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Limitations of LoRaWAN

While LoRaWAN is a powerful tool for specific applications, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Think of it like a Swiss Army knife: incredibly versatile, but it’s not the best tool for every job. Here’s a guide to understanding when and where LoRaWAN shines and when it falls short.

  • If you shout quickly (short, fast messages), your voice may not travel as far—but you can share more in less time.
  • If you speak slowly and clearly (drawing out each word), your voice carries farther—but it takes longer to say the same thing.

When LoRaWAN Works Best​

LoRa offers spreading factors ranging from SF7 to SF12. These factors influence several key aspects:

Where you can use these devices ?​

Long Range Imagine being able to send messages over several kilometers, like sending a letter across town. LoRaWAN excels in reaching far-off places where other technologies might struggle.

Low Power Think of LoRaWAN devices as marathon runners; they can keep going for years on just a tiny battery. This makes them perfect for applications that need to last without frequent battery changes.

Low Cost Setting up a LoRaWAN node is like buying a simple, affordable tool. At less than €20 per node, the investment is minimal, and ongoing costs (OPEX) are nearly non-existent.

Coverage Anywhere With LoRaWAN, you’re in control. By installing your own gateways, you can create coverage in your desired area, similar to setting up your own Wi-Fi network.

Secure Communication LoRaWAN provides a secure connection, like a locked box, ensuring that your data is safe with 128-bit end-to-end encryption.

When LoRaWAN Isn’t the Best Fit ?​

Real-Time Data If you need instant updates, like a live sports score, LoRaWAN might not be your best choice. It’s designed for small packets of data sent every few minutes

Voice Calls For controlling lights or appliances in your home, consider using ZigBee or Bluetooth, which are optimized for short-range communication.

Heavy Data Usage Sending photos or streaming videos, like watching Netflix, requires high bandwidth that Wi-Fi is better equipped to handle.

Making the Most of LoRaWAN​

Keep Payloads Small Just as you wouldn’t pack a suitcase full of bricks for a weekend trip, don’t send large amounts of data unnecessarily. Instead of JSON or plain text, use binary data formats like the Cayenne Low Power Payload, which makes data transmission efficient

Optimize Message Intervals Space out your messages by several minutes. Think of it as pacing your breath during a workout. You could send min | avg | max values every five minutes or only send data when significant changes occur

Choose the Right Data Rate Start with a fast data rate, like SF7BW125, which minimizes power and airtime. If you need more range, you can gradually adjust. Enabling Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) can also help the network optimize your data transmission automatically

When your application sends responses (downlinks) to LoRaWAN nodes, it's essential to understand the limitations and optimize for reliability.

Gateway Limitations​

Think of a gateway like a busy traffic intersection:

  • A gateway cannot transmit and receive at the same time.
  • While it can listen on multiple channels, it can only transmit on one channel at a time.
  • This limitation impacts the timing and reliability of downlink messages.

Use Efficient Data Rates​

  • Just like uplink efficiency improves performance, using efficient downlink data rates helps reduce airtime and improve reliability.
  • Whenever possible, avoid sending downlink messages.
  • If a downlink is necessary, keep the payload small to reduce time-on-air and congestion.
  • Confirmed uplinks require the network to send an acknowledgment (a downlink).
  • Design your application to work without confirmed uplinks unless strictly needed to reduce downlink load.

Why It Matters​

Optimizing downlink strategy improves:

  • Battery life of end devices
  • Gateway availability
  • Overall network scalability and performance