LoRaWAN
LoRaWAN is the leading non-cellular LPWA technology for agriculture, smart cities, asset tracking, and utility metering. The Things Network provides global coverage. Understanding OTAA, ADR, and downlink duty cycle is essential for LoRaWAN application design.
What It Defines
LoRaWAN is a LPWA network protocol using LoRa (Long Range) chirp spread-spectrum radio modulation. Defines star-of-stars topology (end-devices, gateways, network server), Class A/B/C device power profiles, OTAA/ABP activation, 128-bit AES end-to-end encryption (AppKey, NwkKey), and adaptive data rate (ADR). Range: 2–15 km urban, up to 45 km rural.
Canonical (Normative)
Convenient (Practical)
Open non-profit association that maintains the LoRaWAN network protocol specification. LoRaWAN defines the network layer over LoRa radio modulation (proprietary to Semtech). The alliance certifies devices and manages regional frequency parameters.
Related Specs
NB-IoT is the cellular choice for deep coverage (underground, rural) and ultra-low-power IoT: smart meters, agricultural sensors, and asset trackers. NIDD and CoAP integration are key design decisions.
LTE-M is the go-to for IoT devices needing voice, mobility, and moderate data rates on cellular. PSM and eDRX power modes directly affect battery life design in firmware and device management.
MQTT is the dominant IoT messaging protocol. AWS IoT Core, Azure IoT Hub, Google Cloud IoT, HiveMQ, and Mosquitto all speak MQTT. Understanding QoS levels (0/1/2), retained messages, and LWT (Last Will and Testament) is essential for any IoT backend.
CoAP is the HTTP of the IoT world — same REST semantics, fraction of the overhead. Used in NB-IoT NIDD, LwM2M device management, and any embedded system where TCP overhead is prohibitive.