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Symphony Link: Advantages and Disadvantages

symphony link lpwa lorawan wireless communication iot

This article explores the pros and cons of Symphony Link, a wireless LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) system developed by Link Labs as an alternative to LoRaWAN.

Symphony Link is a wireless communication system designed by Link Labs to address some of the limitations of LoRaWAN. It utilizes the LoRa CSS physical layer technology and offers features aimed at improving performance and reliability.

Key features of Symphony Link:

  • Developed by Link Labs to achieve LoRa range with enhanced performance.
  • Uses a synchronous protocol, unlike the ALOHA-based approach of LoRaWAN.
  • Operates with a channel size of 125 kHz.
  • Boasts high sensitivity, around -137 dBm.
  • Supports both unlicensed and licensed frequency bands from 150 MHz to 1 GHz.
  • Functions without the need for a network server.
  • Employs Symphony Link gateways, which are 8-channel sub-GHz base stations.

Here are the key benefits of using Symphony Link:

  • Guaranteed Message Receipt: The MAC layer provides acknowledgement for every message in both uplink and downlink directions, ensuring reliable communication.
  • Over-the-Air Firmware Updates: Devices deployed in a Symphony Link network can have their firmware upgraded wirelessly.
  • No Duty Cycle Limitations: It uses LBT (Listen Before Talk) with Adaptive Frequency Agility, allowing operation without strict duty cycle restrictions.
  • Extended Range with Repeaters: The synchronous protocol allows for repeaters to extend the network range without sacrificing latency.
  • Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritizes traffic, ensuring important data is transmitted before lower-priority traffic.
  • Simplified Device Configuration: Devices of the same type share the same configuration, and key exchange is managed through a secure PKI-based Diffie Hellman AES architecture.
  • Optimized Capacity: Symphony Link nodes adjust their transmit power, spreading factor (SF), and modulation rate based on their distance from the gateway (Adaptive Data Rate - ADR), resulting in better optimized capacity than LoRaWAN. Devices adapt modulation rate based on observed channel fading.
  • Enhanced Security: The use of PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) protects the wireless channel and prevents spoofing.
  • Multiple Gateway Coexistence: Supports multiple gateways and mitigates interference.
  • Higher Capacity: Offers approximately four times the capacity of LoRaWAN.
  • Multicast Support: Implements multicast session keys for addressing groups of devices.

While Symphony Link offers several advantages, it also has some drawbacks:

  • Dependency on LoRa Chipsets and Software: Requires specific LoRa chipsets and Symphony Link software, creating a dependency.
  • Smaller User Community: Currently has a smaller user base compared to more established technologies.
  • Additional Information Required: For a detailed comparison, refer to “difference between Symphony Link Vs LoRaWAN”.