Cellular network requirements and coverage for virtual fencing | Nofence

Cell service

Customer success By Customer success

When you need cellular network

Nofence collars use cellular connection to receive updates and commands from your app on your phone or tablet. This means you need a cellular connection to update pastures remotely, check locations, or receive alerts.

When connected to a cellular network, you can:

Move your herd between pastures or update boundaries in seconds from anywhere across the globe. See each animal's latest location update and latest welfare and activity data. Get alerts when something needs attention, like reduced activity from a collar, or if an animal escapes the boundary.

Without a cellular network, you can:

Contain Livestock in the virtual boundary, as it is using GPS satellites, not cell towers. Remove pastures from the collar over Bluetooth. Locate collars using the audio locate feature over Bluetooth.

Coverage levels

Understanding what coverage level you have helps you know what to expect from your Nofence system.

Strong coverage (80%+)

Updates from the entire herd every 15 minutes. Welfare and escape alerts arrive immediately. Suited for: Target grazers, goats for hire, precision grazing

Patchy coverage (around 40%)

Updates from the herd every 30 minutes. Welfare and escape alerts when in coverage. The virtual fence works regardless of connection. Suited for: Most operations with mixed coverage

Minimal or none (0–10%)

The virtual fence still works using GPS. You'll get infrequent updates, and can remove livestock using Bluetooth from your phone when on-site. Suited for: Large pastures with seasonal moves (40m²+)

HerdNet™

Only one collar in the herd needs to reach a cell tower for the system to relay updates. Patchy coverage often works better than you'd expect.

Connectivity explained

Nofence uses 3 technologies for the best possible experience and provide a reliable service even in the most difficult environments.

Satellite Connection

GPS enables the virtual boundary. GPS runs 24/7 from satellites in space. So reliable, even with no Cell service Livestock is contained.

Cellular Connection

When both the herd and your device have a cellular connection you can view live data, move livestock and edit pastures.

Bluetooth Connection

A fallback for the most remote and harsh terrains. With Bluetooth you get core functionality from up to 50 yards away even with no cell service.

How do I know if I have coverage?

Checking coverage in your area helps you understand what to expect from your Nofence system.

In the United States we use AT&T and T-Mobile giving us coverage to approximately 60% of the mainland United States. We are aware that coverage can be patchy, but with the HerdNet technology only one collar in the entire herd needs a leak connection to receive and share updates to the entire herd.

Contained even when there is no Cell Service

The collars don't need a cell connection to enforce boundaries. They only need it to receive changes you make in the app, or to send information back to you.