Daviteq Technologies
LORAWAN®
LoRaWAN® (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a low-power, wide-area networking protocol designed for wireless battery-operated devices in the Internet of Things (IoT). It enables long-range communication between sensors and gateways while keeping energy consumption minimal, making it ideal for applications that need to operate over long distances and in remote areas without easy access to power sources.
How Does LoRaWAN® Work?
LoRaWAN® operates in unlicensed radio frequency bands (such as 868 MHz in Europe or 915 MHz in the US). It uses a star-of-stars topology, where end devices (sensors) send data to gateways, which then forward it to a central network server via standard IP connections. The server processes and routes the data to applications or databases.
This structure allows thousands of devices to connect to a single gateway, making it highly scalable and cost-effective for large deployments.
LoRaWAN uses a star-of-stars network topology to connect low-power IoT devices over long distances. Here’s a simplified breakdown of how it works:
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1. End Devices (Sensors & Nodes)
These are the IoT devices deployed in the field — such as temperature sensors, soil moisture meters, or smart meters. They use LoRa (Long Range) modulation to send small packets of data over long distances using minimal energy.
Example: A soil sensor sends data every 15 minutes about moisture levels.
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2. Gateways
Gateways act like base stations. They receive LoRa signals from the end devices and convert them into IP-based packets, then forward the data to the Network Server via Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or cellular networks (like 4G/LTE).
One gateway can serve thousands of sensors within a 2–15 km range, depending on the environment.
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3. Network Server
The network server is the brain of the system. It manages all device connections, filters duplicate packets (from multiple gateways), applies security (such as decryption and authentication), and routes data to the correct Application Server.
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4. Application Server
This is where data becomes useful. The application server visualises, analyses, or triggers actions based on the incoming data — like adjusting irrigation, sending alerts, or logging sensor history.
LoRaWAN® Key Features
Long range coverage
Up to 15–20 km in rural areas, 2–5 km in urban areas
Ultra-low power consumption
Devices can operate for 5–10 years on a single battery
Flexible deployment
Can use public networks or deploy private networks
Low operating cost
No high monthly mobile data fees
Supports a large number of devices
Thousands of nodes per gateway
Low bandwidth
Data rates from only 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps, not suitable for large data volumes
High latency
Not suitable for applications requiring real-time response
Not suitable for high-speed mobility
Optimized for stationary or slow-moving devices
LoRaWAN® Application
Smart
Factory
Enabling seamless machine-to-machine communication, LoRaWAN empowers factories with real-time monitoring, predictive maintenance, and optimised operations, reducing downtime and boosting productivity.
From soil moisture, pH, ambient light, and temperature sensors to livestock tracking, LoRaWAN delivers real-time insights that help farmers boost yields, save resources, and farm sustainably.
Smart
City
LoRaWAN transforms cities with connected streetlights, waste bins, and air quality monitors, making urban life smarter, cleaner, and more efficient for everyone.
LoRaWAN® & Other Connectivities
Title |
|---|
Coverage Range |
Data Rate |
Power Consumption |
Device/ Service Cost |
Required Infrastructure |
Typical Applications |
LoRaWAN | Sigfox | Sub-1GHz | NB-IoT |
|---|---|---|---|
2–15 km (urban), 15–40 km (rural) | 3–10 km (urban), 30–50 km (rural) | 1–10 km | 1–10 km (excellent indoor penetration) |
0.3–50 kbps | 100 bps uplink, 600 bps downlink | Several kbps to hundreds of kbps | 26–250 kbps |
Very low | Very low | Very low | Low to medium |
Low | Low (subscription-based) | Low | Medium (IoT SIM) |
Private gateways or public LoRaWAN network | Sigfox network | Self-deployed network | NB-IoT mobile network |
Smart factory, smart agriculture, smart cities, smart building, logistics tracking | Low-cost asset tracking, utility meters, simple low-cost sensors, simple alarm & monitoring systems | Warehouse monitoring, environment monitoring, industrial monitoring and control | Smart meters, environmental monitoring, smart parking, healthcare devices, logistics tracking |
Daviteq LoRaWAN Sensors & Actuators
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LoRaWAN specification V1.0.3
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Class A for sensors and Class C for actuators
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Standard high-efficiency antenna (optional external antenna)
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10-Year battery with 2 x AA 1.5V Alkaline/ Lithium battery
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Optional with Solar harvesting energy with 10-Year Lifetime
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IP67/ 68 protection for both Indoor and Outdoor applications
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CE / FCC on request
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Multiple choices of sensors or I/O: temperature, humidity, pressure, level, vibration, CO₂, NH₃, Cl₂, H₂S...
LoRaWAN® Sensors
LoRaWAN® Actuators
LoRaWAN® Gateways
Frequently Asked Questions
Find quick answers to common questions about wireless connectivity, compatibility, and how to choose the right technology for your IoT deployment.
How does LoRaWAN manage multiple devices transmitting simultaneously without collisions?
LoRaWAN uses an ALOHA-based protocol combined with adaptive data rate (ADR) and channel frequency diversity. While collisions can still occur, spreading factors and multiple frequency channels reduce the probability of interference.
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What is the role of spreading factors in LoRaWAN performance?
Spreading factors (SF7–SF12) determine the trade-off between data rate and communication range. Higher SF increases range and robustness but reduces data rate and increases airtime, which impacts network capacity.​
How does LoRaWAN handle device mobility?
LoRaWAN supports mobility through its stateless architecture—end devices can send uplinks to any gateway in range, and the network server deduplicates packets before processing. However, downlink reliability may decrease with rapid movement.
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In Class B devices, how are scheduled downlinks synchronised?
Class B devices use periodic beacon signals from gateways to synchronise their internal clocks. These beacons define ping slots during which the device listens for scheduled downlinks.
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How does LoRaWAN differ from LoRa?
LoRa refers to the physical radio modulation technology, while LoRaWAN is the network protocol that manages communication between LoRa devices and network infrastructure.
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