Experimental analysis of low-duty cycle campus deployed IoT network using LoRa technology

Abstract

This study emphases on the implementation and evaluation of a LoRa network in indoor environments through an experimental setup at Amity University, Greater Noida (AUGN) campus. Aimed at scrutinizing the link-level performance and reliability of LoRa technology, extensive measurements have been conducted with prototype device integrating the SX1278 LoRa radio module at 433 MHz. The performance has been analysed in terms of Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), and Packet Reception Rate (PRR) across various line-of-sight (LoS) and non-line-of-sight (NLoS) scenarios. The results reveal that network performance is highly sensitive to parameter configurations, such as spreading factor (SF) and coding rate (CR). In LoS environments, SF = 9 and CR = 4/5 provided an RSSI of −89.12 dBm and an SNR of 9.91 dB, while highly obstructive areas saw optimal performance with SF = 7 and CR = 4/7. The study also identified configurations ensuring 100 % packet delivery accuracy and maximum throughput. This work stands out due to its thorough examination of LoRa for indoor IoT applications, notably addressing duty cycle restrictions, a topic often overlooked in existing literature. The valuable insights presented are crucial for maximizing the potential of LoRa in indoor environments with high population density. The findings strongly advocate for the use of LoRa for real-time environmental monitoring and innovative IoT applications within university campuses.