LoRa stands for “long range” and is a patented radio communication technique. It is based on the Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS) technology and was developed by the French company Cycleo, which was later acquired by Semtech.

LoRaWAN, on the other hand, defines the communication protocol and system architecture on which LoRa operates. It is an official standard of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) known as ITU-T Y.4480. The LoRa Alliance is a non-profit organization that manages the ongoing development of the LoRaWAN protocol, with SemTech being one of its founding members.

Together, LoRa and LoRaWAN form the Low Power Wide Area (LPWA) network protocol and are designed to wirelessly connect battery-powered devices to regional, national, or global networks. They also meet essential IoT needs such as bidirectional communication, end-to-end security, mobility, and localization. LoRaWAN’s low power and low bit rate requirements set it apart from traditional wireless WANs that require high power consumption and high data carrying capacity. LoRaWAN’s data rate can vary between 0.3 kbit/s and 50 kbit/s for each channel.

These features make LoRa and LoRaWAN ideal for connecting energy-efficient, long-range IoT devices, especially those located in mobile or remote locations.

Features

LoRa technology uses various unlicensed sub-gigahertz radio frequency bands depending on the geographic region. For instance, in Europe, the EU868 (863–870/873 MHz) band is used, in South America it’s AU915/AS923-1 (915–928 MHz), in North America it’s US915 (902-928 MHz), in India, it’s IN865 (865-867 MHz), and in Asia, it’s AS923 (915-928 MHz). This increases the technology’s global availability.

Another significant feature of LoRa is its ability to provide long-range communication while consuming low power. This makes it an ideal choice for IoT devices operating in mobile or remote areas. The physical layer is provided by LoRa, while the upper layers and communication protocols are provided by technologies like LoRaWAN.

Data rates can vary between 0.3 kbit/s and 27 kbit/s, depending on the spreading factor. This provides sufficient flexibility for different applications; while some cases may accept a lower data rate, others might require higher data rates.

Geolocation features are also available; LoRa devices can prioritize their locations through timestamps provided by gateways. This is useful for determining the location of devices and utilizing this information for different applications, like asset tracking or emergency services.

LoRa PHY (Physical Layer)

LoRa uses a unique method to modulate signals for communication, somewhat similar to another technique called Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS). This essentially allows data to be spread across different frequencies, ensuring efficient transmission and reducing interference. You can determine how much your data will spread over time by adjusting a parameter called the “spreading factor”, which affects the speed and quality of your connection.

The spreading factor has a direct impact on data rate and sensitivity. A lower spreading factor means a faster data rate but less sensitivity (or ability to detect weak signals). Conversely, a higher spreading factor offers better sensitivity but at a slower data rate.

The amount of time it takes to transmit data is referred to as “time-on-air”. If it takes longer to transmit your data, the modem will consume more energy. Worth noting is that typical LoRa modems can transmit at high power levels, which usually ensures a better connection but consumes more energy. However, there might be limitations on how much power you can use for transmission in certain countries.

LoRa’s range can be up to 4.8 kilometers in cities and over 16 kilometers in rural areas. Additionally, LoRa uses error correction techniques to make its signals more robust. Its long range is largely due to having a very strong link budget.

Devices called LoRaX are used to extend the already impressive range capabilities of LoRa.

Error Correction Coding: LoRa uses this technique to enhance its resilience against signal interference or loss. Forward Error Correction (FEC) adds extra data bits to messages, allowing the receiver to correct errors without the need for retransmission of the original data.

High Wireless Link Budgets: A link budget tells us how much “loss” a communication link can tolerate and still function properly. In the context of wireless communication, a high link budget of 155 dB to 170 dB is exceptionally good.

LoRaX: These are range extenders specifically designed for LoRa networks. They are used to extend the effective range of the LoRa network.

In simpler terms, LoRa uses advanced error correction methods to become more resilient to interference. It also has a high tolerance against signal loss, which is one of the reasons it can work over long distances. If you need to further extend the range, there are special range extenders called LoRaX available.

LORAWAN

LoRaWAN (Low Power, Wide Area Network) is a protocol built on top of LoRa’s physical layer and is especially designed for Internet of Things (IoT) applications requiring low power consumption and long range. Essentially, while the LoRa physical layer provides long-range communication, LoRaWAN provides higher-level functionalities such as communication protocol and system architecture. Here are some key features of LoRaWAN:

Network Layer Management

LoRaWAN manages data from end-node devices that is received by multiple gateways and forwards data packets to a central network server. This typically operates in a cloud-based environment.

Frequency and Power Management

LoRaWAN manages the communication frequencies, data rate, and power that devices will use. This ensures more efficient and energy-efficient data transmission.

Asynchronous Communication

LoRaWAN devices are typically asynchronous, which means they communicate when they need to. They aren’t bound by a fixed time schedule, which aids in conserving battery power.

End-to-End Security

LoRaWAN provides end-to-end security with encryption and authentication mechanisms.

High Reliability

LoRaWAN generally provides high reliability for medium loads. However, there may be some performance issues related to acknowledgment mechanisms, which can be a problem, especially in high-traffic networks or applications requiring high-priority data transmission.

Multiple Gateways

LoRaWAN networks typically use many gateways, providing high accessibility and fault tolerance.

Application Servers

Data is usually directed to application servers via a central network server, making it available for data analysis, storage, or other high-level processes.

These features make LoRaWAN particularly suitable for remote monitoring, asset tracking, smart cities, smart agriculture, and many other IoT applications.