What is Lorawan Gateway?
1. What is a gateway?
A gateway is a device that connects two network segments that use different transmission protocols. Gateways are generally used as entry and exit points for networks because all data must pass through or communicate with the gateway before routing.
A router is the most commonly used gateway and is used to connect home or enterprise networks to the Internet.
2. What is LoRaWAN?
LoRaWAN is an open network protocol that provides secure two-way communication, mobility, and localization services that are standardized and maintained by the LoRa Alliance. It is a set of communication protocols and system architecture designed for LoRa long-range communication networks.
LoRaWAN operates on unlicensed frequency bands that vary by country. This means that there are no licensing fees for using these frequencies. LoRaWAN networks have good coverage and can connect devices up to 15 kilometers away in rural areas. LoRaWAN devices are also designed to operate at low power consumption to extend battery life and reduce maintenance needs over time.
3. Why do we need a LoRaWAN gateway for IoT?
Without a LoRaWAN gateway, there can be no LoRaWAN IoT network. It is the backbone of the LoRaWAN IoT architecture's star topology network. A LoRaWAN gateway is an important component that connects IoT devices to the Internet. It can transmit data from IoT devices to the Internet and vice versa. LoRaWAN gateways can extend the coverage of IoT devices and improve the reliability and security of data transmission.
LoRaWAN gateways can also connect multiple IoT devices to the same network, enabling communication between IoT devices. This communication method can improve the collaboration and interoperability between IoT devices, enabling more efficient and intelligent IoT applications.
4. How does a LoRaWAN gateway work?
The LoRaWAN gateway collects data from LoRaWAN devices and forwards it to the LoRaWAN network server. It receives LoRaWAN packets with an appropriate frequency plan that matches the LoRaWAN devices deployed in the area. Then it forwards the LoRaWAN data to the LoRaWAN network server registered with the LoRaWAN gateway through a packet forwarder.
As long as these configurations are correct, you can have a working LoRaWAN gateway in a short time.
It should be noted that when deploying a LoRaWAN gateway in a specific country, you must follow the regional parameters of the LoRa Alliance. There is no universal frequency, and each country has different legal regulations for using non-authorized MHz bands.For example, China's LoRaWAN frequency band is CN470 (470–510 MHZ), while Europe and the United States are EU868 (863–870 MHZ) and US915 (902–928 MHZ), respectively.
LoRaWAN gateways and devices must operate in the same frequency plan to work. If a LoRaWAN device uses a different frequency plan than the LoRaWAN gateway, it will be invisible to the gateway. In this case, the LoRaWAN gateway cannot forward device data to the network server.
