22/05/2025 5:54 am
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I’ve been exploring different wireless communication options for low-power IoT projects. LoRa keeps coming up as a top choice for long-range, low-bandwidth communication.
What caught my attention is how it can reach tens of kilometers, even with very little power. That sounds impressive compared to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or even regular RF modules.
I’ve read a lot about its benefits, but I’m more curious about the why. What’s the underlying technology that makes LoRa capable of this? Any technical resources or clear explanations would be really helpful.
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26/05/2025 5:11 am
You're right—LoRa is impressive regarding long-range, low-power communication, and the secret behind that is how it sends data. Instead of regular radio signals like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, LoRa uses something called Chirp Spread Spectrum (CSS).
This is a special way of sending data by using signals that "sweep" across a range of frequencies (called chirps). This makes the signal very tough against interference and noise, so even if it's weak, the receiver can still pick it up. That’s why LoRa can communicate over 10–15 km in rural areas and 2–5 km in cities, all while using very little power—perfect for battery-powered IoT devices.
Another cool thing is that LoRa lets you adjust how the signal is sent using something called the spreading factor. A higher spreading factor gives you more range and reliability, which is great for devices that don’t need to send a lot of data, like sensors. Plus, since LoRa uses lower-frequency bands (like 433, 868, or 915 MHz), the signal travels farther and passes through obstacles better than higher-frequency options like Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
If you want to learn more, check out resources from Semtech (the company behind LoRa), The Things Network, or beginner-friendly sites like Cytron. They do a great job explaining how it all works in simple terms.
