Milesight WS201: smart LoRaWAN® fill-level sensing for paper & consumables

Want to stop restroom call-outs, empty shelves and frustrated visitors? The Milesight WS201 is a tiny, battery-powered fill-level monitoring sensor that uses Time-of-Flight (ToF) distance measurement to track remaining paper/consumables in small containers (toilet rolls, tissue boxes, towel dispensers, amenity shelves). It installs with tape in minutes, reports level by percentage with threshold alarms, and runs for years on a coin cell. Indiottresource.milesight.com

Why FM & IoT teams choose WS201

• Precise ToF distance sensing: 1–55 cm range, ±1 cm accuracy, and fine resolution (1–3 mm depending on distance) — ideal for short-range dispensers. 25° (±5°) FoV reduces false reads. resource.milesight.com

• Battery that lasts: one CR2450 (590 mAh) coin cell; typical life ~3.2 years (SF7 EU868) in a representative scenario; ~2.1 years at SF10. resource.milesight.com

• Built for real sites: damp-proof coating for bathrooms; stable in metal environments; IP30 enclosure. resource.milesight.com+1

• Fast commissioning: NFC app setup; set alarm thresholds and reporting intervals in minutes. resource.milesight.com

• Plays nicely with your stack: standard LoRaWAN® Class A (EU868 for the UK), works with common gateways/network servers and Milesight Cloud. resource.milesight.com

Buy in the UK: Order the WS201 from INDIOTT — see live pricing and delivery on our product page. Indiott

Key specifications at a glance

• Detection range: 1–55 cm; ±1 cm accuracy; 1–3 mm resolution by range; 25° (±5°) FoV

• Radio: LoRaWAN® Class A; EU868 (UK) and other bands; 16 dBm TX (EU868); –132 dBm sensitivity

• Power: 1× CR2450 (590 mAh) coin cell; typical ~3.2 years @ SF7 EU868 scenario

• Alarms & features: percentage remaining, threshold alarm, hibernate mode

• Operating conditions: –10…+60 °C, 0–95% RH (non-condensing); IP30

• Size/weight: 66 × 38 × 12 mm, 24.7 g (incl. battery)

• Mounting: 3M tape on flat surfaces (inside dispensers/shelves)
  (See the Milesight datasheet for the full table.) resource.milesight.com+1

Best-fit UK applications (and how to deploy fast)

1) Smart restrooms (toilet rolls & paper towels)

Avoid “no paper” complaints. Stick a WS201 inside each dispenser and alert at, say, 25% remaining so staff restock on the next round. Great for venues, offices, transport hubs and retail. Milesight

2) Housekeeping & amenity shelves

Track tissues, wipes and consumables in guest rooms or reception areas. Trigger tasks before stockouts — less waste, better experience. Milesight

3) Public facilities & education

Automate checks across multiple floors/buildings; central dashboards show which areas need attention first.

Quick deployment checklist (engineer-friendly)

1. Network & band: Join via OTAA on EU868. Start at SF7; increase SF only if coverage requires it (battery trade-off). resource.milesight.com

2. Placement: Mount above the roll/tissues, facing the material. Maintain an unobstructed 1–55 cm path; keep within the 25° FoV. Clean the surface before using the 3M tape. resource.milesight.com+1

3. Thresholds & interval: Set percentage thresholds (e.g., 25%/10%) and a sensible report interval (e.g., 30–60 mins + event-based). resource.milesight.com

4. Bathrooms: Benefit from the built-in damp-proof coating; avoid direct water spray (IP30). resource.milesight.com+1

5. Battery planning: Budget ~2–3+ years depending on SF/usage; keep spare CR2450 cells. resource.milesight.com

Frequently asked questions

What containers does WS201 work with?
Small, close-range dispensers/boxes (toilet rolls, tissues, paper towels) within 1–55 cm detection distance. resource.milesight.com

Is it waterproof?
It’s IP30 with damp-proof coating — designed for bathrooms but not for direct water jets. resource.milesight.com+1

How long does the battery last?
In a typical scenario, around 3.2 years (SF7 EU868); expect shorter life at higher spreading factors or very frequent events. resource.milesight.com

Where can I buy it in the UK?
From INDIOTT — check the WS201 page for current price and lead time. Indiott