What is lora IoT technology

The difference between LoRa and wireless technology?

With the development of Internet of Things technology, a variety of wireless technologies have emerged. Among these technologies, LoRa technology, one of the forms of LPWAN communication technology, has emerged. Its long-distance, low-power, multi-node, and low-cost characteristics are recognized by the Internet of Things.

LoRa IoT

As the most promising low-power wide-area communication technology, LoRa has been used in all walks of life. LoRa uses linear frequency modulation spread spectrum modulation technology, which maintains low power consumption, significantly increases communication distance and network efficiency, and eliminates interference, so that even if the same frequency is used for simultaneous transmission, there will be no mutual interference. The gateway developed on the basis of LoRa can receive and process data from multiple nodes in parallel, expanding the system capacity.

The main features of LoRa wireless technology

Long distance: 1 ~ 20 km

Number of nodes: tens of thousands, even millions

Battery life: 3~10 years

Data rate 0.3~50kbps

As a wireless technology, LoRa is based on the Sub-GHz frequency band, making it easier to communicate over long distances with low power consumption, and can be powered by batteries or other energy harvesting methods. Lower data rates also extend battery life and increase network capacity. The LoRa signal is also very penetrating to buildings. These technical features of LoRa are more suitable for low-cost large-scale IoT deployment.

LoRa application

From the current LoRa application situation, there are mainly data transparent transmission and LoRaWAN protocol applications. At present, LoRa is still used as data transparent transmission. Due to the high threshold of gateway technology and development, there are still relatively few applications using the LoRaWAN protocol for networking.

Several issues to consider in LoRa applications

distance or range

Power supply or power consumption

number of nodes

Application Scenario

cost

In the city, the general wireless distance range is 1~2 kilometers. In the suburbs or open areas, the wireless distance will be farther. The network deployment topology layout can design deployment solutions according to specific applications and scenarios. LoRa is suitable for applications with low communication frequency and small amount of data. How many nodes or end devices can be connected to a gateway.

From the perspective of LoRa network applications, there are large networks and small networks. The small network refers to the user's own nodes, gateways and servers, forming a system network; the large network is a large-scale basic network deployment, just like China Mobile's communication network. From the perspective of LoRa industry practitioners, many telecom operators are also involved. With the increase of LoRa devices and networks, mutual spectrum interference exists, which puts forward requirements for the allocation and management of communication spectrum, and requires a unified coordination management mechanism and a large network management.