LoRa
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LoRa is a physical proprietary radio communication technique. It is based on spread spectrum modulation techniques derived from chirp spread spectrum (CSS) technology. It was developed by Cycleo, a company of Grenoble, France, and patented in 2014 (patent 9647718-B2. Cycleo was later acquired by Semtech. |
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| wikipedia:: LoRa | |
Mainly for off-grid text messages
A Low-power wide-area network
Meta
Related
Software
Physical Layer
data rates between 0.3 kbit/s and 27 kbit/s
MCUs
LoRa Transceivers
- nRF52840
- Adafruit
- Semtech SX1262 LoRa Transceiver (more powerful than the 1276)
- Semtech SX1276 LoRa Transceiver (older, not as powerful)
- LoRa Connect Transceiver, SX1276, 137MHz to 1020MHz | Semtech
- Older, and not as good
Shields, etc. to attach directly to a computer, like a Raspberry Pi
Frequencies
LoRa uses license-free sub-gigahertz radio frequency bands EU868 (863–870/873 MHz) in Europe; AU915/AS923-1 (915–928 MHz) in South America; US915 (902–928 MHz) in North America; IN865 (865–867 MHz) in India; and AS923 (915–928 MHz) in Asia;
- USA: 915 MHz (902-928)
Characteristics, range, transmission
- LoRa particularly bad going through the earth (via FLOSS podcast) - so hills, mountains are a problem
- Link Budget = how much range is prioritized
- Meshtastic > Configuration
Products, integrated devices
- HELTEC
- RAKwireless
- LILYGO
- Raspberry Pi Pico
- Neil Hao from B&Q Consulting
- Nano series
- 70-110
- Nano Series | Meshtastic
- Nano series
Bridging, Gateways, WAN, MQTT, MAC layer and above
- LoRa can connect to the Internet in various ways in order to connect disparate LoRa mesh networks
LoRaWAN
- What are LoRa and LoRaWAN? | The Things Network
- The Things Network
- Better if you want hundreds or thousands of devices on the same network (as opposed to Meshtastic which is designed only for about 100 and then you can just bridge)
P2P LoRa
What Meshtastic uses.
since it's for smaller batch of devices - 100 or so
What is Peer-To-Peer (P2P) LoRa Communication? - Latest Open Tech From Seeed
- official Meshtastic MQTT broker
- Setting up an MQTT server - Meshtastic
Gateways
What is a LoRa gateway
A LoRa (Long Range) gateway is a device that facilitates communication between LoRa nodes and networks, enabling the transmission and reception of data over long distances using the LoRa modulation technique. It's designed to work with devices that utilize LoRa technology, such as the MakerFab soil and moisture sensor, devices from PricelessTookit and DIY sensors.The primary distinction between a LoRa gateway and a LoRaWAN gateway lies in the protocol and network architecture:
LoRa gateway: Focuses solely on the physical layer, utilizing the LoRa modulation for communication. It's responsible for receiving and transmitting raw LoRa signals without concerning itself with network protocols or data handling at higher layers. Being focused solely on the physical layer, a LoRa gateway offers greater flexibility for customization and experimentation. The OpenMQTTGateway LoRa gateway receives raw LoRa signals, processes them, and publishes the data to an MQTT topic. Conversely, it can subscribe to MQTT topics and send commands to LoRa devices. This gateway is particularly useful for DIY projects, home automation enthusiasts, and scenarios where direct integration of LoRa devices with MQTT is desired.
LoRaWAN gateway: Operates at a higher layer and is part of the LoRaWAN network architecture. LoRaWAN is a protocol specification built on top of the LoRa technology, providing features like adaptive data rate, encryption, and multi-channel/multi-modulation. A LoRaWAN gateway handles the data from multiple LoRa nodes, forwards it to a centralized network server, which then manages the data and communicates back to the nodes.
In essence, while both gateways utilize LoRa technology for communication, a LoRaWAN gateway is more sophisticated, offering advanced features and integration with the LoRaWAN network infrastructure. The LoRa gateway, with its simpler architecture, is ideal for small networks of nodes, offering easier setup and configuration, making it an interesting choice for users keen on experimenting with LoRa technology.