AiVibeLoRaWAN
LoRaWAN is an open low-power wide-area networking protocol, specified by the LoRa Alliance, that connects battery-powered devices to the internet through gateways using LoRa radio modulation in unlicensed sub-gigahertz bands.
LoRaWAN uses a star-of-stars topology: end devices transmit using LoRa chirp spread spectrum modulation, any gateway in range forwards received packets over IP to a network server, and the network server removes duplicates, manages the network and passes data to application servers. Spreading factors trade data rate against range, and adaptive data rate optimises them per device. Device classes A, B and C offer increasing downlink availability at the cost of power consumption, with Class A the most energy-efficient.
LoRaWAN networks can be public, operated by service providers or communities, or private, deployed by a company on its own site with its own gateways and network server. Industrial uses include metering, tank and silo levels, environmental sensors, asset tracking, condition monitoring indicators and smart building applications, especially across large sites where cabling or cellular coverage is impractical.
Data rates are low and payloads small, and regional regulations on unlicensed bands impose limits such as duty cycles, so LoRaWAN suits periodic monitoring rather than control or streaming. Security uses AES-128 with separate network and application session keys, and devices join through over-the-air activation or activation by personalisation, with over-the-air activation preferred. Regional parameters define frequency plans for each part of the world.
Key points
- Open LPWAN protocol specified by the LoRa Alliance
- Uses LoRa chirp spread spectrum in unlicensed sub-GHz bands
- Star-of-stars topology with gateways and a network server
- Device classes A, B and C trade power against downlink availability
- AES-128 security; over-the-air activation is preferred
Where AiVibe comes in
AiAmbA IoT is AiVibe's edge protocol layer: it discovers devices and normalises industrial signals, with supported protocols including Siemens S7, Mitsubishi MC, Delta Modbus, OPC UA and MQTT, and driver availability confirmed per installation. Writes to machines are deny-by-default.