What Is LoRaWan?
A proprietary connectivity protocol, LoRaWAN® stands for Long Range Wide Area Network. Distinguished by its high resistance to interference, LoRaWAN offers low power usage and a transmission range of 702 kilometers. Ideal for high-noise environments and various IoT use cases, LoRaWAN evolved from technologies originally developed for military and space industry applications.
LoRaWAN governs how devices transmit and format messages when using LoRa hardware.
LoRa stands for long range.
A physical proprietary radio communication technology, LoRa refers to a specific modulation technique used to create a long-range communication link between devices. LoRa provides a range of physical layer communication settings that affect throughput, reliability, and other factors governing communication range, such as bandwidth, transmission frequency, spreading factor, and coding rate. 
Based on spread spectrum modulation techniques derived from chirp spread spectrum (CSS) technology, LoRa devices can be embedded into end nodes or sensor devices, with various possible applications across industries.
LoRa technology was specifically designed for devices that can transmit small amounts of data over long distances using little power.
LoRa enables devices to communicate efficiently with minimal power consumption. Nodes and gateways, combined with a user-friendly network management system, make up the key components of a LoRaWAN.
Node controllers are small computers that act as the brains of devices within a more extensive automation system. They can collect temperature and motor speed data while also monitoring equipment performance.
LoRaWAN is typically used for data collection, control, communication, and processing tasks. Core features include:
LoRa devices produce signals that can travel farther than other wireless technologies, including Bluetooth or WiFi, making them suitable for remote and indoor environments with poor signal penetration.
With minimal infrastructure, open-source software, and inexpensive nodes, the costs of LoRa are low.
LoRaWAN® specifications are considered ‘open standards,’ meaning no licensing or usage fees are associated with their use. Open-source implementations of the LoRaWAN stack are located on the device and in the cloud.
LoRaWAN and WiFi are wireless technologies that cater to different needs. Developed by Semtech, a global semiconductor company, LoRaWAN is specifically designed for long-range communication. On the other hand, WiFi is typically limited to tens of meters indoors and slightly more outdoors.
Some of the benefits of using LoRaWAN over WiFi include:
WiFi is more suited for quickly transferring large amounts of data, such as streaming video or downloading files. It may be the better option for applications dependent upon high data rates for fast data transfer within a limited range, such as in-home internet, local area networks (LAN), and streaming devices. Wifi requires significantly more power than LoRaWAN, meaning frequent charging or connection to a reliable power source is needed when using WiFi. Also, installing additional access points and repeaters to cover a wider area would likely result in extra costs.
What makes LoRaWAN the superior choice in manufacturing contexts is the range and ability to penetrate walls. Its low-power design is perfect for sensors built to monitor equipment vibration, temperature, motor speed, etc., on a single battery charge for years. Spread spectrum technology makes LoRaWAN more resistant to interference for reliable communication.
Planet Technology USA’s NMS-AIoT server integrates multiple wireless and wired transmission protocols including Lora, WiFi, HaLow, and Modbus TCP networks and more. It can also manage up to 3,000 sensors in a single platform. Sensors might include building health data, such as:
Sensors collect data and send it to a Lora Gateway, which can be tracked on IP networks and routed through the NMS-AIoT server for analysis, predictions, and data optimization. The open platform system also allows emerging protocols and systems, allowing networks and businesses to evolve.
LoRaWAN has endless uses in a variety of industries. Some of the more common applications include:
LoRa can monitor equipment health, optimize production processes, track assets, predict maintenance, monitor environmental conditions, monitor supply chain logistics, meter energy consumption, and more.
LoRaWAN lets building owners, managers, residents, and service providers manage building functions remotely. LoRa solutions can secure properties, restrict access, predict failures, and monitor pests, reducing time and cost commitments. Geolocation, foot traffic, and real-time occupancy data can be used to optimize space efficiency.
LoRaWAN collects data from traffic, waste, and environmental monitoring sensors in smart cities. City parking can be managed more effectively, with guaranteed access to available “no parking” spots for fire, police, and ambulance services. Street lighting can be managed to improve the safety of pedestrians, bicycle riders, and drivers.
Offering livestock monitoring, irrigation control, asset management, and environmental monitoring, LoRaWAN provides the agricultural industry with a better way to manage crops and animals over the long term. Farmers can monitor soil quality and schedule just the right amount of water and fertilizer at the right time to reduce costs and waste. Livestock tracking devices help prevent loss or theft.
With LoRaWAN, industries can streamline operations to better manage resources, safety, inventory, equipment, and environmental impact. Remote capabilities such as leak detection and automatic alerts =can help optimize manufacturing quality control processes.
LoRa sensors provide real-time data and visibility for monitoring goods and tracking assets. Fleets can be managed to increase safety and protect against theft. Sensors optimize goods handling and allow automated inventory reordering at warehouses, docks, shipping ports, and airports.
LoRaWAN helps utility companies improve their billing accuracy and develop new service models for remote meter reading. Smart electricity, water, heating, and gas improve utility efficiency, reduce network outages, and improve overall distribution efficiency by measuring actual, real-time consumption.
LoRaWAN improves data collection, facilitates resource management, and enhances operational efficiency across numerous industries for minimal costs.
LoRa encodes information on radio waves using chirp pulses, similar to how dolphins communicate. Transmission is robust in the face of signal disturbances and is effective over great distances.
LoRaWAN has numerous uses, including:
Because data can be transmitted over a long distance, LoRaWAN is well-suited to applications that rely on sensors operating in low-power mode.
Here are 10 of the most common questions asked about LoRaWAN.
LoRa is a wireless modulation technique for ultra-low power consumption and long-range communication. It offers high resistance to interference and allows information exchange between devices at low data rates.
LoRaWAN is a communication protocol that defines how devices using LoRa technology format transmit data over a wireless network. A medium access control (MAC) layer manages communication between gateways and end nodes.
LoRaWAN protocol offers high-performance security standards that allow devices to run for years without being disrupted or improperly accessed. Most devices provide state-of-the-art cryptography that is achievable in an embedded environment.
LoRaWAN is an LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) with long-range coverage, low power consumption, deep penetration, high network capacity, and low implementation costs. It supported the spread of IoT globally, providing connectivity even in remote areas previously excluded from connectivity.
Additional advantages of LoRaWAN include:
LoRaWAN’s long-range coverage is up to 50 kilometers in open and rural areas and up to 10 kilometers in urban environments.
Despite having numerous benefits, LoRaWAN does have a few limitations:
Limited drawbacks aside, LoRaWAN offers an excellent solution for broad applications across various industries.
LoRaWan provides a network for LPWAN. It defines and controls how LoRa devices behave within a large network. LoRaWAN networks are easily deployed with gateways as intermediaries between end devices and the central network server.
Because the LoRaWAN specification is an open standard, it is free for anyone to use. Since LoRa normally operates within license-free sub-gigahertz radio bands, anyone can start a basic LoRaWAN network.
LoRaWAN is suitable for transmitting small payloads over long distances. It is especially effective in areas unreachable by standard connectivity methods.
LoRaWAN powers many global, national, community, and personal networks. Industries served include manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, and service.
LoRa was developed by Cycleo, a French startup, using chip spread spectrum (CSS) technology. Cycleo was later purchased by a global semiconductor company called Semtech, which eventually used LoRa to create LoRaWAN.
The LoRa Alliance maintains LoRaWAN, an open association of collaborating members who are “committed to enabling large-scale deployment of LPWAN IoT through the development and promotion of the LoRaWAN open standard.”
Permission or a license is not required to use LoRaWAN. Once the necessary LoRaWAN hardware (sensor devices and gateway) is acquired, it can be connected to a LoRaWAN network server. This allows data from the sensor devices to be transmitted to applications, third-party data visualization software, or IoT platforms.
Planet Technology USA provides a comprehensive portfolio of networking equipment and can help you get started with LoRaWAN.