LoRa (Low Power Wide Area Network) and LoRaWAN (LoRa Network Protocol) are two related but different concepts that together form a solution for long-range communication in the Internet of Things (IoT).
LoRa:
Definition: LoRa is a modulation technology used to achieve long-distance, low-power wireless communication.
Features: LoRa technology allows devices to communicate over long distances with low power consumption, and is suitable for IoT devices. It achieves good transmission range through modulation technology, allowing devices to communicate over a range of several kilometers to tens of kilometers.
Purpose: LoRa technology is often used to build private, small-scale IoT networks, such as applications in agriculture, industry, and cities.
LoRaWAN:
Definition: LoRaWAN is a communication protocol based on LoRa technology and is used to build a large-scale, low-power wireless Internet of Things.
Features: The LoRaWAN protocol specifies the communication rules between devices and gateways in the LoRa network, including specifications for data transmission, security, device management, etc. It allows the establishment of open, cloud-based IoT networks on a global scale.
Purpose: LoRaWAN is widely used in smart cities, agriculture, environmental monitoring and other fields. Its openness and standardization enable devices to communicate across different networks.
the difference:
Technical level: LoRa is a modulation technology, and LoRaWAN is a communication protocol based on LoRa technology.
Scope: LoRaWAN is typically used to build a larger IoT that supports device-to-cloud communication, while LoRa technology itself is more commonly used for local, small-scale IoT networks.
Communication specifications: LoRaWAN defines the communication rules between devices and gateways, including data formats, encryption, and device management, while LoRa technology itself does not specify these details.
LoRa and LoRaWAN work together. LoRa provides physical layer communication technology, while LoRaWAN defines a higher-level communication protocol based on this. In practical applications, LoRa modules are often used together with the LoRaWAN protocol to build a wide-coverage, low-power IoT network. LoRaWAN can be considered as a specific implementation utilizing LoRa technology, a communication protocol designed to meet the needs of large-scale IoT across the globe.