Frequently Asked Questions about LoRaWAN

Common questions about LoRaWAN technology and how Truvami devices leverage this powerful IoT protocol for long-range, low-power asset tracking.

LoRaWAN Basics

What is a LoRaWAN tracker?

A LoRaWAN tracker is an IoT device that combines location sensing (GPS, WiFi, etc.) with LoRaWAN wireless communication technology. LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) is a low-power, long-range wireless protocol designed specifically for IoT applications. Truvami's LoRaWAN trackers can transmit location data, sensor readings, and device status over distances up to 15km while maintaining battery life measured in months or years.

How does a LoRaWAN tracker work?

LoRaWAN trackers operate in a star-of-stars network topology:

Data Collection: The device gathers information from onboard sensors (GPS, accelerometer, temperature, etc.)
Radio Transmission: Data is transmitted using LoRa radio modulation to nearby LoRaWAN gateways
Network Forwarding: Gateways relay the encrypted data to a LoRaWAN Network Server via IP backhaul
Application Processing: The Network Server forwards decrypted data to the Truvami Application Server
Data Access: Processed data becomes available through the Truvami dashboard, API, and integrations

The entire process is designed for minimal power consumption, with devices typically transmitting for only milliseconds at a time.

What are the advantages of using a LoRaWAN tracker?

LoRaWAN offers compelling advantages for IoT tracking applications:

Long Range Communication:

Up to 15km range in rural environments
2-5km range in urban areas with obstacles
Better building penetration than cellular signals

Ultra-Low Power Consumption:

Battery life measured in months or years, not days
Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) optimizes power usage automatically
Sleep modes reduce power consumption between transmissions

Cost Effectiveness:

No monthly cellular fees or SIM card management
Lower infrastructure costs compared to cellular IoT
Shared network infrastructure reduces per-device costs

Robust & Reliable:

Frequency diversity and spreading factors improve reliability
Multiple gateways can receive the same message for redundancy
Built-in encryption and security mechanisms

Standards-Based:

Open LoRaWAN standard ensures vendor interoperability
Global frequency bands support worldwide deployments
Mature ecosystem of compatible devices and infrastructure

What kind of assets can be tracked with a LoRaWAN tracker?

LoRaWAN trackers excel at monitoring assets that:

Mobile Assets:

Construction and agricultural equipment
Fleet vehicles and trailers
Shipping containers and cargo
Rental equipment and tools

Stationary Assets:

Generators and pumps
Solar panels and outdoor equipment
Infrastructure monitoring points
Environmental sensors

High-Value Items:

Industrial machinery
Medical equipment
IT infrastructure
Valuable inventory

Outdoor Applications:

Livestock monitoring
Environmental sensors
Smart agriculture equipment
Remote infrastructure

The key requirement is that assets spend sufficient time within LoRaWAN network coverage to transmit their data successfully.

Network Requirements

Is a LoRaWAN network required for using LoRaWAN trackers?

Yes, LoRaWAN trackers require access to LoRaWAN network infrastructure to function. However, you have several options:

Public LoRaWAN Networks:

Commercial networks operated by telecommunications providers
Community networks like The Things Network (TTN)
Emerging networks like Helium with crypto-economic incentives

Private LoRaWAN Networks:

Deploy your own gateways and network infrastructure
Full control over network parameters and coverage
Ideal for large campuses, industrial sites, or specialized requirements

Hybrid Approaches:

Combine public and private infrastructure
Use public networks for wide-area coverage with private gateways for critical areas
Gradual migration from public to private as deployments scale

Truvami can help assess network coverage in your area and recommend the best approach for your specific use case.

How accurate are LoRaWAN trackers in determining location?

Location accuracy depends on the positioning technology used, not the LoRaWAN communication protocol itself:

GPS Positioning:

Typical Accuracy: 3-5 meters under open sky conditions
Best Case: Sub-meter accuracy with optimal satellite geometry
Challenging Conditions: 10-15 meters in urban canyons or partial obstructions

Assisted Positioning:

WiFi Triangulation: 10-50 meters in areas with dense WiFi infrastructure
Network-Based: 100-1000 meters using LoRaWAN gateway timing and signal strength
Hybrid Approaches: Combine multiple methods for improved reliability

Factors Affecting Accuracy:

GPS satellite visibility and atmospheric conditions
Urban environments with tall buildings (multipath effects)
Indoor environments where GPS signals are blocked
Device antenna quality and positioning

For applications requiring higher precision, consider RTK GPS-enabled devices or additional sensor fusion techniques.

Do LoRaWAN trackers work indoors?

LoRaWAN signals penetrate buildings better than many other wireless technologies, but indoor performance varies significantly:

Signal Penetration Factors:

Building materials (concrete and steel significantly attenuate signals)
Number of floors and walls between device and gateway
Window proximity and building orientation
Gateway placement and antenna configuration

Improving Indoor Coverage:

Indoor Gateways: Deploy LoRaWAN gateways inside buildings
External Antennas: Use devices with external antenna connections
Strategic Placement: Position trackers near exterior walls or windows
Hybrid Positioning: Supplement with WiFi-based location services

Typical Indoor Performance:

Light Construction: Often works well in wooden or drywall buildings
Heavy Construction: Limited success in concrete/steel structures without indoor gateways
Basements/Underground: Usually requires dedicated indoor infrastructure

Device Performance

How long does the battery of a LoRaWAN tracker last?

Battery life is one of LoRaWAN's greatest advantages, but actual performance depends on several factors:

Typical Battery Life Ranges:

Standard Use: 2-5 years with hourly position updates
High-Frequency Tracking: 6-18 months with updates every 5-15 minutes
Motion-Activated Mode: 3-7 years depending on asset activity levels
Emergency Mode: Several weeks with continuous minute-by-minute tracking

Key Factors Affecting Battery Life:

Update Frequency: More frequent transmissions consume more power
GPS Usage: Satellite acquisition is power-intensive; faster fixes save battery
Environmental Conditions: Extreme temperatures reduce battery capacity
Network Coverage: Poor LoRaWAN coverage increases transmission power requirements
Payload Size: Larger data packets require more transmission time

Power Optimization Strategies:

Use motion detection to trigger active tracking modes
Configure adaptive update intervals based on asset activity
Optimize GPS acquisition settings for your use case
Leverage Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) for automatic power optimization

Can I customize the tracking settings on a LoRaWAN tracker?

Yes, Truvami devices offer extensive configuration flexibility to match your specific requirements:

Update Intervals:

Static intervals from minutes to hours or days
Motion-triggered adaptive scheduling
Geofence-based update frequency changes
Time-of-day scheduling for different operational periods

Sensor Configuration:

Accelerometer sensitivity for motion detection
Temperature and humidity thresholds
Impact detection and tamper alerts
Custom sensor data collection intervals

Power Management:

Sleep mode configuration and wake conditions
GPS acquisition timeout settings
Transmission retry policies and backoff strategies
Battery conservation modes for extended deployments

Network Optimization:

Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) enable/disable
Transmission power limits and spreading factor preferences
Confirmed vs. unconfirmed uplink preferences
Network retry behavior and timing

Alert Configuration:

Geofence entry/exit notifications
Motion start/stop detection
Low battery and maintenance alerts
Custom threshold-based notifications

All configuration changes can be applied remotely through the Truvami dashboard or API, with settings pushed to devices over-the-air.

Coverage & Range

What is the typical range of LoRaWAN communication?

LoRaWAN range varies significantly based on environmental conditions and network configuration:

Theoretical Maximum Ranges:

Rural/Open Areas: Up to 15km line-of-sight
Suburban Areas: 2-8km with moderate obstacles
Urban Environments: 1-3km in dense city centers
Indoor/Underground: 100m-1km depending on construction

Real-World Performance Factors:

Terrain: Hills, valleys, and natural obstacles affect propagation
Buildings: Urban density and building height create shadow zones
Interference: Other radio sources can reduce effective range
Weather: Rain, humidity, and atmospheric conditions impact signals
Antenna Quality: Both device and gateway antenna selection matters

Optimizing Range & Coverage:

Gateway Placement: Install gateways at elevated positions with clear sightlines
Antenna Selection: Use high-gain directional antennas for specific coverage areas
Network Density: Deploy multiple gateways for redundancy and coverage overlap
Spreading Factor: Higher spreading factors increase range but reduce data rate

How does network coverage affect device performance?

LoRaWAN coverage quality directly impacts several aspects of device operation:

Data Delivery Reliability:

Strong coverage ensures consistent data transmission success
Poor coverage leads to retransmissions and increased power consumption
Multiple gateway coverage provides redundancy and improved reliability

Battery Life Impact:

Devices automatically increase transmission power in areas with weak coverage
Poor coverage can reduce battery life by 30-50% due to retransmissions
ADR (Adaptive Data Rate) helps optimize power usage based on coverage quality

Data Latency:

Good coverage enables faster acknowledgments and lower latency
Weak coverage may cause transmission delays and longer confirmation times
Network congestion in poorly covered areas can increase overall latency

Coverage Assessment Tools:

Use network coverage maps from LoRaWAN providers
Conduct site surveys with test devices before full deployment
Monitor gateway RSSI and SNR values for coverage optimization
Consider deploying additional gateways in coverage-critical areas

Integration

Can I integrate the data from a LoRaWAN tracker with other systems?

Absolutely. Truvami provides comprehensive integration capabilities to connect LoRaWAN tracking data with your existing systems:

Real-Time Data Access:

REST API: Poll for device positions, events, and sensor data
Webhooks: Receive real-time notifications for device events
WebSocket Streams: Continuous data feeds for real-time applications
MQTT Integration: Publish/subscribe patterns for IoT platforms

Data Export & Analytics:

Scheduled Exports: Automated data delivery to cloud storage
Database Connections: Direct integration with analytics platforms
CSV/JSON Formats: Standard data formats for reporting tools
Custom ETL Pipelines: Tailored data processing workflows

Popular Platform Integrations:

Business Intelligence: Tableau, Power BI, Looker integration
Cloud Platforms: AWS IoT, Azure IoT Hub, Google Cloud IoT
Enterprise Software: ERP, WMS, and asset management systems
Automation Platforms: Zapier, Microsoft Power Automate

Custom Development Support:

SDKs and Libraries: Pre-built integrations for common programming languages
API Documentation: Comprehensive guides with code examples
Sandbox Environment: Test integration development without affecting production
Technical Consulting: Expert assistance for complex integration requirements

View All FAQs Explore Device Documentation