LoRa and LoRaWAN in Amateur Radio
Find resources for integrating LoRa and LoRaWAN technology into amateur radio projects, including trackers, gateways, and antennas.
LoRa technology offers amateur radio operators a way to achieve long-range, low-power data communication, often on the 70cm band. Hams are experimenting with LoRa for various applications, pushing the limits of what's possible with minimal power and simple antennas. This technology is particularly useful for remote sensing, tracking, and data relay where traditional amateur radio modes might be less efficient.
Operators are building LoRa-based APRS trackers and iGates, allowing for position reporting and weather data transmission over impressive distances. Many projects focus on homebrew antennas, like collinear arrays, to optimize signal propagation. Resources here also cover understanding LoRa parameters, which are crucial for maximizing range and data rate, and provide examples of Arduino and ESP32 microcontroller projects for building complete LoRa stations.
Sort:
-
Exploring LoRaWAN Range, comparing the performance of 1Watt and 100mW LoRa trackers on daily commute. Analyzing APRS tracks, beacon statistics, and visual comparisons to uncover insights and surprises in the world of long-range wireless communication. -
Website maintained by a group of amateur radio operators who would like to bring APRS via LoRa to OMs. Try it out, participate in the development of new iGates, trackers or write a documentation for a software/firmware -
A simple 6dBi Collinear Antenna for LoRa compared to the Lorank8 gateway default antenna. -
Testing IdeeTron Lorank8 for LoRaWAN with ham radio transmissions. Assessing compatibility, interference, and planning permanent setup. Follow the experimentation and integration into the Almelo Community page -
The weather station described here uses a TTGO v3 1.6.2 module and various sensors. It displays the data on an OLED screen and transmits them among a choice of protocols to the APRS, APRS-IS, Wunderground servers or via an MQTT broker. APRS data is transmitted on 433.775 MHz (can be changed) using the LoRa protocol. APRS beacons picked up by iGate gateways are then transmitted to APRS servers. -
This Arduino project explores long-range RF communication using EBYTE E32 1W LoRa modules (either E32-915T30D or E32-900T30D) paired with ESP32 microcontrollers featuring OLED displays. The setup leverages the modules' Semtech SX1276 chip with amplifier to achieve up to 1W transmission power—significantly more than the chip alone provides. Unlike other LoRa implementations, these modules include a microcontroller that simplifies interface through UART rather than SPI. The documented implementation includes proper wiring between components and Arduino code that configures the module, displays received messages on the OLED screen, and transmits messages every two seconds while keeping power consumption manageable. -
Setting up a Lora APRS tracker using the ESP32 Lora32 TTGO-T T-Beam 433/470Mhz Module. -
Getting started with LoRA a documented experience with LoRA Gateway, Antennas and simple application -
Learn how LoRa mode can be used for APRS and connected mode packet radio, offering low power and long-range communication. Discover the growing popularity of LoRa-only APRS devices and the use of LoRa boards from manufacturers like Lilygo, Heltec, and RAK. Find out about firmware options like Ricardo Guzman's CA2RXU firmware, which incorporates previous work and offers KISS for external APRS clients. Explore LoRa APRS frequency and modulation settings in the UK, and consider adding CA2RXU firmware to lora-aprs.live for more radio-specific information. Dive into the world of LoRa technology for ham radio operators and experiment with different firmware options. -
This article describes the implementation and testing of a low-power GPS tracker using LoRa technology in the 433MHz amateur band. The system, built with AIThinker RA-02 modules and Arduino controllers, demonstrated successful communication over non-line-of-sight distances up to 5km. Operating with a 125kHz bandwidth and spreading factor of 11, the tracker achieves a data rate of 500 bits/sec. Powered by a LiPo cell with power-saving features, the final compact design operates for approximately 1.5 weeks between charges with 3-minute reporting intervals, consuming just over 1mA in idle mode. -
About LoRa, wireless communication technology designed to transmit data over long distances. LoRa provides a means for wireless data transmission over long distances with low power consumption. Practical applications of LoRa in amateur radio -
This article explains how LoRa parameters impact data rate and range when setting up a LoRa transceiver. It covers the basic concepts needed to understand different LoRa parameters and their effects on modulation. By adjusting parameters, you can achieve fast data transfers or extend transmission range. The post also offers a calculator to determine on-air bitrate based on input parameters. Understanding LoRa parameters is crucial for optimizing performance and achieving desired communication outcomes.