gateways out of the box. Bulk orders can be connected to third-party LoRaWAN gateways on request; contact us for details.
• API: available for data ingestion into third-party systems and dashboards.

Notes for installers and buyers

• Installation: subsurface deployment needs basic turf and soil tools; an auger or coring tool is recommended. Most turf managers can install BLADE™ without help.

How teams use BLADE™

• Prevent stress before it shows: spot dry trends early and save the turf from emergency repairs.
• Validate irrigation: confirm the schedule delivers the right amount of water to the root zone.
• Optimize resources: cut unnecessary watering and avoid overtreatment.
• Post-event recovery: measure recovery rates and tailor recovery irrigation.