LoRaWAN is a popular low-power wireless communication technology that provides a range of up to 15 km. LoRa signals can penetrate buildings and obstacles, providing reliable device-to-device communication over a broad coverage area. Thousands of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices can be integrated within this range for seamless peer-to-peer communication. These radio devices are power-efficient and easily connect with battery-powered IoT nodes.
What’s more, LoRa radios are relatively inexpensive and offer advantages not available with other wireless technologies, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Zigbee. This is one reason they’re replacing them in several applications.
Smart cities use LoRa radios to monitor traffic, manage parking availability, and track environmental conditions.
Additional applications include:
- Asset tracking
- Smart metering (of water, gas, and electricity)
- Monitoring (of weather, agriculture,
- Predictive maintenance
Several different LoRa radios are available, including all-in-one solutions, for various IoT applications. These boards are similar to Wi-Fi development boards but include a LoRa radio integrated with a microcontroller and other peripherals. They’re useful for the rapid prototyping of LoRa devices.
In this article, we’ll review some of the popular LoRa transceivers and development boards that integrate well into any IoT project.
The top LoRa development boards
There are several LoRa development boards on the market. Some include a LoRa radio and transceiver integrated with a microcontroller and other peripherals. Most are ideal for prototyping LoRa devices, saving users from interfacing a LoRa radio chip with a custom microcontroller.
Let’s look at some of the most popular LoRa development boards.
- Heltec WiFi LoRa 32
- Lilygo TTGO T-LoRa32 V2
- Arduino MKR WAN 1300
- STMicroelectronics Nucleo boards
- RAKwireless WisNode LoRaWAN RAK811
- Dragino LoRa/GPS HAT for Raspberry Pi
Heltec WiFi LoRa 32
Heltec has launched the latest version of its popular WiFi LoRa 32 development board. The V3 model features enhanced capabilities, including support for multiple protocols such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and LoRa.
Key features of the WiFi LoRa 32 V3 include:
- Microcontroller: ESP-32-S3
- LoRa Chip: SX1262
- Connectivity: USB Type-C port for faster data communication
- Display: 0.96-inch OLED for data display or user interface
- Programming: Integrated CP2102 USB to serial port chip
- Additional Features: Real-time clock and onboard temperature sensor
This versatile development board is ideal for a wide range of applications, offering developers robust connectivity and advanced functionality.
Lilygo TTGO T-LoRa32 V2
The Lilygo TTGO T-LoRa32 V2 is a widely used LoRa development board tailored for IoT projects. Based on the ESP32 microcontroller, this board features the SX1276 or SX1278 LoRa radio chip. The SX1276 is available in Europe and North America, and the SX1278 available in other regions. It supports a range from SF7 to SF12 with a maximum transmit power of +20dBm.
The board is equipped with 4MB flash memory and 8MB PSRAM. Unlike some other development boards, the TTGO T-LoRa32 V2 is a LoRa-only module and does not include WiFi or Bluetooth capabilities. It provides multiple GPIOs for interfacing sensors and other devices, similar to the Heltec WiFi LoRa 32 board. This makes it an ideal choice for many IoT applications.
Arduino MKR WAN 1300
The Arduino MKR WAN 1300 is an Arduino board featuring built-in LoRa connectivity via the integrated Murata CMWX1ZZABZ LoRa module that’s designed for long-range communication. Powered by the Atmel SAMD21 microcontroller, a 32-bit ARM Cortex-M0+ processor, this board also includes the ECC508 Crypto chip for enhanced security.
The MKR WAN 1300 is an open-source platform, with its schematics and libraries publicly available. Operating at 3.3V, it can be powered by an external 5V supply or two 1.5-V batteries. Its beginner-friendly design makes it a good choice for those familiar with Arduino.
STMicroelectronics Nucleo boards
STMicroelectronics offers several Nucleo boards with onboard LoRa connectivity, such as the B-L072Z-LRWAN1, I-NUCLEO-LRWAN1, P-NUCLEO-LRWAN2, and P-NUCLEO-LRWAN3. These boards feature STM32 microcontrollers and support ST’s STM32CubeMX development tools, providing a robust platform for experienced developers.
For instance, the B-L072Z-LRWAN1 is equipped with an STM32L072CZ microcontroller and an SX1276 LoRa radio chip. It supports LoRaWAN Class A, B, and C, with a selectable maximum transmission power of +14 dBm or +20 dBm. The board includes 192 KB flash memory and 20 KB RAM, and supports a variety of modulation techniques such as FSK, GFSK, MSK, GMSK, and OOK for data communication.
Similarly, the I-NUCLEO-LRWAN1 pairs an STM32L052T8Y6 microcontroller with a LoRa radio. These powerful LoRa development boards are ideal for developers seeking precise control over hardware and offer greater capabilities than beginner-friendly options like the Arduino MKR WAN 1300.
RAKwireless WisNode LoRaWAN RAK811
The RAKwireless WisNode LoRaWAN RAK811 is a compact LoRa development board designed for IoT applications. It features the Semtech SX1276 LoRa chip for connectivity. Using a breakout board form factor, it can seamlessly integrate into custom PCB designs. The board operates on an open-source platform, so its schematics and libraries are freely accessible. However, it lacks an integrated microcontroller and requires external interfacing for programming. It’s compatible with Arduino, allowing programming via the Arduino IDE, making it versatile for various IoT projects.
Dragino LoRa/GPS HAT for Raspberry Pi
The Dragino LoRa/GPS HAT module for Raspberry Pi adds LoRa WAN and GPS functionality to compatible Raspberry Pi models (3B+, 3B2, 3B, 4B, and variants). It features the SX1276 or SX1278 transceiver chip and an L80 GPS module based on the MTK MT3339 chip. While the HAT module has limited features, it effectively integrates Raspberry Pi into LoRa applications. The combined LoRa and GPS capabilities make it suitable for asset tracking, smart farming, and environmental monitoring with GPS tagging. Notably, a Raspberry Pi is required to use the LoRa functionality provided by the HAT module.
The top LoRa transceivers
Several LoRa radio transceivers can be assembled into a custom PCB to incorporate LoRa connectivity into an IoT device. Some of the popular LoRa radio chips are as follows.
- Semtech SX1276/SX1278
- Microchip SAMR34/SAMR35
- HopeRF RFM9x Series
Semtech SX1276/SX1278
The SX1276 and SX1278 from Semtech are commonly used LoRa radio chips for development boards. The SX1276 operates on 868 MHz and 915 MHz bands, typical for Europe and North America, while the SX1278 operates on 433 MHz and 470 MHz bands in other regions.
Both chips feature low power consumption, which is ideal for LoRa connectivity, and offer programmable data rates to balance range and power consumption. The range can be adjusted from SF7 to SF12 spreading factors, and data rates can reach up to 300 kbps at lower spreading factors for faster transmissions over shorter distances. Developers must choose between range and data rate, with programmable options available in the SX1276/SX1278 chips, which communicate using the SPI interface with a microcontroller.
Microchip SAMR34/SAMR35
The Microchip SAMR34/SAMR35 are System-in-Package (SiP) solutions integrating a Semtech SX127x LoRa transceiver within the chip. Both variants feature the ATSAMR34J18A or ATSAMR34J16A microcontroller, offering 64 to 256-KB flash memory and a 40-KB SRAM.
The SAMR35 is more compact than the SAMR34 (4×4 versus 6×6 mm), sacrificing a USB interface for greater efficiency and improved power efficiency. Programming the SAMR35 requires Serial Wire Debug (SWD). The SAMR34 is easier to program, thanks to its USB interface. Choosing between the two depends on the project’s requirements, such as for compactness and power efficiency versus programming simplicity and connectivity options.
HopeRF RFM9x Series
The HopeRF RFM9x Series is a widely used family of LoRa radio transceiver modules from HOPE Microelectronics. Key members include the RFM95W, RFM96W, RFM98W, and RFM92W. The RFM95W operates on 868 MHz and 915 MHz ISM bands, offering a maximum output power of +20dBm, high sensitivity to -148dBm, and programmable spreading factors from SF7 to SF12. In contrast, the RFM96W, RFM98W, and RFM92W are designed for the 433 MHz ISM band, with selectable transmit powers ranging from +14 dBm to +20 dBm.
These modules are cost-effective solutions ideal for hobbyist projects, sensor networks, and remote control applications requiring reliable LoRa connectivity.
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