Wi-Fi vs. LoRaWAN for Environmental Monitoring: Which is Right for You?

The importance of environmental monitoring has grown in the recent past across various sectors including Life Sciences, Pharmaceuticals among others. Data transmission in such environments has to be efficient. Two technologies that have gained significant attention in the last few years are Wi-Fi and LoRaWAN. But which of them is more appropriate for your case? This comparison will compare and contrast the two technologies based on a number of factors to assist you in your decision making.

What is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is a type of wireless communication protocol which enables devices to connect to a local area network (LAN) through the transmission of radio waves. The concept was developed from the IEEE 802. 11 standard, Wi-Fi has become a common and essential part of the homes and organizations across the globe. This is because it is very effective and user friendly and this is evident by the fact that it has been widely used.

What is LoRaWAN?

LoRaWAN is a low power wide area network technology developed for IoT applications as the name implies. It works on the LoRa (Long Range) physical layer with the aim of providing a vast coverage and low power consumption. LoRaWAN is most appropriate for use in applications that involve the transfer of data over long distances at the same time consuming low power.

Connectivity Range and Coverage

Wi-Fi Range

Wi-Fi has a short range of coverage and this is up to 100 meters indoors and 300 meters outdoors. Some of the factors that may limit its effective range include physical barriers and interference among others. Wi-Fi is suitable for small to medium size areas and not for large areas.

LoRaWAN Range

On the other hand, LoRaWAN has better range where it can cover up to 15km in rural areas and 5km in the urban area. This is because LoRaWAN has a very wide range which is suitable for large scale environmental monitoring for instance in warehouses or large open facilities.

Power Consumption

Wi-Fi Power Needs

Wi-Fi is quite power-hungry, mainly due to the fact that it provides fast data transfer rate and is always on. Wi-Fi based devices have to be charged frequently or kept on to charge all the time, which can be a major disadvantage for remote monitoring stations that cannot have data loggers with power cords.

LoRaWAN’s Low-Power Advantage

The power consumption is a major focus in the design of LoRaWAN. Devices can work with batteries for several years before the batteries are exhausted and have to be replaced. This feature is very useful in areas that are hard to access or in remote areas since it helps in minimizing on the cost of maintenance and yet the monitoring is continuous.

Data Transmission Speed

Wi-Fi Speed

Wi-Fi provides very high data transfer rates, which can go as high as several gigabits per second. This high speed is useful in applications that involve handling of real time data and large data transfer.

LoRaWAN Speed

LoRaWAN, however, gives up the speed to achieve the range and power efficiency. The data rates varied from 0. From 3 kbps to 50 kbps, LoRaWAN is not suitable for high bandwidth applications. However, it does so exceptionally well in sending small chunks of data at intervals, which is ideal for the sensors used in environmental monitoring.

Network Infrastructure

Wi-Fi Infrastructure Requirements

Wi-Fi network installation involves routers, access points, and in some cases, range extenders based on the area to be covered. If you already have a wi-fi network and router in place, the set up can be quite easy and won’t need the intervention of your IT team.

LoRaWAN Infrastructure Simplicity

LoRaWAN networks are relatively basic and include only gateways and end devices. A single LoRa gateway can have a coverage of a large area thus eliminating the need to have many devices. The simple structure reduces the initial and continuing costs of the system, which makes it very suitable for large scale applications. In most cases it will need the assistance of a professional.

Scalability

Wi-Fi Scalability

Wi-Fi networks can be challenging when it comes to scalability. Devices will only increase the traffic and cause more congestion in the network which will slow down the network. This is a disadvantage especially when there is need to use many sensors and devices. For smaller spaces with a limited amount of measurement points, Wi-Fi can be a good fit.

LoRaWAN Scalability

LoRaWAN is inherently scalable. It can handle thousands of devices within a single network and the performance is not compromised in the process. This scalability is particularly useful in applications that involve monitoring of the environment that requires the use of many sensors spread across a large area.

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