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Everything You Need to Know About LoRa Module

Plate type: Use Cases
Time: 2022.11.14
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As society and IoT advancements progressed, many IoT communication systems and devices, such as NB-IoT, sigfox, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, Lora, etc., were available for use in IoT use cases. The technology has several applications and works well in the context of the Internet of Things.


LoRa is a form of wireless communication optimized for low-power and long-distance use cases. LoRa's strong sensitivity and identification capability considerably extend its range in the face of a weak signal. Low-power scenarios see the extensive application in the long-distance Internet of Things.


Each LoRa terminal device's LoRa module is crucial to the growth of LoRa as an IoT application. The LoRa module plays a pivotal role in the IoT market and is essential to the current iteration of the IoT. As the LoRa module's operational status indicates, LoRa's efficacy can be gauged by its results. The LoRa module's explanation sheds light on the technology's potential for IoT deployment.



What is LoRa Module?

LoRa is a spread spectrum-based long-range wireless communication system. The technology uses a direct sequence spread spectrum, which provides high reception sensitivity and robust anti-interference while satisfying the low power consumption requirement. LoRa is a prominent Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) protocol.


Innovative semiconductor technology called LoRa was created by the French firm Cycleo before being purchased by the American firm Semtech. Subsequently, Semtech used this LoRa technology to create a communication chip solution. LoRa Alliance coverage and promotion.


The LoRa module was built using semiconductors manufactured by Semtech as a wireless communication module. LoRa's rapid expansion is primarily attributed to the LoRa module's small integrated scale, low power consumption, and high sensitivity.


Features

You may fined key features of the LoRa protocol such as range, modulation and capacity as bellow:

Specification

LoRa Feature

Transmission Range

3kM

Frequency

ISM 868 MHz

Dimension (mm)

16.4*15*3

Modulation

Spread spectrum modulation type based on on chirp spread spectrum modulation

Capacity

One LoRa gateway takes thousands of nodes

Battery

Long battery life

LoRa Physical layer

Frequency, power, modulation and signalling between nodes and gateways

 

Different LoRa Module Frequencies

Generally speaking, LoRa usually uses license-free radio frequency bands. The most widely used frequencies are classfied into 3 types:

868MHz in Europe

915MHz in Australia and North America

923MHz in Asia

 

What Are Important Characteristics of LoRa Module ?

As the technology behind connecting devices via the Internet of Things matures, the Lora wireless module improves, and new applications emerge.Control systems based on the LoRa Module are used in wireless meter reading and irrigation projects. To assist clients in choosing the right and cost-effective Lora wireless module, let's examine the essential elements to consider when making this decision.


1.Strong anti-interference and a high level of sensitivity

The LoRa wireless module's many benefits are its exceptional immunity to interference. Compared to standard GFSK and FSK modules, it can significantly decrease the required number of gateways and achieve higher penetration rates. 

2. Extended range of transmission

Long communication transmission lengths are frequently required in the industrial control industry due to the complexity of natural surroundings such as mountains, jungles, lakes, etc.

The LoRa module's open transmission reach exceeds 5000 meters, allowing it to address the dual issues of low power consumption and long range. Wireless meter reading and factory automation are examples of applications that could benefit from this technology.

3.  Minimal energy use

This is a crucial factor to think about while picking up modules. This is especially critical for battery-powered gadgets to preserve energy and reduce heat, increasing the product's useful life.


Battery charging and enhancement will be factored into the design of wireless gadgets. The method of the device will center on maximizing battery life, capacity, and efficiency.

Even though changing the battery might not seem like a big deal, when consumers have thousands of devices, the time, money, and effort involved add up quickly. Saving power and extending the product's useful life are two of the most important reasons to go with a low-power LoRa module.


Which kinds of Application Are Suited for LoRa Modules?

The Lora module's unique qualities, such as its high sensitivity, long signal transmission distance, low power consumption, and robust anti-interference, make it ideal for many loT applications. It finds applications in "smart" things like cities, farms, and meters. There will be widespread growth of Lora technology in the future. There is increasing interest in using Lora modules, which allow for low-power, wide-area communication.

The loT module has become increasingly relevant as the loT continues to advance rapidly. More and more individuals are switching to wireless data transmission using Lora modules because of their low prices and high efficiency.

Wireless smoke alarms

In recent years, it has been increasingly important to ensure that public safety is upheld as a result of the city's growth and the growing population and density of its structures.

The fire department in a city is an essential component of the city's overall public safety system. It is important to set the fire detector's sensitivity as high as possible to fulfill its primary function: prevent fires.

An alarm can be triggered throughout the structure as soon as smoke is detected. The long battery life and accurate signal transmission distance of the Lora module make it an excellent choice for usage in wireless smoke alarms.

Environmental detection

Work in environmental detection is crucial. The conventional approach requires a lot of time, effort, and resources. Lora is well-suited for this task because of its low cost, low power consumption, long-distance, and other technological properties, and its performance may be fully exploited.

The Lora module should be installed in the sensors placed on the floor at the bottom of the room. Data from various environmental sensors, including temperature, wind speed, water level, flow, PM2.5, and more, are transmitted to an environmental processing center via the Lora module.

Intelligent meter reading

Lora's most successful use is intelligent metre reading.  Installing the Lora module into an intelligent electricity meter or smart water meter allows data to be retrieved remotely from the meter, eliminating the need for manual metre readings.

The Lora module and Lora gateway allow for the data to be sent directly to the management infrastructure. Using this information, the command center may bill for utilities like water and energy. The development of a smart city can be hastened by the widespread usage of the Lora module for an intelligent metre reading.

LoRa Modules on MinewSemi

LoRa is based on chirp spread spectrum (CSS) technology, a form of spread spectrum modulation. It is commonly used in IoT applications due to its extended range and low power requirements.

As a leading one-stop wireless module provider, MinewSemi offers abundant high-quality wireless IoT modules to global customers. Our Lora module is a type of small-sized transceiver module, that features ultra-long range, ultra-low power, and easy connect with different Microcontrollers through SPI Interface. The module is based on Semtech SX1262 chip(Wireless Half duplex transceiver chips), which supports global frequency ISM.  There for, MS21SF1 module is suitable for various application scenarios that require remote data collection and low power consumption.

 

Come visit MinewSemi’s official website now and take a look at these modules!