--- title: "Satellite, Cellular or Radio Tank Monitor? | Trivertix" description: "Ranchbot by satellite, Meterra by cellular, Trivertix by radio: how each gets a reading to you, what the connection costs over five years, and where each fits." url: https://trivertix.com/compare/ updated: 2026-10-10 --- # Satellite, cellular or radio: three tank monitors compared A remote tank monitor is a sensor and a way to get its reading to you, and the way decides what it costs and where it works. Ranchbot sends by satellite, Meterra by cellular, and Trivertix by LoRa radio to a receiver in your house. ## The short answer Each fits a different tank. Pick by how far the tank is from a building, and by whether you would rather pay for a connection or own the link. ### Satellite: Ranchbot For a tank miles from any building, with or without a cell signal. The service plan pays for that reach, and the level is read through its platform. ### Cellular: Meterra For a tank with Verizon coverage, or its satellite option where there is none. Three months of connectivity come with the sensor, then a plan from $10 a month. ### Radio: Trivertix For a tank within about a mile of a building with power. No connection plan: the level shows on the receiver with no subscription, and the app adds alerts. ## How they compare *Ranchbot details come from ranch-bot.com and its press release of February 4, 2025, as read on October 7, 2026. Meterra details come from meterrasystems.com, as read on October 10, 2026. Ask each company for its current terms.* | | Ranchbot SATELLITE | Meterra CELLULAR | Trivertix LORA RADIO | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | How readings travel | Satellite or cellular (3G/4G) from the tank | Cellular, on Verizon's NB-IoT network, with a satellite option for dead zones. Wi-Fi models for sites with dependable Wi-Fi. | LoRa radio to a receiver in your house, then your own Wi-Fi | | Where it works | Anywhere in the United States, by its own account | Across the United States, by its own account | Tanks within about a mile of a building with power, more with a clear line of sight | | Connection plan | A Service and Access Plan is required | Three months of connectivity come with the sensor, then plans from $10 a month per device | None for the radio link | | Reading your level | Through its MyRanchbot platform, which the plan covers | In the Meterra app and dashboard: readings, history and alerts | On the receiver's display with no subscription, and in the app with a monthly plan | | Price | Not listed on its site. Its February 2025 press release put the Trough Direct at $549 plus $0.75 a day. | $299 for the Tank Level Sensor and $399 for the Trough Level Monitor, posted on its site | Announced at launch | | Power | Solar on the Water Monitor. A battery lasting up to 4 years on the lite model. | Battery, two years or more on one, with solar as an option | Solar panel and rechargeable batteries | | Also measures | Troughs, rainfall, flow, line pressure and pumps, with other products in its range | Troughs, ponds and dams, flow, rainfall and weather, soil moisture, silos and fuel, with other products in its range | Water and air temperature | | App | The MyRanchbot platform | The Meterra app and dashboard | iPhone, Android and web | | Based in | Fort Worth, Texas | The United States, by its own account. Its site names no city. | Austin, Texas | | In the field | More than 12,000 ranchers, by its own count | More than 2,000 devices in service, by its own count | Pilot units on the Patterson ranch outside Karnes City, Texas | Sources: [Ranchbot home page](https://ranch-bot.com/), [Ranchbot FAQs](https://ranch-bot.com/faqs/), [Ranchbot water level monitors](https://ranch-bot.com/water-level-monitors/), [Ranchbot press release, February 4, 2025](https://agnewswire.com/2025/02/04/ranchbot-introduces-trough-direct-stand-alone-satellite-connected-water-monitoring-system/), [Meterra Systems home page](https://meterrasystems.com/), [Meterra stock tank monitoring](https://meterrasystems.com/solutions/stock-tank-monitoring/), [Meterra cistern monitoring](https://meterrasystems.com/solutions/cistern-monitoring/). ## What the connection costs over 5 years The sensor is bought once. The connection is paid for as long as the sensor reports, and over the life of a monitor it can cost more than the hardware. - **Ranchbot:** $1,369 for the connection, at $0.75 a day, plus $549 for the Trough Direct unit. Its site lists no prices; both figures are from its press release of February 2025. - **Meterra:** At least $570 for the connection, at the $10 a month its plans start from, after the 3 months that come with the sensor. The Tank Level Sensor is $299. - **Trivertix:** Nothing for the connection: the radio link is yours, and the level shows on the receiver with no subscription. The price of the unit, and of the monthly plan that adds the app, is announced at launch, so the five-year figure waits for it. Source, read October 7, 2026: [Ranchbot press release, February 4, 2025](https://agnewswire.com/2025/02/04/ranchbot-introduces-trough-direct-stand-alone-satellite-connected-water-monitoring-system/). Source, read October 10, 2026: [Meterra stock tank monitoring](https://meterrasystems.com/solutions/stock-tank-monitoring/). ## Three ways to send a number ### A satellite modem Sends each reading to a satellite overhead, so it works wherever the sky is clear. That reach is what the plan pays for. ### A cellular modem Sends each reading through the nearest tower, like a phone. It needs a signal at the tank, and a plan for as long as it reports. ### A LoRa radio Sends each reading to a receiver you own, in a building nearby, and your Wi-Fi does the rest. No modem, no plan, and about a mile of reach. [Trivertix and Ranchbot, side by side](https://trivertix.com/compare/ranchbot/) ## Questions about the three ### What does the connection cost over five years? About $1,369 for Ranchbot, at the $0.75 a day in its February 2025 press release, and at least $570 for Meterra, at the $10 a month its plans start from after the 3 months that come with the sensor. Trivertix charges nothing for its radio link. Its monthly plan for the app is priced at launch. ### Does each one need a cell signal at the tank? Ranchbot does not: it sends by satellite, with cellular as an option. Meterra does, on Verizon's NB-IoT network, unless you take its satellite option. Trivertix does not: its radio reaches a receiver in your house, so the tank needs no signal at all. ### What do the three measure besides the water level? Trivertix reads water and air temperature. Ranchbot sells monitors for troughs, rainfall, flow, line pressure and pumps. Meterra sells sensors for troughs, ponds and dams, flow, rainfall and weather, soil moisture, silos and fuel. ### Where are the three companies based? Trivertix in Austin, Texas. Ranchbot says Fort Worth, Texas in its press release, and its FAQs call it an Australian company whose monitors are made in the United States. Meterra says it is US-based and names no city. ## Be first in line. The waitlist hears the price and the launch date before anyone else. [Join the waitlist](https://trivertix.com/waitlist/)