On 7 Aug 2016 at 1:20, RussellMc wrote:

> LORA offers about -146 dBm receive level (BER =3D?)
> For a link budget of around 165 dB.
> A decent dish on the RX (not 'of course' on the TX) would nicely increase
> that.
>=20
> ____________________________
>=20
> Bob mentioned
>=20
> *Microchip has LoRa modules that already have FCC and IC modular approval=
,
> RN2903 for the 915 MHz version.*
> *About $15 each in singles.*
> *________*
>=20
>          US:  FCC ID: T9JRN2903
> Canadian: Contains transmitter module IC: 6514A-RN2903.
>=20
> He forgot to mention Australia & NZ certification as well :-).=20
> Sadly, NZ & Australian final certification still requires some hoop jumpi=
ng
> - but far less so than if starting from scratch.
>=20
> At 1st glance these seem to be better, cheaper & slightly faster, choose
> any 3, than any opposition.
>=20
> That said, see AliExpress offerings at end.
>=20
> Even Microchip are not immune to a comment which is liable to make
> regulatory authorities nervous.
> " Up to 15 km coverage at suburban and up to 5 km coverage at urban area"
> That would have to be with <=3D 375 mW DC in and a 6.5 dBi 'sleeve dipole=
' at
> each end.
>=20
> These look very good value
> I=B2C, SPI, UART interfaces included.

Seems like just UART according to the RN2903/RN2483 datasheets, but perhaps=
=20
the other interfaces are on their to-do list. Sidetracking from the origina=
l post but=20
LoRa looks cool. The RN2903 is 915MHz, and the RN2483 is dual freq/dual=20
antenna 433 and 868MHz.=20

I spoke to a company called kotahi.net at the new  Zealand Agricultural Fie=
ldays.=20
They're rolling out a LoRaWAN network on 868MHz here. Apparently 9 access=20
points up and running now already covering 50% of the population. Very much=
=20
cheaper than cellular. There are similar providers in other countries, and/=
or I believe=20
you can roll-your-own LoRaWAN network with a base-station/hub/server thingy=
.. I've=20
got a Microchip DM164138 (uses the RN2483 module) on the way to play with.

HopeRF also do some well priced LoRa modules (RFM95/96/97/98), though I get=
=20
the impression the LoRaWAN satck is not implemented on module like it is in=
 the=20
Microchip ones.

Similar but different is SigFox, also coming soon to Australia/NZ (thinxtra=
..com).



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