Understanding LoRa Frequency Bands

1. Introduction to LoRa Frequency

LoRa (Long Range) is a wireless communication technology designed for long-range, low-power data transmission. It operates in the sub-GHz unlicensed ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) frequency bands, which vary depending on the region. These frequencies enable reliable communication over several kilometers while consuming minimal energy—making LoRa ideal for Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

When designing or deploying a LoRa-based solution, one of the first considerations is frequency selection. The specific LoRa frequency used not only determines how far and how well signals travel but also dictates compliance with local radio regulations.

For instance:

• In Europe, LoRa devices typically operate at 868 MHz.

• In North America, the standard band is 915 MHz.

• In Asia, popular bands include 433 MHz, 470 MHz, and 923 MHz, depending on the country.

Understanding LoRa frequencies is essential because each region has its own LoRaWAN regional parameters, including transmission power limits, duty cycles, and sub-band definitions. Choosing the correct frequency ensures that your devices perform optimally and remain compliant with local laws.

In the sections that follow, we’ll explore global LoRa frequency bands, their regulatory requirements, and how frequency selection impacts LoRa performance.

2. Global LoRa Frequency Bands

LoRa operates in different frequency bands around the world, governed by each region’s telecommunications authorities. These bands fall within the unlicensed ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) spectrum, which allows for free public use—but with certain technical limitations such as duty cycle, maximum transmission power, and channel bandwidth.

Here is a breakdown of the major LoRa frequency bands by region:

2.1 Europe – 868 MHz (EU868)

• Frequency Range: 863–870 MHz

• Common Channels: 868.1, 868.3, 868.5 MHz

• Duty Cycle: Typically 1% or 0.1% depending on sub-band

• Regulatory Body: ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute)

• Usage Notes: Widely adopted in LoRaWAN networks. Duty cycle restrictions apply, requiring careful planning to avoid overuse.

2.2 North America – 915 MHz (US915)

• Frequency Range: 902–928 MHz

• Channel Plan: 64 uplink channels + 8 downlink channels

• Duty Cycle: No duty cycle; uses frequency hopping instead

• Regulatory Body: FCC (Federal Communications Commission)

• Usage Notes: Supports high throughput due to more available channels and fewer restrictions.

2.3 Asia – Regional Variants

Depending on the country, several LoRa frequency bands are in use:

China: 

• CN470: 470–510 MHz (for public networks)

• CN779: 779–787 MHz (less commonly used)

India: IN865: 865–867 MHz

Japan: AS923-JP: 920–923 MHz with specific channel spacing

South Korea & Southeast Asia: AS923: 915–928 MHz (shared with other Asia-Pacific regions)

Each of these regions has its own sub-band configurations and transmission constraints, making it essential to select a LoRa module compatible with the target deployment area.

2.4 Other Notable Bands

• Australia/New Zealand: AU915 (similar to US915 but with different channel mapping)

• Russia: RU864 (864–870 MHz)

• Brazil: Uses US915 due to similar regulatory alignment

3. Frequency Impact on LoRa Performance

The choice of frequency band directly affects how a LoRa device performs in real-world scenarios. From signal propagation and penetration to data throughput and interference tolerance, frequency plays a central role in optimizing LoRa-based IoT systems.

3.1 Signal Range and Penetration

Generally, lower frequencies offer better range and penetration through physical obstacles such as walls, trees, or buildings.

• Sub-GHz frequencies (e.g., 433 MHz or 470 MHz) tend to travel farther and penetrate better than higher sub-GHz bands like 868 MHz or 915 MHz.

• Example: A 470 MHz LoRa signal can travel deeper into underground areas or through multiple floors in a building, making it ideal for smart metering or warehouse monitoring.

However, lower frequencies may have:

• Larger antenna requirements

• Lower data rates compared to higher frequencies

3.2 Data Rate and Bandwidth

LoRa uses adaptive data rate (ADR) to balance range and energy efficiency. Higher frequencies, like 868 MHz and 915 MHz, allow for:

• Wider channel bandwidths (e.g., 125/250/500 kHz)

• Potentially higher throughput

• Better collision avoidance in dense networks

That said, higher frequency signals attenuate more quickly, which may reduce maximum range.

3.3 Interference and Noise Sensitivity

Operating in unlicensed bands means LoRa devices share the spectrum with many other wireless technologies (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, etc.). Some frequencies experience more RF noise and crowding:

• 915 MHz overlaps with certain industrial and RFID systems in North America

• 868 MHz may encounter fewer interferers but faces strict duty cycle regulations

• 433 MHz can suffer from harmonics and low-frequency noise

Using LoRa’s chirp spread spectrum modulation helps combat some interference, but choosing the right frequency band for your deployment environment is still critical for link stability.

4. Regulatory Considerations and Compliance

LoRa operates in unlicensed frequency bands, but that doesn’t mean it’s free from regulations. Every region has its own spectrum rules to minimize interference and ensure fair usage. Understanding these requirements is essential for legal and reliable LoRa deployments.

4.1 Regional Regulations Overview

These rules dictate factors like:

• Maximum transmission power

• Channel bandwidths

• Time-on-air (duty cycle)

• Interference mitigation methods

4.2 Duty Cycle and Transmission Limits

A duty cycle is the percentage of time a device is allowed to transmit in a given timeframe. For example, a 1% duty cycle means a device can only transmit for 36 seconds in one hour.

Europe (868 MHz) has some of the strictest duty cycle rules:

• 868.0–868.6 MHz: 1% duty cycle

• 868.7–869.2 MHz: 0.1% duty cycle

• 869.4–869.65 MHz: 10% duty cycle (more relaxed, but limited spectrum)

To get around duty cycle constraints, LoRaWAN uses:

• ADR (Adaptive Data Rate)

• Channel hopping

• Listen Before Talk (LBT), where applicable

4.3 Certification and Product Compliance

Before deploying or selling a LoRa product in a target market, radio certification is typically required.

Examples include:

• FCC ID in the U.S.

• CE marking in Europe

• SRRC certification in China

• MIC certification in Japan

Manufacturers must perform:

• RF emission testing

• Band compliance validation

• Labeling and documentation per regulatory standards

Failure to comply can result in fines, shipment blocks, or operational bans.

5. Choosing the Right Frequency Band for Your Application

Selecting the appropriate LoRa frequency band is more than a regulatory requirement—it's a strategic decision that affects range, penetration, network capacity, and interference. Your application’s success depends on choosing a band that aligns with both technical and environmental factors.

5.1 Commonly Used LoRa Frequency Bands

Each band has trade-offs in terms of transmission power limits, interference, and propagation characteristics.

5.2 Key Factors to Consider

1. Coverage Requirements
Lower frequencies (e.g., 433 MHz) provide better penetration through buildings and terrain but usually allow lower data rates. Higher bands (e.g., 868/915 MHz) offer better network throughput and more available channels but slightly shorter range.

2. Interference Environment
In urban areas, the 868 MHz and 915 MHz bands may experience more noise due to Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or other ISM-band devices. Channel planning or frequency diversity may help mitigate this.

3. Device Density and Duty Cycle
If your application involves thousands of nodes (e.g., smart meters), you may prefer a band with:

• More channels

• Higher duty cycle allowance

• Better support for Adaptive Data Rate (ADR)

4. Power Consumption and Lifetime
Lower frequencies may allow longer range at the same transmit power, enabling better battery performance in some scenarios.

5. Regulatory Simplicity
Some bands offer easier certification pathways or have more pre-certified modules available, reducing time to market.

5.3 Use Case Recommendations

6. Challenges and Optimization Techniques for Long-Range LoRa Connectivity

While LoRa technology offers impressive long-range, low-power performance, deploying it in real-world environments brings several challenges. Understanding and mitigating these issues is essential to achieving consistent, reliable connectivity across your IoT deployment.

6.1 Common Deployment Challenges

1. Environmental Obstructions
LoRa signals can be attenuated by buildings, trees, hills, and even weather conditions. Dense urban or mountainous environments reduce effective range and increase packet loss.

2. Interference in ISM Bands
LoRa operates in unlicensed spectrum, which is shared with many other wireless technologies like Wi-Fi, Zigbee, and Bluetooth. This can lead to co-channel interference or signal collisions.

3. Duty Cycle Limitations
In some regions (e.g., EU 868 MHz), strict duty cycle regulations limit how often a device can transmit. This may restrict message frequency or require careful timing.

4. Device Synchronization
In large-scale networks, coordinating message transmission to avoid collisions—especially for Class A devices—is a key technical challenge.

5. Uplink-Dominated Traffic
LoRaWAN is optimized for uplink (device-to-server) communication. Applications requiring frequent downlink (server-to-device) responses may face reliability or latency issues.

6.2 Optimization Techniques

1. Adaptive Data Rate (ADR)
ADR dynamically adjusts the data rate and transmission power of devices based on link quality. This helps conserve energy while improving network capacity and reliability.

Tip: Use ADR for stationary devices to maximize battery life. For mobile nodes, manual control is more reliable.

2. Gateway Placement Strategy
Positioning gateways at elevated locations (e.g., rooftops or towers) dramatically increases coverage. A line-of-sight path to end nodes minimizes attenuation and dead zones.

3. Antenna Selection and Tuning
Using high-gain or directional antennas enhances signal strength and link budget. Proper matching and orientation of antennas can boost performance significantly.

4. Redundant Gateways
Deploying overlapping gateway coverage adds resilience. If one gateway fails or experiences congestion, another can still receive the transmission.

5. Packet Size and Spreading Factor Management
Keep payloads minimal and select appropriate spreading factors (SF). Lower SFs allow faster transmission but require stronger signals; higher SFs improve sensitivity but increase airtime.

6. Channel Diversity
Using multiple frequency channels reduces collision probability and improves throughput. Implement channel hopping or frequency sub-bands for better network performance.

6.3 Real-World Optimization Example

A smart agriculture deployment using the MS23SF1 LoRa module in hilly terrain faced packet loss due to terrain shadowing. By:

• Switching to higher SF (SF10–12) for distant nodes,

• Installing gateways on tall poles,

• And enabling ADR for stationary sensors,

The team reduced packet loss by 70% and extended battery life by up to 18 months.

Chapter 7: How to Measure and Test LoRa Module Range

Understanding the real-world performance of a LoRa module requires careful testing under controlled and variable conditions. While datasheets provide theoretical maximum range figures, actual performance depends on multiple environmental and configuration factors. Here's how to accurately measure the communication range of a LoRa module.

1. Define Test Objectives

Before starting, clarify what you want to measure:

• Maximum line-of-sight (LOS) range

• Urban or indoor performance

• Performance under different spreading factors (SF) and bandwidth settings

• Packet loss rates at various distances

2. Prepare Your Test Setup

To ensure consistency, prepare the following:

• Two LoRa-enabled devices: One as a transmitter, the other as a receiver/gateway.

• Power source: Stable power to avoid fluctuations during transmission.

• Antenna: Use the same antenna model on both ends; note antenna gain.

• Measurement tools: GPS tracker, RSSI/SNR logger, or a laptop to collect data.

3. Choose the Right Environment

LoRa’s performance varies drastically by location:

• Open field (LOS): Ideal for testing theoretical max range.

• Urban (NLOS): Helps evaluate penetration through walls and buildings.

• Indoor: Useful for smart building or industrial IoT applications.

Avoid mixed environments during a single test to maintain accuracy.

4. Configure LoRa Parameters

Test different combinations of the following parameters to assess impact on range:

• Spreading Factor (SF7 to SF12): Higher SF increases range but reduces data rate.

• Bandwidth (e.g., 125kHz, 250kHz): Narrower bandwidth increases sensitivity.

• Transmit Power (dBm): Usually maxed at 14dBm or 20dBm depending on regulations.

Record your settings for repeatability.

5. Perform the Test

• Start with devices 10–20 meters apart.

• Send regular test packets at fixed intervals (e.g., one packet every second).

• Gradually increase the distance between devices and log:

 RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)

 SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)

 Packet success rate

• Mark the distance at which packet loss becomes significant or complete.

6. Analyze the Results

Plot signal metrics against distance:

• Stable communication range: RSSI > -120 dBm, SNR > -10 dB

• Warning zone: Packet loss > 10%, signal strength weakening

• Drop-off point: Communication fails entirely

These plots help define practical operating range under your specific setup.

7. Repeat in Different Conditions

To understand full performance scope:

• Test at different times (day/night)

• Change antenna orientation

• Introduce mild interference (WiFi, cellular) if relevant to application

8. Real-World Example: MinewSemi LoRa Modules

MinewSemi’s LoRa modules provide a practical reference point for expected performance in the field. According to actual tests:

• Up to 5 km in urban environments

• Up to 15 km in open rural areas

These results reflect the modules' excellent RF design and low-power optimization. For developers seeking reliable long-range connectivity, MinewSemi’s LoRa solutions offer both performance and scalability.
Explore MinewSemi's LoRa Modules

8. Conclusion: A Clearer View of LoRa Frequency Bands

Selecting the right frequency band is not just a technical decision—it’s a strategic one that determines your LoRa system’s coverage, performance, regulatory compliance, and long-term scalability.

In this article, we’ve explored the core aspects of LoRa frequency bands:

• What LoRa frequency bands are, and why they matter

• Key regional regulations, including EU, US, and Asia-Pacific allocations

• How frequency affects range, penetration, and data rate

• Interference challenges and spectrum coexistence

• The importance of proper module selection and testing

By understanding how these factors interconnect, developers and system designers can make smarter decisions when planning deployments—whether for smart cities, industrial monitoring, agriculture, or asset tracking.

As LoRa continues to evolve globally, familiarity with frequency band constraints and opportunities will remain foundational to any successful IoT project. Matching your deployment environment to the appropriate band, while remaining flexible and compliant, is the key to maximizing LoRa’s potential.