LoRa wireless technology and Wi-Fi have different features and backgrounds. But the good news is when they’re combined, they complement each other. In the late 1990s, Wi-Fi appeared as a communication standard. LoRaWAN is the newest technology that appeared on the scenes in 2015.
LoRaWAN is best for industrial and IoT deployments. Wi-Fi wireless technology is best for sending large amounts of data at high speed. Moreover, it’s suitable for only short ranges. LoRaWAN can send only bits of data, but it’s capable of sending data over multiple kilometers.
The differences between LoRa and Wi-Fi Wireless Technologies
Wireless technology can help transfer information from one point to another without any physical medium.
LoRa Wireless Technologies vs. LoRaWAN
People often mix both these terms, but they’re not the same. LoRa alliance supports LoRa, and it is an open standard networking layer. LoRa Wireless Technology is effective for long-range and low-power communication.
LoRaWAN is a good choice for urban areas and IoT devices can use this technology to transfer data to the cloud.
Wi-Fi Wireless Technologies vs. LoRaWAN
If you want to differentiate between different technologies, it’s important to understand the basics. Majorly the networks vary in terms of bandwidth, power consumption, and range. In terms of bandwidth, Wi-Fi is superior to LoRaWAN. But it’s not for long-range. Moreover, it has a short battery life.
LoRa is ideal for scattered IoT devices because of its long range and low power requirements. But the drawback of LoRa is that it can’t send large files.
Bluetooth Wireless Technologies vs. LoRaWAN
Both these technologies can be used together. Bluetooth consumes more power than LoRa but overall it doesn’t consume much power. Bluetooth is the best choice for short-range and close proximity. But LoRaWAN can cover a long distance and it is a low-power solution.
5G Technologies vs. LoRaWAN
5G makes it possible to send data faster than LoRaWAN. But setting up infrastructure for 5G requires lots of money and time. But with LoRaWAN, you can send small data packets to long distances.
LTE-M Wireless Technologies vs. LoRaWAN
LTE-M is a cellular network. Its battery life puts it behind, but it's an excellent choice when it comes to data throughput. It is complex to deploy but LoRaWAN is easy to deploy. More importantly, LoRaWAN is ideal for IoT devices due to its excellent battery life.
NB-IoT vs. LoRaWAN
LoRaWAN consumes less power than NB-IoT. Moreover, the battery life of LoRaWAN devices is more than NB-IoT. But when we compare data throughput, it’s better in NB-IoT.
Data security sets both these technologies apart. NB-IoT has secure data encryption. That’s why it’s safer than LoRaWAN.
Common Applications of LoRaWAN
LoRaWAN is compatible with IoT applications. Some most common applications of LoRaWAN are:
- Smart Cities
- Smart Healthcare
- Smart Agriculture
- Smart Environment
It has many other daily life applications, such as parking management, GPS tracking, traffic monitoring, and air pollution control.
Final Words
We have found that LoRaWAN has some fantastic applications in daily life. So, for LoRa design services, you can contact Arshon Technology. We have an excellent background in high-tech fields.
