LoRa is a physical layer wireless modulation for long-range communication link that is based on chirp spread spectrum (CSS) modulation scheme that trades data rate for receiver sensitivity. This technology has been used in military and space communication for decades but LoRa is the first low cost implementation for commercial usage. The long range LoRaWAN base station can cover hundreds of square kilometers with high data rate and low power consumption for nodes. Spread spectrum aspect of LoRa offers link robustness to interference with high network capacity.

Power efficient?

LoRa nodes are very power efficient. The reason is that they use Aloha method for communication where each node is asynchronous and starts communication when they have data ready to send. Aloha is energy efficient in comparison to mesh networks such as cellular networks. This energy saving in LoRaWAN is about 3 to 5 times better compared to all other existing technology.

Capacity?

LoRa gateways take advantage of multiple different data rates on the same channel at the same time. If a node has a good link and is close to the gateway, there is no reason for it to always use the lowest data rate and fill up entire spectrum larger than it needs. This adaptive data rate is beneficiary to battery life either. This feature plus multichannel multi-modem transceiver in the gateway enable a LoRaWAN network to have a very high capacity and make the network scalable.


Classes?

In Wide area network manner, end devices might serve different application and therefore, they need different requirements. LoRa proposed different classes based on network downlink communication latency versus battery lifetime. Class A or bi-directional end devices, or short downlink window. Transmission slot scheduled based on node communication needs in random time basis (ALOHA). Class A is the lowest power consumption end device system. Class B in addition to class A, opens extra receive windows at scheduled times by receive a time synchronized beacon from the gateway. Class C almost continuously open receive windows.

Security?

AES encryption with key exchange utilizing an IEEE EUI64 identifier is used in LoRa application layer to avoid data breach and node authenticity security in network layer by gateway.

Multipath/Doppler resilient?

The chirp waveform modulation is broadband and offer immunity to multipath, Doppler shift and fading. Which make LoRa ideal for urban and suburban high mobility environments.

Real time localization/radar/sounding?

Due to chirp structure of LoRa waveform, radar application can give channel characterization and suited for localization applications.

Modulation/demodulation basics

The LoRa modulation is defined by 3 main parameters: spread factor (SF), bandwidth (BW) and carrier frequency. The job of the modulator is to translate symbols consisting of SF bits into chirps that span samples at the specified sample rate (BW). A chirp is simply a tone that sweeps from -BW/2 to +BW/2. Transmit symbols are modulated into the chirp by circularly shifting the base chirp waveform. Therefore SF bits in the input symbol translate into unique shifts of the base chirp waveform. LoRa demodulation is fairly straightforward. First de-chirp the waveform my multiplying by the conjugate chirp, this turns each modulated symbol into regions of constant frequency. Next take the FFT of each region. The location of the peak bin in the FFT (also known as argmax) will tell us the value of the symbol, even in the presence of very high noise. This is how FFT bins become transformed back into SF bits which compose the index of the FFT bin.


Some useful info:

In US LoRa bandwidth standard set into: 125 kHz, 250 kHz, 500 kHz.

Very good video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAHQRHQD75U

LoRa (Long Range) is a wireless communication technology designed for long-range, low-power applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT). Here are the technical details of LoRa:

  1. Modulation: LoRa uses a patented modulation scheme called Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS). CSS allows for long-range communication while using very low power. It also allows for high sensitivity and immunity to interference.
  2. Frequency Bands: LoRa operates in unlicensed frequency bands, typically in the sub-GHz range (433 MHz, 868 MHz, and 915 MHz). The specific frequency band used depends on the region and local regulations.
  3. Range: LoRa has a range of several kilometers in urban areas and up to tens of kilometers in rural areas. The actual range depends on the specific application and environment.
  4. Data Rate: LoRa supports data rates from 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps, depending on the spreading factor and bandwidth used.
  5. Spreading Factor and Bandwidth: LoRa uses spreading factors (SF) and bandwidths to adjust the data rate and range. Higher spreading factors provide longer range but lower data rates. LoRa supports spreading factors from 7 to 12 and bandwidths from 125 kHz to 500 kHz.
  6. Network Architecture: LoRa supports two network architectures: LoRaWAN and private networks. LoRaWAN is an open standard that defines the communication protocol and network architecture for LoRa-based IoT networks. Private networks can be designed for specific applications and use cases.
  7. Security: LoRa uses various security measures to protect against attacks and ensure data privacy. These include encryption, authentication, and message integrity checks.
  8. Power Consumption: LoRa is designed to be very low power, with battery life of several years or more depending on the specific application and usage patterns.

In summary, LoRa is a wireless communication technology designed for long-range, low-power applications. It uses a patented modulation scheme, operates in unlicensed frequency bands, has a range of several kilometers, supports data rates from 0.3 kbps to 50 kbps, and provides various security measures. It can be used in both LoRaWAN and private network architectures and is designed to be very low power.