Kerlink iStation Gateway Review

Why Kerlink iStation

Kerlink makes industrial-grade gateways that actually last outdoors. Not "rated for outdoor use" but actually survive years of weather. The iStation is IP67-rated and handles -40°C to +70°C.

It's expensive - 700-800 EUR depending on configuration. But you get what you pay for. Units installed 5+ years ago are still running reliably. When you need permanent outdoor deployment and don't want to replace failed gateways every 2-3 years, the upfront cost pays off.

Hardware Specs

Frequency options: EU868, US915, AS923, IN865 - order the right region version. Cannot change after purchase.

Channel configurations:

• 8-channel version: Standard LoRaWAN, handles most deployments
• 16-channel version: Double capacity, useful for dense networks

Backhaul connectivity:

• Ethernet (primary) - PoE or separate power
• 3G/4G cellular (optional module) - for remote sites without wired network
• Wi-Fi (some models) - less reliable than Ethernet

Range: 10-15km rural, 2-5km urban typical. I've seen 20km+ line-of-sight in flat terrain with elevated gateway placement.

What's Actually Good

Build quality: Metal enclosure, not plastic. Antenna connectors are N-type (professional standard), not RP-SMA like cheap gateways. Survives outdoor installation for 5+ years.

Smart antenna system (as seen in picture): Built-in internal antenna is completely enclosed inside the gateway - no exposed parts to break, corrode, or fail. This matters for long-term outdoor deployments where external antennas degrade from UV exposure, water ingress, and connector corrosion.

But here's the clever part: the Type N connector has an automatic hardware switch built inside it. Plug in an external antenna and the gateway physically switches from internal to external antenna - no software configuration needed. This means you can start with the internal antenna (zero failure points, maximum reliability), then upgrade to a high-gain external antenna later when you need more range, without touching any settings. It just works.

Sensitivity: -140 dBm sensitivity on SF12 means it picks up weak signals that consumer gateways miss. Matters when devices are battery-powered and transmitting at minimum power.

Network server compatibility: Works with ChirpStack, TTN, AWS IoT Core, Actility, Loriot - basically everything. Packet forwarder protocol is standard.

Remote management: SSH access, web interface, SNMP monitoring. Can update firmware remotely. View packet stats, check GPS sync, monitor CPU/memory.

What's Not Great

Price: 700-800 EUR vs 200-400 EUR for consumer gateways. Hard to justify for small deployments. Makes sense for permanent installations where reliability matters.

Configuration complexity: Web interface is functional but not intuitive. SSH configuration via command line for advanced settings. Expect learning curve if you're used to plug-and-play gateways.

Size/weight: Compact at 1kg. Lightweight compared to industrial gateways, but still needs proper mounting for outdoor installations.

Power consumption: 3.5W typical. Moderate power draw - higher than ultra-low-power gateways (1-2W) but much lower than heavy industrial units (10W). Reasonable solar requirements.

Typical Applications

Permanent outdoor installations: Rooftop mounting for city-wide coverage. Utility pole installation for agricultural networks. Industrial sites where gateway runs 24/7 for years.

Harsh environments: Coastal installations (salt spray resistant). Desert deployments (extreme temperature range). Mining operations (dustproof enclosure).

Mission-critical networks: Water/gas utility metering where downtime costs money. Industrial monitoring where lost packets mean production issues.

Remote locations: 4G backhaul option enables installations without Ethernet infrastructure. Solar power + cellular backhaul for agricultural or environmental monitoring far from civilization.

Installation Best Practices

Mounting height: Higher is better. Every meter of elevation increases range. Rooftop mounting beats wall mounting. Utility poles at 10-15m height are ideal for maximum coverage.

Antenna selection: Internal antenna works out of the box for testing and indoor deployments. For outdoor installations, upgrade to external 6-8dBi omnidirectional antenna for better range. Directional antenna (12-15dBi) for point-to-point links or sector coverage. Gateway automatically detects and switches to external antenna when plugged in - no configuration needed.

Power reliability: PoE injector simplifies installation (single cable for power + data). Backup power recommended for critical deployments (UPS or battery). Power loss means complete network outage for all devices in range.

Lightning protection: External antenna needs surge protector on antenna cable. Ground the gateway enclosure properly. Lightning strikes kill gateways - proper grounding is non-negotiable.

Configuration Basics

Initial setup: Connect via Ethernet, access web interface at default IP (192.168.1.1 typical). Change default passwords immediately. Configure backhaul (static IP or DHCP).

Network server registration: Generate Gateway EUI (MAC-based). Register in network server (ChirpStack, TTN, etc.). Configure packet forwarder to point to server address.

Monitoring: Check packet counters regularly. Watch for packet loss (>5% indicates issues). Monitor uptime and reboot history.

Worth It?

For temporary deployments or hobbyist projects: No. Too expensive, too complex. Use consumer-grade gateways instead.

For permanent outdoor installations where reliability matters: Yes. Robustness and build quality justify cost over 5+ year lifespan. Fewer service calls, less downtime, better long-term reliability.

For mission-critical networks (utility metering, industrial monitoring): Absolutely. Cost of failed gateway exceeds price difference vs cheaper hardware. When reliability is non-negotiable, Kerlink delivers.