EchoStar Mobile launches pan-European satellite-based LoRa IoT early adopter programme:
I realise that LoRaWAN is much more popular in Europe than in the USA, and perhaps this is because of the relatively poor LoRa coverage there. Furthermore, LoRa is limited to a few kilometres or perhaps 10s of kilometers in most cases. However, one possible interesting solution is described here - satellite relays.
In a move that the mobile satellite services provider confidently predicts will unlock massive internet of things (IoT) capability across Europe, EchoStar Mobile has unveiled an early adopter programme for the pan-European satellite-based LoRa (long range) IoT service and has released a whitepaper outlining the benefits of massive IoT.
The LoRa Alliance is an open, non-profit association whose members collaborate and share experiences to promote and drive the success of the LoRaWAN standard as the leading open global standard for secure, carrier-grade IoT LPWAN connectivity. Described as intrinsically affordable and simple to install, LoRaWAN is designed to bridge terrestrial networks with worldwide satellite connectivity to offer low-power ubiquitous connectivity to fill the gap in IoT use cases using unlicensed frequency bands to transmit data over a far longer range than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
[...] A low-power networking protocol, LoRa is regarded as ideal for connecting battery-powered devices; however, until now, its use has been limited to receiving data from immobile devices in areas with terrestrial connectivity. The EchoStar Mobile LoRa solution allows sensors to roam freely in real time while sending and receiving information, making use of the company's licensed S-band spectrum and capacity on the EchoStar XXI geostationary satellite with a LoRa-enabled module that integrates easily into IoT devices. Compatible with terrestrial ISM-band LoRaWAN networks, the module incorporates the compact LR1120 chipset from Semtech, making it portable and capable of roaming anywhere within the satellite footprint, which spans the European continent.
[...] "LoRa connectivity makes up 45% of today's global IoT networks; it's perfect for connecting low-powered 'things', yet its reliance on terrestrial connectivity restricts its usefulness," explained EchoStar Mobile vice-president and general manager Telemaco Melia.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 08 2022, @07:04PM (4 children)
The terrestrial range is a few kilometers, but if these satellites are in a low LEO, what is that, 200 or so km? If I put my little 100 mW LoRa device [adafruit.com] out, that can do 2-way comms? This would be super convenient, but I suppose it also means that all your cheap electronic stuff will eventually have the ability to talk (spy on you?) from anywhere across a good chunk of the Earth.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 08 2022, @08:20PM (2 children)
It's not using LEO satellites - it's using a geostationary one that covers Europe (EchoStar XXI geostationary satellite). Now sure how they're intending on picking up lots of 100mW signals from 36,000km away...
And not sure what the TX power is in the S-band: https://www.semtech.com/products/wireless-rf/lora-edge/lr1120 [semtech.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday May 08 2022, @08:47PM (1 child)
So wait, 100 mW radiating into 2pi give you about 15 mW per sq meter 1-meter away. That ends up being 15 mW/(3.6e7)^2 = 1.2e-17 Watts per sq meter 36,000 km away? How big are their antennas going to be???
Maybe they're not detecting individual transmitters, but the LoRa repeater network instead? Aw crap, now it looks like I'm going to actually have to read the friendly article!
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 09 2022, @04:59AM
> That ends up being 15 mW/(3.6e7)^2 = 1.2e-17 Watts per sq meter 36,000 km away? How big are their antennas going to be???
I've done 2mW WSPR contacts from 14,000 km away. With an inverted-V antenna an unoptimal low distance from the ground, without any short-cuts through space.
A big chunk of radio technology is achieving electrical amplification in the >140dB/10^14 range. Those numbers don't look out of the ordinary.
Now look at the EME/Moonbounce Ham activity that does the same with ~30W to 384,000 kms, off a shiny rock, and back, where the path loss is like 250-270dB...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 09 2022, @02:20PM
isn't spying the whole point of iot? muh datas!