Webinar Briefing & FAQ: LoRa Meets Arduino, a Journey in the LPWAN World is Available On-Demand!

The following webinar is now available for On-Demand Viewing:

• LoRa Meets Arduino, a Journey in the LPWAN World

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During this webinar,  Andrea Richetta, head of the Pro/IoT market at Arduino gave an overview of the LPWAN world, focusing on LoRa and the available solutions from Arduino.   He was kind of enough to stay 90 minutes at the end of webinar to answer as many of your questions as possible.  This presentation included a survey, which was very popular, as well as a giveaway based on questions asked.   There were approximately 400 questions asked during the presentation so unfortunately we were not able to get to them all.   However, in addition to the questions answered during the presentation, you can find a representative sample of all the questions that were asked below.

Also,  be sure to check out the resources below to learn more about LoRa and Arduino:

• Webinar Primer: Upcoming Arduino Webinar on LoRa, MKR WAN 1310 Tech Specs, and LoRa Project Roundup!
• IoT II LoRaWAN for Internet of Things Applications
• Webinar Poll:  Which LoRa Application Interests You the Most?
• Arduino Fundamentals: Part I: Quiz

Agenda:

• Introduction to LPWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network)
• Overview of the different technologies (NbIoT , Sigfox, LoRa)
• Overview on LoRa technology
• Focus on Arduino MKR WAN 1310
• Focus on Arduino Pro Gateway for LoRa
• Creating a dashboard in the Arduino IoT Cloud
• Use cases
• Q&A

Survey Results:

Q&A Session:

I want to Know if it is possible to a made a drone with arduino mkr wan 1310?

If you want to control it in real time it is not the best option.

How many keys will be generated with this crypto chip ECC508A? Is there any possibility to update the keys In future? What protocol is used to generate the key number? If we miss match /loss of key is there any problem for the entire system.

The ECC 508 has 16 slots, some of them are write only. you can have more information on the chip itself here : https://www.microchip.com/wwwproducts/en/ATECC508A#additional-features or on our library here https://github.com/arduino-libraries/ArduinoECCX08

Would you consider using LoRa in far to reach places or would you use other transmitting technologies or maybe a combination?

It really depends, LoRA can reach really long distances, so you can leverage on it, or mix with other technologies to reach mid distances. the Topology is quite flexible.

Did Arduino organisation thought about also supporting scripting languages like Python (like Raspberry, Micro::Bit or MicroPython)?

yes, we are shipping now the new Portenta H7 form the PRO family of products. You can get more info here https://www.arduino.cc/pro/hardware/product/portenta-h7

Arduino cloud needs to be explored more

Sure, you can start from here : https://www.arduino.cc/en/IoT/HomePage

In what way (why) is the Arduino solution simpler , fastest? Compared to other solutions?

the Arduino solution, hardware, software and cloud , is built around the mindset of having a solution that is easy for beginners and fast for professionals. regarding the Cloud you can start from here https://www.arduino.cc/en/IoT/HomePage and look at it.

When we talk about lower power it often also means battery powered. Many vendors talk about the many years of ideal battery life using their product, but how many years are realistic. I’ve seen battery specs where the internal leakage is greater than the product current drain. What about the effects of temperature or humidity? What about the changes in internal battery resistance with age? What are the best types of battery use? Thank you for your reply.

When you want to Deal with batteries, you have to plan the usage accordingly. there are several factors, apart from shoosing a good battery , that you have to take into account. environmental conditions are one of the most challenging issues to address. the battery life indicated, are normally referred to a standard condition. on top of the temperature issues, the usage of the board (transmitting cycles, power management) are other aspects to plan, in order to get a realistic estimation of the battery life.

Would you consider that it could be used safely for online authorization of card or mobile payments in vending machines?

you have to keep in mind that the LoRa standard needs some time to deliver the message to the network. if you need a constant uplink / downlink operations, I would suggest NB-IoT .

I bought a Arduino MKR WAN 1300, and I do not know how to put the MCU in deep sleep in order to save primary battery

I suggest you to start from here https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/ArduinoLowPower.

does Arduino have any current or planned products for NB-IoT?

WE have already available the Arduino  MKR NB 1500  board that is NB-IoT and CAT-M compatible : https://store.arduino.cc/arduino-mkr-nb-1500-1413

Can it be used for triangulation/ location tracking like its possible with cellular & wan as in the slide shown?

Yes, here's a whitepaper from Lora Alliance https://lora-alliance.org/sites/default/files/2018-04/geolocation_whitepaper.pdf

Have the ARDUINO MKR WAN 1310 modules been used as an alternative to bring Internet connectivity to rural areas or similar projects?

No, this technology is not suitable to bring standard internet connectivity. Can be used in conjunction with the Internet connectivity to reach rural areas and manage end nodes telemetry transmissions

Compared to Lora, Isn't Zigbee a good solution if the distance is not long enough?

are different technologies, Zig bee is in the PAN (Personal area Network) and can reach distance in the range of some meters, LoRa can reach Kilometers. If your need, in terms of distance,  is inside the range of 10-15 mt, Zigbee is good.

Can we connect MKR WAN 1300 / 1310 to an operated LORA net, like OBJENIOUS or ORANGE in France?

The MKR 1310 is compatible with the official LoraWan standard..

Greetings! Do you have an idea of the minimum power consumption possible with an MKR WAN 1310 board, battery powered, and with minimal RF radio power ? Can all board peripherals be disconnected from power source if not needed ? Thanks!

the MKR 1310 can go as low as 104 Micro Ampere in deep sleep mode. you can build your own optimized firmware based on your needs

If Semtech is the inventor of the technology & they are also Hardware producers of the Chip that supports Lora ,why Arduino chooses to go with the Microchips Chips for their Modules ?

on the MKR WAN 1310, Microchip is used for the D21 Microcontroller. the Murata module, used for LoRaWan comms, is built around the SX1276 from Semtech. Datasheet is here https://content.arduino.cc/assets/mkrwan1310-murata_lora_module-type_abz.pdf

Is it viable to power MKR WAN 1310 boards via solar? I'm looking at 2 to 3 messages a day.

Yes, absolutely. the MKR WAN 1310 is capable to go as low as 104 Micro Ampere, so it's suitable for a solar powered environment

On setup can I remotely manage MKR WAN 1310 boards ? Or will I need to visit them in the field?

You can get information from the board and interact with it by sending downlink messages . You can get more information https://lora-developers.semtech.com/library/tech-papers-and-guides/lorawan-class-a-devices/.

By what method are the network and application keys shared for secure communication?

You can find more information here : https://lora-alliance.org/sites/default/files/2019-05/lorawan_security_whitepaper.pdf

What level of AES encryption is being used to secure the payload? 128?

Yes.

Can I use LoraWan for realtime communications or just data transmission?

Realtime operations are not the best use case for LoraWan networks.

On top of AES encryption, what other layers of security are included in LoRaWAN?

the MKR Wan 1310 features a crypto chip for secure operations . Datasheet is here https://content.arduino.cc/assets/mkr-microchip_atecc508a_cryptoauthentication_device_summary_datasheet-20005927a.pdf

What types of interferences are you finding in urban/rural environments?

any physical object that can interphere with the radio propagation. in a urban context, the first obstacles are the buildings. In a rural context, mainly hills and large, dense and high trees.

If there are multiple nodes (say 5-10) within a smaller area (say 5-10 m) will they interfere with each other?

No, there are no problem

How possibly can we scale the network when we go for production?

By adding more gateways to cover specific needs in terms of availability and total coverage

How much storage is in crypto chip?

up to 16 slots of variable size. full datasheet https://content.arduino.cc/assets/mkr-microchip_atecc508a_cryptoauthentication_device_summary_datasheet-20005927a.pdf

Is it completely legal to make a private lorawan based network, for your devices?

As long as you respect the local regulations with your infrastructure, yes.

Does this support micropython on Mkr1310?

no, is not intended to be used with micropython

Do you recommend the 1300 or 1310 MKR board? What are the key differences?

the MKR Wan 1300 is perfect for applications with a stable current available (ex. if you want to use on a tractor that has the ability to provide power) . the MKR WAN 1310 is perfect to run on batteries, because of a consumption of as low as 104 micro Ampere

does the MKR WAN 1310 have a low voltage cutoff when running on LiPo battery?

Yes

how LORA makes geo localization ? Which precision ?

here is a good whitepaper from Lora Alliance : https://lora-alliance.org/sites/default/files/2018-04/geolocation_whitepaper.pdf

How is it effective in hilly areas?

it depends, the best condition is the line of sight, starting from there, you can start to plan . a good read : https://www.itu.int/en/ITU-D/Regional-Presence/AsiaPacific/SiteAssets/Pages/Events/2019/ITU-ASP-CoE-Training-on-/IoT%20network%20dimensioning%20and%20planning_vf.pdf

What are the target applications of the MKR WAN 1310?

Low power applications, remote environmental sensoring, field monitoring, building management.

do I need the official Arduino Gateway , or can I use a MKR WAN board and connect it to my home network(with a Lan shield)?

MKR WAN 1310 supports any kind of LoraWan network

Have you seen any underwater applications of LoRa/LoRaWAN?

No, it's quite difficult to transmit radio waves in a underwater environment

Am I able to add a solar panel to Vin or USB of the MKR 1310 to charge an attached LiPo battery?

It's more convenient to have a full solar system that charges an external battery and then power the board.

How is SAMD21 communicate with CMWX1ZZABZ done? Is it fully supported in the provided firmware?

yes absolutely supported by the firmware. The communication is transparent between the SAMD1 and the Murata Module. here's the reference . https://www.arduino.cc/en/Reference/MKRWAN

ECC508 connected through Single-wire or I2C interface?

Is connected through I2C.

Where in the IOT market place do you see your product fitting in with competitors such at 5G?

There are multiple occasions: where there is no or poor coverage from the telecom carriers, when you need to deploy your own network, when you don't want to deal with SIM . More in general, every LPWAN solution has pros and cons. We embrace all the differnent tecnologies (NB IoT, CAT-M, Sigfox and LoRa) because we want to help our users to find the best solution for their needs

Can I use Arduino IoT cloud with other manufacture's devices and gateways?

As of now, we support our gateway, with the MKR WAN 1310 or other end nodes boards.

Is Arduino cloud free? What is message/data limit?

yes, is freemium. you can check here the differences between free and maker plan https://store.arduino.cc/digital/create

Is the Lora gateway compatible only with arduino mkr series? or any lora board can be used.

Other LoRa Boards can be used

Does the Arduino Cloud is Free Like the TTN (the things network) ?

yes, in freemium. you can check here the differences between free and maker plan https://store.arduino.cc/digital/create

Does any SAMD21 GPIO support the push-button interface?

Yes, you can use any push button, switch, you like.

How do you see the application of Gas detection with remote monitoring capabilities specially when you are talking about Oil and Gas industry and all the steel structure

It's a perfect situation where you can successfully use a remote node with LoRa capabilities. Just bear in mind regarding the latency, that is around 3 minutes. If you need less latency, some other technology could be more useful, like 3G.

Have any field tests been done with the Arduino MKR 1310 boards to connect to public satellites like the Fossat and what is the maximum data rate achievable?

Still aren't any tests made.

Is it possible to do peer to peer and connect to a gateway.

No, while p2p is allowed from the board, cannot be mixed with the star topology.

How does the congestion of the frequency spectrum affect the future growth of tech such as LoRa?

the LoraWan association is alway looking to guarantee the best condition in terms of connectivity. I do not see big issues in the future.

Is a license required for it's frequency usage?

No, it operates in ISM bands

Even though LoRa WAN is very capable in current stages. What is holding it back from adoption in industries, smart cities, environment monitoring. There are lots of hobby projects and small deployments but still it is not adopted as widespread as it should be.

LoRa is growing really fast. We expect a big traction in the next year.

What's the maximum range in a city compared to an open field?

as said, it really depends on gateway position, obstacles etc, but we can consider 1 KM in a urban context and 5 KM in rural context. in perfect condition, the actual world record is 700+ Km

Will the mobile operators always compete with LoRaWAN providers or are there opportunities for collaboration in hybrid solutions?

Yes, there are some areas of collaboaration. Orange network is actually active in the LoraWan association. https://lora-alliance.org/showcase/alliance-member/orange

Regarding vehicles, is it advisable to locate the node inside the vehicle or should it be located outside with a protective casing to have a good quality link with the gateway?

the car chassis could be an obstacle. you can place only the antenna outside, while keepint the board inside the vehicle.

I'm planning to build a COVID-19 tracker using the RSSI value. How possibility can I scale the Lora network in production?

it really depends on the accuration you need in terms of meters. LoRa has this capability, but do not expects the same accuracy of a GPS

When the keys are shared between the device end and the application end, are they secured/encrypted in any way?

You can find some info here : https://lora-alliance.org/sites/default/files/2018-04/what-is-lorawan.pdf

Lora Wan will support smartphone applications? Like for example application for a drone ?

Not as of now. the technology is not intended to be used for control a drone because of the latency.

Can I use ARDUINO MKR1310 for long range drone control and telementry??

For telemetry could be good, keeping in mind the latency. for the same reason, the protocol itself is not suitable for controlling the drone.

Knowing that power is an important aspect in loraWAN and especially for the MKR1310 module. Is Arduino thinking of providing solutions to users such as solar power systems or hybrid solar panels/batteries, or is there only the possibility of LiPo batteries at the moment?

You can use any available system for power the board with a solar panel. using the standard USB at 5V coming from the power regulator of the solar panel, you can power the board and charge the battery.