IOT refers to sensors/monitoring devices (things) which are connected to the internet via a cloud-based network server.

The server allows the data/information from the “things” to be used and interpreted by applications and third-party software.

Importantly, information is sent in small, low power packets, allowing devices to be powered by small batteries and solar panels.

You will set up your own LoRaWAN network using a gateway (box) with an antenna connected. Each gateway is powered by mains or a battery re-charged using a solar panel. Each gateway is connected to the internet (cloud) by either a landline, 4G or Satellite depending upon the subscription and coverage availability.

Within the network range, your eartags (and other IoT devices) registered to you will be monitored. Devices registered to your neighbour which are picked up by your network will not be visible to you. Likewise your animals showing in your neighbours network will not be visible to them.

Power consumption of the tag/device is proportional to the time/frequency devices spend listening.

Long Range Wide Area Network ( LoRaWAN ) is a low-power wireless network protocol. The LoRaWAN specification is set by the LoRa Alliance, is freely available and utilizes Semtech Corporation’s proprietary Chirp Spread Spectrum Modulation technique “LoRa”.

It is asymmetrically aligned with the energy efficiency of the IoT devices and achieves high ranges (> 10 km ) for the uplink communication, ie the transmission from the IoT device to the network. The data transfer rate ranges between 292 bps and 50 kilobits per second. Different operating levels down to a quasi-continuous downlink Communication is possible, the latter at the expense of energy efficiency.

The network architecture is star-shaped. Terminals communicate with gateways that send the data packets to a network server. The network server has interfaces to connect to IoT platforms and applications.

LoRaWAN uses regionally different frequency ranges in the ISM band and SRD band. Among other things, in Europe these are the frequency band from 433.05 to 434.79 MHz (ISM Band Region 1) and the frequency band from 863 to 870 MHz ( SRD Band Europe). In North America, on the other hand, the frequency band from 902 to 928 MHz (ISM band region 2) has been released for data transmission.

The ranges extend from 2 km (urban area) over 15 km (suburbs) to 40 km (rural areas). Another great advantage is the penetration of buildings, as it can also be supplied to a certain extent underground premises.

The power consumption of terminals is around 10 mA and 100 nA in sleep mode. This allows a battery life of 2 to 15 years, depending on the application. The communication between the terminals and the gateways takes place on different frequency channels with different data rates. These are between 0.3 kbit / s and 50 kbit / s.

In order to achieve high efficiency in data transfer and energy consumption, LoRaWAN uses frequency spread. Interference can be avoided as much as possible. The data transfer rates to the terminals are adapted by the network server to the respective situation (ADR = adaptive data rate).

The communication in the LoRaWAN is encrypted in duplicate with 128 bit AES, on the one hand to the network server and on the other to the application server.

There are a number of factors effecting coverage such as size/spec of the gateway, length of antenna, elevation (height at which it’s installed) and topography (presence of hills). These factors control RSSI (Signal Strength) and SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio).

Assuming a standard installation located at single story roof height, typical coverage would be 10km. A 10km signal radius from each gateway means a coverage area of approximately 310 sq km or 77,000 acres. Three gateways installed would therefore provide both trilateration location using less power than GPS and cover area in excess of 200,000 acres.

Considering the factors that effect range of reading (including power of the tag or device), the longer the distance (link), the higher the antenna needs to be due to the earths curvature. See image explaining the Fresnel Zone.

Tree tops can deflect and absorb some of the signal. The theory is that the height of the tallest object in the path of the signal should be added to the Fresnel Zone and earth curvature clearance heights. It is important to check the height of the trees, hills, buildings or any object on the link path and add this to the measurement for the total of the tower height. There are three main categories of LOS, the first being full LOS where no obstacles reside between the two antennas. Non Line of Sight (NLOS) where full obstructions exist between the two antennas. See image explaining Line of sight.

For optimal network coverage two or more antenna/gateways are recommended and coverage blackspots can be filled using smaller specific gateway/antenna set-ups.

GPS satellites fly in medium Earth orbit (MEO) at an altitude of approximately 20,200 km (12,550 miles). Each satellite circles the Earth twice a day.

Tags connect to the GPS satellite obtaining and storing their location co-ordinates at a particular time. Similarly other information such as temperature can be captured.

Periodically connecting to the LoRaWAN network, the information stored (co-ordinates etc) is transmitted to the gateway and onward to the cloud network server for interpretation by visualisation dashboards and apps.