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* 2022.12.20
*
LoRa: Field Testing Antennas
Learn about three different antennas carried by SparkFun, and
determine which will suit your long-range needs!
by Mariah December 20, 2022 1:49 pm UTC 2
* LoRa
Favorited Favorite 0
A Huge Nerd
Hello! Mariah back again with more content about LoRA. A few weeks
before this blog post I posted a tutorial about how to set up a
simple peer-to-peer network for Sending Sensor Data Over LoRa. During
the process of that project I thought it would be fun to test the
range of different antennas. It turned out to be quite and adventure
(a bear even made an appearance!) to reach the outer limits of
testing the range of a LoRa signal. Any of the configurations
mentioned in this blog would work with the following tutorial if
you'd like to play along. Let's dive in!
Sending Sensor Data over LoRa
November 4, 2022
This tutorial will show you how setup a simple peer-to-peer
connection to send and receive sensor data using LoRa.
Favorited Favorite 4
Patch Antenna
Wide Band 4G LTE Internal LoRa Antenna
[1 ]
[Backorder]
added to your cart!
Wide Band 4G LTE Internal LoRa Antenna
Out of stock WRL-17841
This Wide Band, 700-2700Mhz frequency range, 4G LTE antenna provides
a wide enough range for a number of applications includi...
$2.10
1
Favorited Favorite 11
Wish List
The Wide Band 4G LTE Internal LoRa Antenna is just a little guy; with
an antenna size of just 53 x 24mm, it packs a big punch in a tiny
package! It has a frequency range of 700-2700 MHz (perfect for
adjusting to your regional frequency band parameters), an 8dBi
internal antenna, and a 3M adhesive backing for a quick and easy
installation.
During our adventure out and about, we were able to get 1.45 mi away
from our transmitter (as the crow flies). One thing to remember about
LoRa is that line of sight, humidity, and obstacles are all things to
take into consideration with your layout; we were able to find a few
spots between buildings and breaks in trees to receive the signal,
but having both antennas a bit higher up will likely extend this
range!
Patch Antenna Distance Map
Whip Antenna
915MHz LoRa Antenna RP-SMA - 1/2 Wave 2dBi
[1 ]
[Add to Cart]
added to your cart!
915MHz LoRa Antenna RP-SMA - 1/2 Wave 2dBi
In stock WRL-14876
Increase your range with this 1/2 wave duck antenna. Designed for 860
to 960MHz it is ideal for distant LoRa nodes. Utilizes ...
$9.95
Favorited Favorite 1
Wish List
Next up is the 915MHz LoRa Antenna RP-SMA: this antenna has a
frequency range of 860-960 MHz, a gain of 2dBi, and the ability to be
adjusted up to a 90 degree angle, which can come in handy depending
on where you intend to mount it.
This was a fun excursion out into the fresh snow and warm sun! Just
like with our last setup, we ventured farther and farther out,
stopping and hopping out of the car to check our signal and searching
for spots that afforded us a clear shot back to SparkFun where our
transmitter was hooked up on the roof. We were able to get out 4.26
mi with just two of these antennas chatting with each other!
The Trek Begins
The trek begins!
Whip Antenna Distance Map
Fiberglass Antenna
LoRa Fiberglass Antenna Type N - 5.8dBi (902-928MHz)
[1 ]
[Add to Cart]
added to your cart!
LoRa Fiberglass Antenna Type N - 5.8dBi (902-928MHz)
In stock WRL-15597
If you need maximum distance for your LoRa project you need this
incredibly durable, outdoor antenna with 5.8dBi gain.
$53.50
2
Favorited Favorite 4
Wish List
Bringing us home is the LoRa Fiberglass Antenna Type N: this beauty
has a frequency range of 902-928 MHz, a 5.8dBi gain, and comes with
mounting hardware included for a quick, easy, and secure
installation. Additionally, its shrouded connector helps prevent
against water and weather build-up on the threads, making it perfect
for extended outdoor use! (For this test we used the fiberglass
antenna as our transmitter and the whip antenna as our receiver to
make it a bit more portable.)
Now, with this guy, we knew we were gonna be able to get pretty far
out; but, as I mentioned earlier, obstacles such as buildings and
trees will interfere with our signal and prevent us from really
seeing what this antenna is capable of. So, where in Colorado could
we possibly go to get a bit higher up... on an adventure to the
mountains of course! With our increased elevation, we were able to
make it 6.42 mi away from our transmitter! This led to lots of
whooping and high-fives, of course.
Transmitter Setup
Our transmitter antenna set-up on the roof of SparkFun!
Reach for the Sky
Attempting to gain a little height to find the signal!
We Got Data
Hiking out of the trees a bit to reduce interference and we've got
data!
Fiberglass Antenna Distance Map
Additional tips and tricks!
We've mentioned a couple times that there are a few things that can
interfere with LoRa, and some necessary preemptive research to do,
but let's do a quick recap!
* Obstacles - LoRa is most effective when the signal has line of
sight between the transmitter and receiver; we were able to get
some readings in both wooded and urban areas, but it's super
helpful to go up as well as out
* Temperature - it has been recorded that increases in surrounding
temperatures as well as the temperature of the nodes can affect
the efficacy of LoRa signals; out here in the Rockies, the sun
can be really brutal which can heat up our antennas, particularly
the black ones. Luckily, it's also winter so we weren't too
concerned about it, but it's definitely something to keep in mind
if you have a setup that works in the cold and you intend to keep
it up through to the warmer months
* Humidity - increased moisture in the air can bog down a signal as
it attempts to push through the water in the air; we actually
noticed a much faster signal reception when testing the whip and
patch antennas, as the humidity on that day was around 17%,
whereas our fiberglass day was at 47%
* Regional Frequency Band Parameters - there are certain guidelines
that are in place for public use of LoRa frequencies and
bandwidths; be sure to double check yours here (the table starts
on page 10) before you get up and running! Since we're located in
Colorado, we use the range for the U.S. which is 902 - 928 MHz
A Helpful Tool!
U.FL Removal Tool
[1 ]
[Add to Cart]
added to your cart!
U.FL Removal Tool
Only 13 left! TOL-19929
This tool is used for extraction from a U.FL mating condition.
$25.95
Favorited Favorite 4
Wish List
This handy-dandy little guy is very helpful for safely disconnecting
your antenna from your board without potentially damaging the U.FL
connectors!
One Quick Note!
Lastly, a safety tip: remember that if you hike up into the mountains
of Colorado to keep an eye out for furry friends! With teeth! We saw
this sweet lil guy about 15 seconds after we got back in the car; a
little too close for comfort, but we like to think he's a big 'ol
nerd like us and wanted to check out what we were doing!
A Friend
Is LoRa really long-range? Well, does a bear squat in the woods??
Any LoRa users out there?
Let us know what you've been using LoRa for and if you've never used
this long-range wireless technology before we hope to see you
incorporate into a future project!
View Comments (2)
* LoRa
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Member #134773 / yesterday / 1 /
Please clarify: Were all three tests done with both ends using
the same type of antennas, or were they all done with either the
server or the client using a "constant" antenna? At least as
importantly, was the height of the server's antenna the same for
all three tests?
*
Member #41670 / yesterday / 1 /
What was the radio configuration? (Frequency, bandwidth,
spreading factor, coding factor). I can't seem to get more than 1
/3 mi with an SX127x based LoRa radio at 915 MHz, 250 Hz BW, SF
7, CR 4/5, and the same black antenna in your post.
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