How much does LoRaWAN message confirmation really cost?

How much does LoRaWAN message confirmation really cost?

I get it - you want to know your data was received but at what cost?


What does "Confirmed" mean?

Your end device sends a message through the gateway to the LNS(LoRa Network Server) and then the LNS acknowledges that packet by sending an ACK back to the end device through the gateway.


Easy way of knowing that your packet was received right?

Not so fast.


Let's consider 2 facts:

  1. Most gateways are half-duplex...meaning that in order for the gateway to send a message to your 1 end-device on 1 channel it stops listening on ALL channels. If you have a dense network you block every other device from communicating to send 1 device a confirmation. Worth it?
  2. An end device configured to transmit its message 3 times with a properly installed gateway density has a 99.01%. probability of at least one message being successfully transmitted. Note: The NbTrans feature in the stack adjusts the number of transmissions.

So the strategy of using unconfirmed messages, with good gateway density, and transmissions(NbTrans) set to 3+, leverages statistical probability to ensure message success without unnecessarily taxing the network. This approach acknowledges the limitations of half-duplex gateways and optimizes for the highest possible message success rate while maintaining network availability for all devices. Switching to confirmed doesn't increase the chances of messages being received and it hurts the network's ability to hear another device.

If you want to dive into the technical details:

Source: Semtech Predicting Lorawan Capacity


There's a balance between network efficiency and reliability. Confirmed messages do offer a sense of security, knowing that a message has been received, they come with their own set of challenges and inefficiencies, especially in dense networks.

For those interested in further optimizing their LoRaWAN networks, exploring advanced features like adaptive data rate (ADR) and channel optimization can provide additional benefits. Each element of the network, from device to LNS, offers opportunities for enhancement, making it essential to stay informed about the latest developments in LoRa technology and best practices.

Remember, the goal is to build a network that not only meets today's needs but is also prepared to scale and adapt to the evolving demands of IoT applications. As we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible with LoRaWAN, the emphasis on smart, efficient network design has never been more critical.

~Josh


If you need a LoRaWAN Pro, Oxit is here to help! Shoot us an email. [email protected] or drop me a DM on LinkedIn.

Harald Naumann

As the winner of the 5G NTN Antenna Award , I am happy to inform you about my 0 USD antenna concept and more – contact me!

9 个月

The study by Ilmenau University of Technology shows in months of measurements why LoRa doesn't work and Mioty does. Download study https://mioty-alliance.com/mioty-vs-lora-study-report/ 10 bytes and 1 % packet loss. LoRa manages less than 100 messages per minute. Mioty manages 5500 per minute. LoRaWAN uses 1 MHz bandwidth. Mioty 180 kHz. I can therefore achieve 27500 messages per minute with 5 parallel Mioty gateways. So 27500 messages verses 100 with LoRaWAN. Sooner or later, cities and companies realise that something is wrong with LoRaWAN. Something is strange. Packet losses are high. Three LoRaWAN networks in one city turn into chaos. Just test it yourself. Buy a kit from me and install the Mioty gateway where you have the highest packet loss with LoRaWAN. LoRaWAN does not interfere with Mioty. The packet loss is about 1%. Questions are welcome at harald.naumann (at) lte-modem .com.

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Adrian Firth

Principal Architect - Mobile Data & IoT

9 个月

Sounds a lot like Good Luck Protocol ??.

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Fabien Petitgrand

Chief Technology Officer at ubiik inc.

9 个月

“As we continue to push the boundaries of what's possible with LoRaWAN, the emphasis on smart, efficient network design has never been more critical”. Do you know many large-scale LoraWAN networks with more than 100 devices per gateway? Any half-decently designed proticol would be able to acknowledge all uplinks, like Weightless or NB-IOT.

Andrew Maggio

Founder and Director of Technology & Operations at Meshed Pty Ltd

9 个月

Great advice. It might not feel right if you’re coming from the IP network world, but LoRaWAN can support very dense networks when done right.

Steve Wenner

Electronics | Embedded | Hardware | PCB Design | Wireless Expert

9 个月

Nice article Josh!...In the end no wireless network is 100% guaranteed. If something is critical you'd be better off to be wired.

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