The LoRaWAN protocol is developed and maintained by the LoRa Alliance. The first LoRaWAN specification was released in January 2015. LoRaWAN is a Media Access Control (MAC)layer protocol built on top of LoRa modulation. It is a software layer which defines how devices use the LoRa hardware, for example when they transmit, and the format of messages.

LoRaWAN Thermostat


lorawan thermstat

Why is LoRaWAN so awesome?

Ultra low power – LoRaWAN end devices are optimized to operate in low power mode and can last up to 10 years on a single coin cell battery.

Long range – LoRaWAN gateways can transmit and receive signals over a distance of over 10 kilometers in rural areas and up to 3 kilometers in dense urban areas.

Deep indoor penetration – LoRaWAN networks can provide deep indoor coverage, and easily cover multi floor buildings.

License free spectrum – You don’t have to pay expensive frequency spectrum license fees to deploy a LoRaWAN network.

Geolocation- A LoRaWAN network can determine the location of end devices using triangulation without the need for GPS. A LoRa end device can be located if at least three gateways pick up its signal.

High capacity – LoRaWAN Network Servers handle millions of messages from thousands of gateways.

Public and private deployments – It is easy to deploy public and private LoRaWAN networks using the same hardware (gateways, end devices, antennas) and software (UDP packet forwarders, Basic Station software, LoRaWAN stacks for end devices).

End-to-end security- LoRaWAN ensures secure communication between the end device and the application server using AES-128 encryption.

Firmware updates over the air – You can remotely update firmware (applications and the LoRaWAN stack) for a single end device or group of end devices.

Roaming- LoRaWAN end devices can perform seamless handovers from one network to another.

Low cost – Minimal infrastructure, low-cost end nodes and open source software.

Certification program – The LoRa Alliance certification program certifies end devices and provides end-users with confidence that the devices are reliable and compliant with the LoRaWAN specification.

Ecosystem- LoRaWAN has a very large ecosystem of device makers, gateway makers, antenna makers, network service providers, and application developers