Extend low-power LoRaWAN coverage device for IoT applications

Abstract

The advent of Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) has significantly enhanced Internet of Things (IoT) applications, particularly in Smart Cities, with its broad coverage and energy efficiency. However, in areas with blind spots and obstacles, the conventional star network has limitations in coverage. To overcome this, researchers conducted a study to explore the potential of LoRaWAN extenders with multiple relays, focusing on coverage, performance, and power consumption. The study involved designing and deploying a relay system aligned with protocol of LoRaWAN to extend the reach of a standard LoRaWAN gateway. Strategically placed relays addressed areas beyond the gateway's coverage. Performance was measured by the longest communication distance achieved by each relay, packet loss ratio, and latency. Power consumption was also monitored. The results demonstrate the practicality and effectiveness of the proposed multiple relay design, expanding the capabilities of LoRaWAN network.