Range and Capacity of LoRa 2.4 GHz

International audienceLoRa 2.4 GHz is a new variant of LoRa networks that uses the 2.4 GHz ISM band, different from the standard 868 MHz LoRa version. The LoRa physical layer takes advantage of a Chirp Spreading Spectrum (CSS) modulation with robust signals for transmission over long distances. While the standard LoRa in the 868 MHz band covers a range of 5-10 km, the actual capacity and range of LoRa 2.4 GHz are still not yet fully investigated. A shorter range is expected with the higher carrier frequency and an increased bandwidth. However, the wider bandwidth allows for the transmission of larger frames and a shorter airtime. In this study, we evaluate the coverage range and capacity of LoRa 2.4 GHz through precise simulations, taking into account a path loss model tailored for urban environments and frequencies over 2 GHz. We also take into account the effect of Rician or Rayleigh fading, as well as collisions in low and high load traffic conditions. The results show a maximum range of 1.1 km and capacity around 310 nodes for low traffic and the case in which each node in the network benefits from a minimum 60% Packet Delivery Ratio (PDR). This range drops to 700 m when the target PDR increases to 90%, accommodating 120 nodes. Under the assumption of Rayleigh fading and for the target PDR of 60 % and heavy load, the range attains 350 m with capacity of 30 nodes, and it drops to 120 m for the 90% target PDR