Tech Chat | What is LoRa?

For most RTK users, radio is a common method of differential data transmission with no network coverage requirements. However, due to the limited transmission range and high power consumption, most RTK receivers require an external power supply and an external radio to increase the range. Only a few can guarantee a range of 15 km with internal radio. Our Y1 GNSS receiver can make it, which benefits from the built-in LoRa module.

So what is LoRa?

LoRa was first adopted and promoted by Semtech company in the United States. Its name is "Long Range Radio". It is a kind of remote wireless transmission technology based on spread spectrum technology, which is also one of many LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) communication technologies. 

LoRa is a physical layer wireless modulation technology to create long-distance communication connections, which belongs to CCS (Linear modulation spread spectrum technology). Compared with traditional FSK and other technologies, LoRa greatly increases the communication distance while maintaining low power consumption, and has the characteristics of strong anti-interference. In addition, LoRa modulated diffusion factors are essentially orthogonal. This means that signals modulated using different propagation factors and transmitted simultaneously over the same frequency channel do not interfere with each other. Instead, the signals of different propagation factors are just noise from each other.

To be more intuitive, what can LoRa bring to you?

① The work distance is longer
In terms of range, a single LORA-based device can receive and transmit signals at distances of up to 15 kilometers in open areas. Even in dense urban environments, correction data can travel up to five kilometers, depending on the environment and the power set up for the terminal.

② Strong anti-interference ability
LoRa can achieve long-distance transmission, in addition to the advantage of sensitivity, another factor is the super anti-interference ability. LoRa has the anti-interference capability of communicating with less than 20dB noise. In addition, LoRa also has a very good resistance ability against sudden random interference.

③ Low power consumption
LoRa modulation is not dependent on narrowband, retransmission, coding redundancy, so the modulation efficiency is very high, the working current is very low, its static current is less than 1uA;  receiving current <5mA.

④ Anti-multipath effect
In large cities with high rises, the multipath effect is obvious. There are a lot of wireless reachable paths (diffraction, reflection, etc.) between transmission points, and the signal will be seriously distorted due to multipath superposition. LoRa can still maintain stable transmission in such an environment.

Based on the above advantages of LoRa, Y1 has adopted LoRa technology for data transmission.

Compared with traditional RTK receivers, Y1 shows the following advantages:

① Lower power consumption: As a base station, the power consumption of Y1 is adjustable from 0.5w\1w\2W, users can set reasonably according to the situation.

② Longer working time: Benefit from the low power and large hot-swap lithium batteries, Y1 can work for 12 hours without external power supply.

③ Longer working range: With the enhanced UHF, Y1 can reach up to 15km in an open environment.

④ Stronger anti-interference: Y1 can maintain a stable working state even in city canyon, lake, forest and other complex environments. 

Learn more about Y1 GNSS Receiver.

https://www.singularxyz.com/Y1.html
https://www.singularxyz.com/Y1_Land_Surveying_Solution.html