Long-Range Wide Area Network (LoRa-WAN) Connectivity and Range Evaluation in a Rural Setting

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding rapidly, with many applications requiring low-power, and long-range connectivity. One of the popular technologies for the IoT is Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN), specifically LoRa, which promises to provide connectivity to remote and rural areas. However, the performance of LoRa in such areas remains poorly understood. In this study, the connectivity and range evaluation of LoRa networks were performed in a rural setting. The objective was to understand the coverage, reliability, and connectivity of LoRa in real-world conditions and compare the results with the advertised performance of this technology. The findings of this study provided valuable insights into the suitability of LoRa for IoT applications in rural areas and guide to design decisions for IoT networks. The experimental setup involved battery-powered mobile stations (nodes) mounted on top of 2.5m tall stands and transmitting data to a base station (gateway) installed on top of a 25m high building. The wireless channel characteristics utilized were the Signal-to-noise Ratio (SNR) and Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) metrics, across eight test locations. To estimate connectivity and range of operation within the 868 MHz ISM band, the collected findings were utilized to establish a relationship model in an area comparable to the selected research station