Variable Link Performance Due to Weather Effects in a Long-Range, Low-Power LoRa Sensor Network
When aiming for the wider deployment of low-power sensor networks, the use of sub-GHz frequency bands shows a lot of promise in terms of robustness and minimal power consumption. Yet, when deploying such sensor networks over larger areas, the link quality can be impacted by a host of factors. Theref...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/9/3128 |
| _version_ | 1797535673955123200 |
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| author | Thomas Ameloot Patrick Van Torre Hendrik Rogier |
| author_facet | Thomas Ameloot Patrick Van Torre Hendrik Rogier |
| author_sort | Thomas Ameloot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | When aiming for the wider deployment of low-power sensor networks, the use of sub-GHz frequency bands shows a lot of promise in terms of robustness and minimal power consumption. Yet, when deploying such sensor networks over larger areas, the link quality can be impacted by a host of factors. Therefore, this contribution demonstrates the performance of several links in a real-world, research-oriented sensor network deployed in a (sub)urban environment. Several link characteristics are presented and analysed, exposing frequent signal deterioration and, more rarely, signal strength enhancement along certain long-distance wireless links. A connection is made between received power levels and seasonal weather changes and events. The irregular link performance presented in this paper is found to be genuinely disruptive when pushing sensor-networks to their limits in terms of range and power use. This work aims to give an indication of the severity of these effects in order to enable the design of truly reliable sensor networks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:48:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-efd2e92ba5bf48378369ecc98d863ab0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T11:48:42Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj.art-efd2e92ba5bf48378369ecc98d863ab02023-11-21T17:57:09ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202021-04-01219312810.3390/s21093128Variable Link Performance Due to Weather Effects in a Long-Range, Low-Power LoRa Sensor NetworkThomas Ameloot0Patrick Van Torre1Hendrik Rogier2IDLab, Department of Information Technology (INTEC), Ghent University-IMEC, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 126, B-9052 Ghent, BelgiumIDLab, Department of Information Technology (INTEC), Ghent University-IMEC, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 126, B-9052 Ghent, BelgiumIDLab, Department of Information Technology (INTEC), Ghent University-IMEC, Technologiepark-Zwijnaarde 126, B-9052 Ghent, BelgiumWhen aiming for the wider deployment of low-power sensor networks, the use of sub-GHz frequency bands shows a lot of promise in terms of robustness and minimal power consumption. Yet, when deploying such sensor networks over larger areas, the link quality can be impacted by a host of factors. Therefore, this contribution demonstrates the performance of several links in a real-world, research-oriented sensor network deployed in a (sub)urban environment. Several link characteristics are presented and analysed, exposing frequent signal deterioration and, more rarely, signal strength enhancement along certain long-distance wireless links. A connection is made between received power levels and seasonal weather changes and events. The irregular link performance presented in this paper is found to be genuinely disruptive when pushing sensor-networks to their limits in terms of range and power use. This work aims to give an indication of the severity of these effects in order to enable the design of truly reliable sensor networks.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/9/3128Internet of ThingsLoRaLPWANstropospheric radiowave propagationwireless sensor networks |
| spellingShingle | Thomas Ameloot Patrick Van Torre Hendrik Rogier Variable Link Performance Due to Weather Effects in a Long-Range, Low-Power LoRa Sensor Network Sensors Internet of Things LoRa LPWANs tropospheric radiowave propagation wireless sensor networks |
| title | Variable Link Performance Due to Weather Effects in a Long-Range, Low-Power LoRa Sensor Network |
| title_full | Variable Link Performance Due to Weather Effects in a Long-Range, Low-Power LoRa Sensor Network |
| title_fullStr | Variable Link Performance Due to Weather Effects in a Long-Range, Low-Power LoRa Sensor Network |
| title_full_unstemmed | Variable Link Performance Due to Weather Effects in a Long-Range, Low-Power LoRa Sensor Network |
| title_short | Variable Link Performance Due to Weather Effects in a Long-Range, Low-Power LoRa Sensor Network |
| title_sort | variable link performance due to weather effects in a long range low power lora sensor network |
| topic | Internet of Things LoRa LPWANs tropospheric radiowave propagation wireless sensor networks |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/21/9/3128 |
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