LoRaWAN®

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a wireless protocol designed for low-power, wide-area networks (LPWAN) that enables long-range communication with low power consumption. LoRaWAN is based on LoRa (Long Range) modulation technology, which enables communication over distances of several kilometers in rural or suburban areas with low power consumption.

LoRaWAN operates in unlicensed frequency bands, making it accessible to anyone, and is suitable for a wide range of IoT (Internet of Things) applications such as smart cities, agriculture, environmental monitoring, asset tracking, and more.

LoRaWAN uses a star topology, where end devices communicate directly with a central gateway or base station. The gateway then relays the data to a network server, which can process and analyze the data, and send commands back to the end devices.

One of the key features of LoRaWAN is its ability to support various classes of devices, depending on their power requirements and communication needs. Class A devices are the most common and operate on a strict bi-directional communication schedule, where the device listens for incoming data only after it has sent a transmission. Class B devices add an additional reception window at predetermined times to enable scheduled downlink communication from the gateway. Class C devices operate with the lowest power consumption and have the most flexible bi-directional communication schedule.

LoRaWAN is an open standard, managed by the LoRa Alliance, which is a non-profit organization that promotes and develops the technology. There are many LoRaWAN-compatible devices and solutions available from a variety of vendors, making it a popular choice for IoT applications.

Here’s a simplified explanation of how LoRaWAN works:

Physical Layer (LoRa):
LoRa (short for Long Range) is the modulation technique used in LoRaWAN. It allows for long-range communication (up to several kilometers) and is well-suited for low-power devices.

LoRa uses spread spectrum modulation, which enables multiple devices to communicate simultaneously without interfering with each other.

Network Architecture:
LoRaWAN operates in a star-of-stars topology, where end devices (nodes or sensors) communicate with one or more gateways. Gateways act as intermediaries between end devices and a central network server.

End Devices:
End devices are typically low-power sensors or actuators that collect or transmit data.
They are designed to operate with minimal power consumption to maximize battery life.

Gateways:
Gateways receive signals from end devices and forward them to the central network server. They also transmit signals from the server to the respective end devices.
Gateways are connected to the internet, either through Ethernet, Wi-Fi, or cellular networks, allowing them to relay data to and from the central server.

LoRaWAN Classes:
LoRaWAN supports different device classes, each with different power consumption and communication characteristics:
Class A: Devices that have the lowest power consumption but have the least flexibility in terms of communication timing.
Class B: Devices with scheduled receive slots, providing a balance between power consumption and flexibility.
Class C: Devices with continuously open receive windows, allowing for the most flexibility but with higher power consumption.

Central Network Server:
The central network server manages the network, handling tasks such as device authentication, encryption, and managing the communication parameters.

It receives data from end devices, processes it, and may forward it to application servers or other systems.

Communication Process:
End devices periodically send small packets of data to the nearest gateway.
The gateway receives the packets and forwards them to the central network server.
The central network server processes the data, possibly sending commands back to the end devices.
The server may also forward the data to an application server or database for further processing.

Security:
LoRaWAN incorporates security features such as encryption and device authentication to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of data.
Overall, LoRaWAN is designed for low-power, long-range communication, making it suitable for IoT applications where devices need to communicate over considerable distances while conserving energy.

There are a number of traditional wireless sensor protocols that enable connectivity between the sensors and these to gateway: –Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and Z-Wave are some examples of this. In recent years, with the development of LPWANs, standards have started to shift to better accommodate the ever-growing number of connected devices being used in commercial settings.

LoRaWAN® is benefitted by its long range, deep penetration, and extended battery life. LoRaWAN standards are maintained by the LoRa Alliance, an open, non-profit association dedicated to promoting and supporting their global adoption.

The ability for these sensors to provide ultra long range communications to industry standard gateways is one of their biggest benefits. For example, MultiTech offers LoRaWAN IoT sensors as part of their Radio Bridge family of products including:, which includes:

• Wireless temperature sensors designed to accurately detect ambient air temperatures both indoors and out
• Wireless proximity sensors that provide high accuracy proximity detection with open architecture for flexible integration
• Wireless push button sensors that can be used as wearables, remote controls, or for emergency response and other button-push applications
• Wireless movement sensors that use ultra-sensitive internal accelerometers to detect movement or utilization of critical assets and react accordingly
• Wireless leak detection sensors that use probes to detect the presence of water and alert the network to divert potential catastrophe
• Wireless industrial sensors designed for industrial standards such as 4-20mA current loops, digital inputs, vibration and beyond

LoRaWAN IoT sensors low power consumption and long range transmit capabilities allow them to be used in a broad range of applications.

Here are some common use cases:

• Smart buildings. Modern offices, retail spaces, and factories can all benefit from smart building technology, including: temperature and humidity monitoring of critical rooms or assets, water leak detection to minimize leaking water or flood damage, motion detection to track utilization of high cost assets and more.
• Server room maintenance. Leak detection sensors can communicate automatically over wireless networks to notify IT managers when a leak is found in their liquid cooled server room, saving both precious data and precious dollars. Temperature sensing can ensure that critical IT equipment stays within its recommended operating ranges.
• Drug management. Readmission rates can be reduced and health outcomes improved via smart drug management and medication tracking using IoT sensors. Automated temperature monitoring of stored medications may improve medicine safety, effectiveness and compliance.
• Emergency response. Wireless push button sensors can be used in healthcare settings to allow nurses and caregivers to be alerted and respond to emergency patient needs in real time.
• Wind monitoring and control. Being able to monitor wind and solar energy generation in real time can prevent downtime and disruption, reducing risk and cost.
• Supply chain management. The right network solutions can help with shipment verification, remote monitoring of product storage, and the efficiency of logistical operations. That in turn leads to fewer shipping delays, less product loss, and happier customers.
• The benefits of using LoRaWAN IoT sensors are vast and unique to each industry they serve. All business applications of this technology lead to improved response time, improved compliance, decreased network downtime, performance data gathering, and ultimately–cost savings.

Check out MultiTech’s wireless LoRaWAN Sensor catalog for a closer look at this efficiency-boosting technology.

LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a low-power, long-range wireless protocol that is designed for IoT applications in which devices are spread over large areas. Here are some of the benefits of LoRaWAN:

1. Long-range coverage: LoRaWAN can transmit data over several kilometers, making it ideal for applications in which devices are spread out over a large area.
2. Low power consumption: LoRaWAN uses very little power, which means that devices can operate for long periods of time without needing to be recharged or replaced.
3. Low cost: LoRaWAN is a relatively low-cost solution, which makes it accessible to a wide range of users and applications.
4. Easy to deploy: LoRaWAN is easy to deploy and manage, which makes it an attractive solution for applications in which devices are difficult to access.
5. Secure: LoRaWAN uses AES encryption to ensure the security of transmitted data.

The history of LoRaWAN dates back to 2011, when it was first developed by Cycleo, a French semiconductor company. In 2012, Cycleo was acquired by Semtech, a US-based semiconductor company, which continued to develop and promote the technology. In 2015, the LoRa Alliance was formed, with the goal of promoting and standardizing the use of LoRaWAN technology. Today, the LoRa Alliance has over 500 members and is one of the largest IoT alliances in the world. LoRaWAN is used in a wide range of applications, including smart cities, agriculture, and industrial IoT.