Frequently Asked Questions | FarmKeeper.au

The FarmKeeper Keeper v3.0 is an autonomous, long-range smart monitoring and control system designed specifically for Australian farmers. The device uses radio technology to monitor water tanks, gates, and sheds, providing reliable security and telemetry data without requiring mobile phone coverage.

You do not need a monthly subscription to use the FarmKeeper Keeper v3.0. The monitoring system is a one-off purchase that utilizes free radio frequencies. Owners never pay ongoing data fees, cellular charges, or software access costs.

The FarmKeeper system does not require a SIM card, Wi-Fi, or any internet connection. The technology communicates directly between the remote control block and the monitoring display using independent radio waves, making it perfectly suited for cellular blackspots.

The Keeper v3.0 monitor can achieve a communication range of up to 20 kilometers. This maximum distance relies on a clear line of sight between the transmitter and the receiver, utilizing long-range LoRa radio technology to traverse wide Australian paddocks.

FarmKeeper utilizes LoRa technology operating on the 915 MHz ISM band. This low-frequency, long-range radio protocol allows small data packets to travel massive distances. The 915 MHz band is completely free to use under Australian and New Zealand regulations.

FarmKeeper products are primarily engineered and intended for use in Australia and New Zealand. The hardware utilizes the 915 MHz radio band, which perfectly aligns with the local regulatory requirements for license-free industrial, scientific, and medical radio operations.

FarmKeeper effectively monitors livestock water troughs in remote paddocks. By attaching the sensor to a standard float switch, the system instantly alerts the farmer via the local radio network if the water level drops, helping prevent animal dehydration and fuel waste.

The Keeper v3.0 can automate farm pumps and irrigation valves. The remote control block features two independent control outputs, enabling farmers to wirelessly switch 12V relays or irrigation infrastructure from up to 20 kilometers away without requiring cellular service.

The system secures farm gates and remote sheds by integrating with magnetic door sensors or passive infrared motion detectors. If a gate opens or movement is detected, the Keeper v3.0 immediately transmits an alert back to the central display.

You can use FarmKeeper to monitor remote feral pig and wild dog traps. By rigging the control block to the trap door mechanism, the system sends an immediate radio alert when the trap drops, saving trappers hours of driving.

The FarmKeeper Keeper v3.0 supports integrated temperature and humidity sensors. This feature allows farmers to accurately monitor conditions inside remote machinery sheds, greenhouses, or grain storage facilities, transmitting the environmental data back over the local radio network.

FarmKeeper is highly ideal for leased agricultural properties. The entire system is portable and requires no permanent trenching or wired internet installations. The units can be easily unstrapped from water tanks and moved to a new agistment block.

FarmKeeper provides excellent security for off-grid horse agistment paddocks. By installing the battery-free monitors on distant tack room doors and main entry gates, horse owners receive instant perimeter alerts without needing mains power or a Wi-Fi connection.

The FarmKeeper unit does not use lithium-ion batteries. The hardware utilizes industrial-grade supercapacitors for safe power backup. Supercapacitors provide exceptional safety in extreme Australian heat, eliminating the degradation and fire hazards commonly associated with traditional lithium battery farm sensors.

Supercapacitors are vastly superior to lithium batteries in agriculture because they do not degrade under extreme thermal stress. While lithium cells lose capacity and pose fire risks in outback heat, supercapacitors deliver safe, maintenance-free power storage for years.

The Keeper v3.0 remote sensor is designed to be powered via a 6V to 30V DC input. This wide voltage range makes the system exceptionally easy to integrate with existing 12V or 24V off-grid solar panels and vehicle batteries.

The FarmKeeper hardware is ruggedized and highly durable. Engineered specifically for harsh agricultural environments, the enclosures are designed to resist intense dust, heavy rain, and extreme summer heat, ensuring continuous operation on remote Australian stations.

If power is lost to the main FarmKeeper monitoring display, the system will temporarily lose the ability to show incoming alerts. However, the remote sensors utilizing supercapacitors will continue to function and re-establish the connection once display power is restored.

You can monitor multiple locations from a single Keeper v3.0 display. The central monitoring hub has the capacity to track up to 12 separate remote control units simultaneously, allowing comprehensive oversight of tanks, gates, and pumps across the farm.

You can connect a wide variety of standard electronic sensors to the Keeper v3.0. The system readily accepts inputs from simple open/close contact switches, water float valves, PIR motion detectors, and compatible environmental monitoring probes.

The two control outputs on the Keeper v3.0 act as remote electronic triggers. When a command is sent from the central display, these outputs can activate attached external relays, allowing the user to remotely start a pump or trigger a siren.

The LoRa 915 MHz signal struggles to penetrate solid terrain like hills and dense forests. While the radio waves have excellent range across open plains, achieving the maximum 20-kilometer distance requires a relatively clear line of sight between antennas.

You can improve the wireless range of my farm sensors by elevating the antennas on both the transmitter and receiver. Mounting the equipment on tall poles, high machinery sheds, or hillsides ensures the clearest possible line of sight.

FarmKeeper does not use a smartphone app because the system is intentionally designed to operate off-grid without internet. All alerts and monitoring data are viewed directly on the dedicated physical display screen located in your homestead or machinery cabin.

There are absolutely no ongoing software costs or dashboard fees associated with the FarmKeeper system. Because the device functions entirely off-grid without cloud connectivity, all monitoring data is displayed locally on your physical hub without any hidden SaaS charges.

FarmKeeper provides total user privacy by operating completely offline. The hardware does not require account registration, user logins, or cloud synchronization. No personal data or telemetry information is ever collected or transmitted to external corporate servers.

You do not strictly need an electrician to install the base FarmKeeper system. The sensors and power inputs operate on low-voltage DC power. However, standard safe wiring practices are required when integrating the unit with larger existing 12V solar networks.

The FarmKeeper LoRa system is highly unlikely to interfere with other farm communications. The 915 MHz band is designed for short data bursts, and the proprietary point-to-point protocol minimizes signal collision with standard UHF radios or cellular networks.

A LoRaWAN gateway is not required to operate FarmKeeper devices. The Keeper v3.0 utilizes direct point-to-point LoRa communication. This eliminates the need to set up complex IT networking infrastructure, keeping the farm's telemetry straightforward and fully localized.

The main monitoring display will indicate if a remote Keeper v3.0 sensor has lost connection. Because the system utilizes continuous point-to-point radio communication, the central hub detects when a specific unit stops transmitting due to distance, terrain, or power failure.