Wireless control over a long distance with the LoRa modem
Conclusion
I hope the system described in this article, and the details of how it was built, will prove of interest. For an in-depth understanding of the modem chip, see the datasheet [14], as well as many of the LoRa resources on Semtech's site. There is always scope for improvement, both in hardware and software. The LoRa HAT board could be put to many different uses with simple changes and additions to the software. The SX1272 software module provides a very simple abstraction of the modem function, so replacing something like an RS485 link or an existing TCP/IP messaging system would be fairly simple. For a more in-depth understanding of LoRa and its applications, see the many excellent YouTube tutorials on the subject – and on low-power radio in general.
Infos
- LoRa: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoRa
- LoRa world distance record: https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/article/lorawan-distance-world-record
- US 915MHz licence-free band: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_band
- European 868MHz license-free band: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short-range_device#SRD860
- LoRa modulation basics: https://www.semtech.com/uploads/documents/an1200.22.pdf
- LoRa example deployments: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LoRa#Deployments_of_LoRa_Technology
- Semtech's SX1272RF1BAS module: https://www.digikey.co.uk/product-detail/en/semtech-corporation/SX1272RF1BAS/SX1272RF1BAS-ND/4490407
- LoRa test software for the Raspberry Pi: https://github.com/mngiess/lora-sx1272-test/blob/master/README.md
- SX1272 modules: SX1272RF1xAS – 868 or 915 MHz – Combined RFI and PA_BOOST design: https://www.semtech.com/products/wireless-rf/lora-transceivers/sx1272
- Planar F-Antenna Reference Design: https://www.semtech.com/uploads/documents/AN1200.20-SARANT_V1_0_STD.pdf
- Slice of relay – Pi accessory: https://rlx.sk/en/raspberry-pi/2120-slice-of-relay-raspberry-pi-b047-relay-board-for-raspberry-pi-.html
- Author's GitHub project page: https://github.com/andrewrussellmalcolm/lora_hat
- LoRaWAN introduction: https://www.thethingsnetwork.org/docs/lorawan/
- SX1272 datasheet: https://www.semtech.com/uploads/documents/SX1272_DS_V4.pdf
« Previous 1 2 3
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta Released
The AlmaLinux OS Foundation has announced the availability of AlmaLinux 10.0 Beta ("Purple Lion") for all supported devices with significant changes.
-
Gnome 47.2 Now Available
Gnome 47.2 is now available for general use but don't expect much in the way of newness, as this is all about improvements and bug fixes.
-
Latest Cinnamon Desktop Releases with a Bold New Look
Just in time for the holidays, the developer of the Cinnamon desktop has shipped a new release to help spice up your eggnog with new features and a new look.
-
Armbian 24.11 Released with Expanded Hardware Support
If you've been waiting for Armbian to support OrangePi 5 Max and Radxa ROCK 5B+, the wait is over.
-
SUSE Renames Several Products for Better Name Recognition
SUSE has been a very powerful player in the European market, but it knows it must branch out to gain serious traction. Will a name change do the trick?
-
ESET Discovers New Linux Malware
WolfsBane is an all-in-one malware that has hit the Linux operating system and includes a dropper, a launcher, and a backdoor.
-
New Linux Kernel Patch Allows Forcing a CPU Mitigation
Even when CPU mitigations can consume precious CPU cycles, it might not be a bad idea to allow users to enable them, even if your machine isn't vulnerable.
-
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.5 Released
Notify your friends, loved ones, and colleagues that the latest version of RHEL is available with plenty of enhancements.
-
Linux Sees Massive Performance Increase from a Single Line of Code
With one line of code, Intel was able to increase the performance of the Linux kernel by 4,000 percent.
-
Fedora KDE Approved as an Official Spin
If you prefer the Plasma desktop environment and the Fedora distribution, you're in luck because there's now an official spin that is listed on the same level as the Fedora Workstation edition.