LoRaWAN Sensor Design: Key Components and Vendors

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This article explores the design of LoRaWAN sensors, outlining key components and popular vendors.

Introduction:

LoRaWAN, short for Long Range Wide Area Network, utilizes LoRa modulation in both the physical (PHY) and MAC layers. This extends LoRa’s physical communication capabilities, making it compliant with internet protocols.

A typical LoRaWAN network comprises end devices, gateways (base stations), and a core network server. End devices connect to multiple gateways, communicating via single-hop connections, as illustrated below.

LoRaWAN network

Figure-1: LoRaWAN network

Gateways are interconnected and interfaced with the core network server using standard IP connections. All gateways are connected to this central server. Communication is bi-directional, but uplink traffic (from the end device to the network) is predominantly used for various applications. This network topology is known as “star-of-stars”.

Communication between end devices and gateways happens on different channels and at varying data rates. These data rates range from 300 bps to 5 kbps, with a bandwidth of approximately 125 KHz. Different data rates support different coverage ranges.

LoRaWAN sensor design

Figure-2: LoRaWAN Sensor design

The figure above shows a simplified LoRaWAN sensor design. Typically, it consists of:

  • Power Supply: This can be an external power plug or a battery.
  • MCU (Microcontroller Unit): The MCU houses the LoRaWAN protocol stack and provides various functionalities depending on the application.
  • LoRa Radio: This includes the LoRa-based transceiver, antenna, and matching circuits.
  • Peripherals: These are sensors tailored to specific use cases, such as accelerometers, temperature sensors, proximity/IR sensors, and humidity sensors. They can also include relay or display devices.

For instance, a LoRa parking sensor might incorporate a proximity/IR sensor. LoRa sensors can be designed in various ways, with Figure 2 illustrating designs based on either a LoRa module or a LoRa modem.

LoRaWAN Sensor Vendors

Here are some prominent vendors and manufacturers of LoRaWAN sensors:

  • GND Solutions India Pvt Ltd, Website: https://gndsolutions.in/
  • ADEUNIS RF, France
  • Webdyn
  • Decentlab, GmbH
  • Telog Instruments Inc., USA
  • RISINGHF, China
LoRaWAN vs Sigfox: Key Differences in IoT Networks

LoRaWAN vs Sigfox: Key Differences in IoT Networks

Explore the differences between LoRaWAN and Sigfox technologies for IoT networks, focusing on network architecture, data rates, and applications to help you choose the best solution.

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