#lorawan

Introduction:

LoRaWAN serves as the communication protocol connecting the LoRa signal (which carries sensor data) to the respective application(s). To simplify, think of LoRa as the radio signal transporting the data, while LoRaWAN acts as the governing framework that dictates how this data travels and communicates within the network.

What is LoRa? 

LoRa, short for Long Range, is a wireless technology known for its extended range and energy-efficient characteristics. It operates within unlicensed wireless frequencies, similar to how Wi-Fi utilizes the unregulated 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The specific frequency employed by LoRa varies depending on the geographic location of the deployment. For instance, in North America, LoRa operates in the 915 MHz band, while in Europe, it utilizes the 868 MHz band and in India it is 865 MHz to 867 MHz.  

It is crucial to be aware of the legally permitted frequencies for LoRa deployments in each respective location. In terms of its communication range, LoRa can transmit data up to a distance of 10 kilometers in ideal conditions with a clear line of sight.

Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) technology can be categorized into two main types. On one hand, there's cellular LPWA, which utilizes mobile networks. Examples of cellular LPWA technologies include Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) and Long Term Machine Type Communications (LTE-M). On the other hand, there's non-cellular LPWA like LoRa, which disseminates data by dividing it into encoded packets and transmitting them across various frequency channels and data rates.

What is LoRaWAN? 

LoRaWAN is a network protocol that serves as the bridge between the LoRa signal, which carries sensor data, and the applications that use this data. In simpler terms, LoRa represents the radio signal responsible for transmitting the data, while LoRaWAN is the communication protocol that manages and defines how this data is transmitted across the network.

LoRaWAN offers several valuable advantages, including low power consumption, extensive coverage range, and cost-effective connectivity for devices that don't require high data transfer speeds. It's an excellent choice when cellular connectivity is too expensive or Wi-Fi coverage is unavailable. Some of the most compelling use cases for LoRaWAN include:

Agriculture: LoRaWAN's long-range capabilities provide reliable connectivity for rural applications where high data transfer rates are not necessary, making it ideal for agricultural applications. LoRaWAN sensors for agriculture are used for cattle management, soli monitoring, and temperature monitoring.

Asset Tracking and Logistics: LoRaWAN supports cost-effective location tracking of assets, with optimized battery life, making it a practical choice for asset management and logistics.

Smart Metering: LoRaWAN's sensors have the ability to reach even in underground utility locations makes it a suitable choice for smart metering applications.

Smart Homes: LoRaWAN can penetrate obstacles like walls and supports battery-powered devices with low data consumption, making it an attractive connectivity option for smart home applications.LoRaWAN sensors for smart homes are used for Air quality monitoring, water quality monitoring, and temperature & humidity monitoring. 

Healthcare: The low power consumption, affordability, and reliability of LoRa technology make it suitable for connected health applications. IoT solutions based on LoRa hardware can monitor high-risk patients or systems around the clock, ensuring comprehensive health and medical safety management.LoRaWAN Gateways and sensors enhance production practices, enable efficient tracking and monitoring of shipments, and facilitate the development of cutting-edge medications. 

1. Smart Agriculture

IoT applications with the use of LoRaWAN maximize efficiency, reduce environmental impact, maximize yield and minimize expenses. From measuring environmental conditions affecting crop production to tracking livestock health metrics, the Internet of Things is gradually improving our agricultural systems.

Because of LoRa technology's low power, long-range capabilities, and wireless performance, low-cost sensors have been used to send signals from farms to the cloud for improved operations.

Smart Cattle Ranch: LoRa enabled GPS trackers and biometric sensors can monitor the vital organs and location of cows. It is also designed to notify ranchers in unusual circumstances.

Soil Moisture Monitoring: As water resources are likely to become more scarce in many parts of the world, LoRa-based solutions have been provided to enable farmers to manage their irrigation systems more efficiently. So we don't have to worry about drought, as this technology saves the soil on "less rainy" days.

Smart Soil Sensor: LoRa-based wireless sensors help detect nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) levels in soil. This will help farmers reduce waste and maximize crop yields.

2. Smart Cities

Smart Street Lights: LoRa-based street lighting systems minimize electricity costs without impacting city infrastructure and facilities.

Smart parking loT: LoRa technology makes deploying smart parking spaces simple. You now have the ability to share your parking status with any LoRa-enabled device. This has transformed basic commercial and municipal parking spaces into smart parking spaces that can detect the absence, presence, arrival and departure of vehicles.

3. Intelligent Industrial Control

LoRa technology can benefit industrial operations through the use of smart construction machines, conveyor belt sensors to detect hazards, prevent belt failures, and reduce maintenance costs.

4. Smart Homes and Buildings

LoRa technology devices are capable of penetrating dense building materials, making them an ideal platform for LoRa smart home and building equipment. Due to the long-range capabilities of this technology, LoRa-enabled sensors can track assets that stray from the home and detect hazards, optimizing utility usage and providing overall security.

Detect leaks and prevent damage: Since damage from water leaks poses a significant threat to property and home owners, LoRa is based on temperature and humidity sensors to prevent water leaks and house damage. By simply installing LoRa devices in areas of the home that are susceptible to this condition, such as bathrooms and kitchens. 

5. Smart Healthcare

LoRa technology is suitable for critical smart healthcare applications with its low power consumption, low cost, and wide coverage capabilities. LoRa technology is really improving healthcare and livelihoods.

Follow-up for Alzheimer's patients: There are now LoRaWAN enabled wearables for Alzheimer's and dementia patients. These devices help alert caregivers when patients leave designated safety zones. All to ensure maximum safety without supervision.

Wearables for kids: LoRa-enabled bracelets and smartwatches can now be used to track the location of children. Now parents can rest easy knowing where their kids are, even if they can't see them.

Skier Safety: LoRa-based devices also make skiing easier. Ski students can now track their location and stay safe.

In fact, the future of LoRaWAN technology is bright, as global, national and regional networks need to support even trillions of devices.

Technology is everywhere, and this statement is unquestionable. Blog is important for us to learn and keep up with the changing times and strive to be updated with the latest trends..

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The Eclipse IOT challenge lead me to research more in depth different technologies both from the hardware and the software aspect. As part of product development and delivery one has to come up with the solution for a problem. In this case the problem is parking in urban areas, or the lack of smarter parking solutions. Such implementation would not only allow end users to have a better parking experience while saving time in finding an adequate spots but also provides the city with valuable data to be used for city planning and city improvement projects.

Once the issue is identified, it was important to find a technical solution that would align with our needs. For city implementations, given the broad area that needs to be covered, we would need a type of communication that is long range and low cost, both in cost of sending data and power consumption. I first tackled the hardware needs once the design was evaluated. The prototype for a smart city solution needs to also be scalable while adding the least overhead in cost and infrastructure needed.

In this article I will go more in depth on the research done to identify one of the key components of the project. I will share a summary of my findings in hopes of helping others that are also exploring similar solutions.

Evaluating communication solutions:

I evaluated BLE, bluetooth, cellular, satellite, Wi-Fi, SigFox, Zigbee and Lora. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, given its range limitation and cost were not considered for this prototype. Cellular communications have a higher cost as well, and at even steeper price comes satellite communication; both this options were also discarded. SigFox and LoRa/LoraWAN were the runner up candidates. I came across a comprehensive post on the comparison of SigFox and LoRa that is worth the read https://www.link-labs.com/blog/sigfox-vs-lora . The winner was LoRa.

Why Lora?

As explained by Libelium on http://www.libelium.com/development/waspmote/documentation/lora-vs-lorawan/ LoRa contains only the link layer protocol and is perfect to be used in P2P communications between nodes. LoRa modules are a little cheaper that the LoRaWAN ones.. LoRaWAN includes the network layer too so it is possible to send the information to any Base Station already connected to a Cloud platform. LoRaWAN modules may work in different frequencies by just connecting the right antenna to its socket..

LoRa which stands for long range wireless operates at a low bandwidth, meaning that its best application is for sending smaller pieces of data such as sensor data. LoRaWAN is known for its good penetration and long coverage which has been recorded to reach over 10 KM distance. LoRaWAN operates on unlicensed bands, so in most countries is legal to have you own LoRaWAN gateway cutting down the cost given that you will not have to pay a carrier or third party to supply you with the service.

Additionally a selling point for me personally was the wide accessibility to various developer platforms and hardware solutions such as DIY LoRa kits, libraries and Arduino compatible LoRa modules. The Things Network offers a strong platform with access to resources, documentation and a great community of IOT LoRa enthusiast.

Gateway

Lets take a look at one of the hardware pieces now. “Gateways form the bridge between devices and The Things Network. Devices use low power networks like LoRaWAN to connect to the Gateway, while the Gateway uses high bandwidth networks like WiFi, Ethernet or Cellular to connect to The Things Network. Gateways are routers equipped with a LoRa concentrator, allowing them to receive LoRa packets”(see more at https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/docs/gateways/). Below is a list of some gateways that were evaluated for this project. I spent time looking at their platform flexibility, the documentation and support provided and what would be the most cost effective solution for a minimum viable product (MVP).

Lorixone

https://lorixone.io/

LORIX One is the first low cost gateway designed and assembled in Switzerland. Its technical specifications include Runx Linux Yocto 4.X SX1301 gateway chip SPI based 8 channels, 49 demodulators @ 868MHz

Lorixone counts with great documentation accessible at https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/labs/story/install-awesome-lorix-one-gateway

Kerlink

Details at https://www.kerlink.com/iot-solutions-services/IoT%20LoRaWan%20Solutions/

Wirnet iBTS is a range of modular and upgradeable gateways designed for IoT public operators. It can be upgraded up to 64 LoRa™ channels to offer an answer to massive messages supporting. I was unable to identify the price point for this gateway.

The Things Gateway

Details at https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/docs/gateways/gateway/

Retails: € 300.00 € 280.00 (ex VAT)

Originally started as a Kikstarter campaign viewable at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/419277966/the-things-network it provides 10 km / 6 miles radius of network coverage, it can server thousands of nodes and its an straight forward to set up. It counts with ample documentation and a strong community.

Technical specifications:

Fastest way to get started with LoRaWAN (Long Range WAN)

Set up your own LoRaWAN network in as little as 5 minutes

Connects easily to your WiFi or Ethernet connection

Wireless range of up to 10 km (6 miles)

Engage with a global community of IoT developers

Easy cloud integration with popular IoT platforms

Based on open source hardware and software standards

Devices can freely communicate over all gateways connected to The Things Network

XBEE slot for future connectivity protocols or homebrew add-ons.

Security through the https connection and embedded in the LoRaWAN protocol

Can serve thousands of nodes (depending on traffic)

Laird — RG1xx

Details at: https://www.lairdtech.com/products/rg1xx-lora-gateway

Retail 400+ US dollars

This gateway counts with a dual-band Wi-Fi, BT v4.0 (BLE and Classic) and wired Ethernet; LoRa range up to 10 miles and pre-loaded LoRa Packet Forwarder software

Technical specifications:

Full Linux operating system — Kernel v4.x running on Atmel A5 Core @ 536 MHz

Multiple interfaces such as LoRaWAN, 802.11a/b/g/n, Bluetooth v4.0, and Ethernet

8-Channel LoRaWAN support with up to +27dBM max transmit power

Comprehensive Certifications for FCC / IC (RG191) and CE (RG186) (all pending)

Industrial temperature range (-30º to 70º C)

Advanced deployment tools including intuitive web-based configuration, integrated LoRa packet forwarder, and default settings for multiple LoRaWAN Network Server vendors

Enterprise-grade security built on Laird’s years of experience in wireless

Industry-leading support works directly with Laird engineers to help deploy your design

LoRa Network Server pre-sets — The Things Network, Loriot, Stream and Senet

Multitech

Developer resource http://www.multitech.net/developer/products/multiconnect-conduit-platform/

Retail 675–685 US dollars

Breakdown: base gateway MTCDT-H5–210L-US-EU-GB https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/multi-tech-systems-inc/MTCDT-H5-210L-US-EU-GB/881-1236-ND/5246365() $490, antenna (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/multi-tech-systems-inc/AN868-915A-10HRA/881-1242-ND/5246371) $13, LoRa module MTAC-LORA-915 (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/multi-tech-systems-inc/MTAC-LORA-915/881-1239-ND/5246368) $180

The MultiConnect® Conduit™ is a configurable, scalable cellular communications gateway for industrial IoT applications. Conduit allows users to plug in two MultiConnect mCard™ accessory cards supporting wired or wireless interfaces. It counts with open source Linux development, wwo mcard slots, Lora 8 channel receiver, Spred spectrum frequency hopping that is ued to Up to 10 miles line of sight. MultiConnect has done a great job with its documentation and it counts with its own platform that can be used as well.

Lorrier LR2

Details at: https://lorrier.com/#introducing-lr2

Developer resource: https://github.com/lorriercom

Retail €615.00 €755.00

Based on LoRaWAN™ protocol. This is a fully outdoor device intended to establish a wide coverage network by telecommunications operators and local network by individuals or IoT connectivity service providers. The whole solution, including both HW and SW parts, follows the Lorrier culture, and it is shared as an Open Source.

The gateway is based on iC880a LoRaWAN™ concentrator by IMST which uses Semtech SX1301 base band processor designed for use with LoRa® networks. BeagleBone Green with 1GHz (2000 MIPS) processor and fully operational on fast SPI bus was chosen as a powerful control unit.

LoRa/LoRaWAN Gateway — 915MHz for Raspberry Pi 3

Details at https://www.seeedstudio.com/LoRa%2FLoRaWAN-Gateway-915MHz-for-Raspberry-Pi-3-p-2821.html

Retails 289.00 US dollars

If you want to build you own LoRa network, there are 3 things that you should prepare to get started: a Gateway, at least one Node and a local server where you can monitor all your devices. This kit provides a gateway & local server that allows you to collect and transfer data among all your LoRa nodes. By connecting the gateway with Seeeduino LoRaWAN and Grove modules, you can build your IOT prototype within minutes.

Regarding the gateway module RHF0M301, it is a 10 channel(8 x Multi-SF + 1 x Standard LoRa + 1 x FSK) LoRaWan gateway moduel with a 24pin DIP port on board, users can easily connect the RHF0M301 with PRI 2 bridge RHF4T002, adapter for Raspberry Pi 3 and RHF0M301.

RisingHF gateway

Details at http://www.risinghf.com/product/rhf0m301/?lang=en

I have seen this solution mentioned and used across the LoRaWAN community. Its technical specs are RHF0M301 is a 10 channels (8 x Multi-SF + 1 x Standard LoRa + 1 x FSK) LoRa/LoRaWAN gateway or concentrator module. The module is integrated one 24 pins DIP hearder, with this header user could connect RHF0M301 with his own embedded platform to build a customized gateway easily.

LG01 LoRa OpenWrt IoT Gateway by Dragino Tech

Details at https://www.tindie.com/products/edwin/lg01-lora-openwrt-iot-gateway/?pt=ac_prod_search

Retails 56.00 US dollars

This gateway is a long distance wireless 433/868/915Mhz, OpenWrt, LoRa IoT Gateway

The LG01 is an open source single channel LoRa Gateway. It lets you bridge LoRa wireless network to an IP network via WiFi, Ethernet, 3G or 4G cellular.

DYI options:

There are various posts on DYI options based both from Raspberry Pi and Arduino boards. Below are a few:

Build your own gateway

https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/docs/gateways/start/build.html

Building a Raspberry Pi Powered LoRaWAN Gateway

https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/building-a-raspberry-pi-powered-lorawan-gateway

Hardware IMST iC880A LoRaWAN “concentrator” board and Raspberry Pi

The iC880A — LoRaWAN https://wireless-solutions.de/products/long-range-radio/ic880a iC880A is able to receive packets of different end devices send with different spreading factors on up to 8 channels in parallel. In combination with an embedded Linux board like Raspberry Pi, Beagle Bone, Banana Pi and the HAL software from https://github.com/Lora-net a complete LoRaWAN® gateway can be setup easily.

From zero to LoRaWAN in a weekend

https://github.com/ttn-zh/ic880a-gateway/wiki

Based iC880a concentrator board and a Raspberry Pi 2.

A DIY low-cost LoRa gateway

http://cpham.perso.univ-pau.fr/LORA/RPIgateway.html

The gateway is based on a Raspberry PI. RPI 1B+/2B/3B can be used. The LoRa modules comes from (a) Libelium LoRa radio module, (b) HopeRF RFM92W/HopeRF RFM95W (or RFM96W for 433MHz), © Modtronix inAir9/inAir9B (or inAir4 for 433MHz), (d) NiceRF LoRa1276. Libelium LoRa and RFM92W use the Semtech SX1272 chip while RFM95W, inAir9/9B and NiceRF LoRa1276 use the SX1276 which is actually more versatile.

Note: The LoRa module and the LoRaWAN module are not compatible because the protocols are different. The LoRa module implements a simple link protocol, created by Libelium. However, the LoRaWAN module runs the LoRaWAN protocol, a much richer and more advanced protocol, created by the LoRa Alliance.

Check out their Github page with detailed documentation https://github.com/CongducPham/LowCostLoRaGw

Conclusion on gateways:

The gateway is a key portion of this solution given that the sensors will need to send the information “somewhere” where it can either be analyzed on the edge or sent to the cloud. After considering price ranges on both the parts needed for a DIY solution or a full blown gateway I considered those solutions that would be cost effective and which I was most familiar with. The “LG01 LoRa OpenWrt IoT Gateway by Dragino Tech” seemed the best approach. The developer kit counts with an Arduino developer node and a Developer gateway. Note that this solution only counts with ONE channel, in comparison with other solutions that allow 8+ channels. This was a compromise that was evaluated and given that this will be a prototype the one channel option seemed sufficient.

Match Your LoRaWAN Needs to these WisBlock Kit

Into weather monitoring? ☁️ Or location tracking? 🛰️ Maybe even indoor air quality sensing? Whatever the case, we’ve got various WisBlock kits to fit your requirements. Start building your IoT applications to your taste and send your sensor data through the included WisGate Developer gateway to any LoRaWAN® server.

IoT communication protocols are modes of communication that ensures prime security to the data being exchanged between connected devices.

Some of the IoT Communication Protocols commonly used among the IoT devices are listed below: Bluetooth Low Energy, Z-wave, wifi, etc…

Keep Reading for detail information about  IoT (Internet of Things)

https://blog-gn.dronacharya.info/index.php/iot-communication-protocols/

If you've started exploring asset tracking, you've probably come across a wall of acronyms—RFID, GPS, BLE, IoT, LoRaWAN—and wondered, "Which one do I actually need?" Great question. The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer, but understanding the differences makes the choice much clearer.

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is perfect for indoor environments. Think warehouses, hospitals, or retail stores where you need to track hundreds of items quickly and accurately. Scan an entire shelf of tagged products in seconds — no line-of-sight required.

GPS Tracking shines outdoors and for moving assets—vehicles, heavy equipment, or field devices that travel between locations. Real-time location updates, geofencing alerts, and route history make GPS the gold standard for fleet and field asset management.

IoT and Sensor-Based Tracking goes beyond location. With multi-sensor devices, you can monitor temperature, humidity, shock, and motion—critical for pharmaceutical cold chains, fragile equipment, and sensitive cargo.