When talking about wireless sensors in business, one of the acronyms you meet most often is LoRaWAN. It is a network protocol designed for devices that send small amounts of data over long distances while using very little energy.
How it works
Sensors transmit by radio to one or more gateways, which forward the data to a network server and from there to applications. In Europe LoRaWAN uses the licence-free 868 MHz band, so no licence or operator subscription is needed.
The advantages
- Range: from a few hundred metres in industrial buildings up to several kilometres in open areas.
- Battery life: a battery-powered sensor can run for years.
- Easy installation: no cables, sensors go wherever they are needed.
- Low cost: a single gateway can serve many sensors.
When it is not the right choice
LoRaWAN sends small, infrequent packets: it is ideal for readings of energy use, temperature, levels or positions, not for video or controls that need millisecond real-time responses.
