Working Principles
The Beiselen TTN (The Things Network) Smart Sensor is an advanced sensor device that relies on the working principles of IOT (Internet of Things) and LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network) technology. It collects and transmits environmental data related to temperature, humidity, light level, and battery voltage. The sensor uses low-power wireless communication and cooperates with the LoRaWAN class A protocol, which enables long-range communication with low power consumption by taking advantage of the trade-off between data rate and range.
Installation Guide
To install the TTN Smart Sensor (Beiselen), follow these steps:
Find an optimal location for the sensor: This should be a place where the sensor can collect useful data, unobstructed, and within the connectivity range of a LoRaWAN gateway.
Attach the sensor: The sensor comes with a mounting provision. Attach it securely to a stable base or body.
Connect to The Things Network: Once the physical installation is done, the sensor must be registered and configured on The Things Network to enable data communication.
Testing: Finally, conduct a few tests to ensure that the device is collecting and transmitting data correctly.
LoRaWAN Details
The TTN Smart Sensor (Beiselen) utilizes LoRaWAN class A protocol – the most energy-efficient LoRaWAN protocol. LoRaWAN supports bi-directional communication, meaning the sensors transmit data uplink, but can also receive downlink messages from the server. It operates in various frequency bands depending on location, such as 868MHz for Europe and 915MHz for North America and Australia.
Power Consumption
The sensor excels at energy efficiency with its power consumption as low as 40-50 μA during data transmission and significantly lower during idle periods due to its 'sleep' state. Its operation can run for years on a single charge, provided the data transmission frequency is not exceedingly high.
Use Cases
The TTN Smart Sensor (Beiselen) can be used in a multitude of ways, including:
Limitations
First, while LoRaWAN ensures the sensor has long-range capabilities, physical obstructions can reduce its effective range. Additionally, its maximum payload size is around 243 bytes, restricting the type and amount of data that can be sent at once. The sensor is also bound by the duty cycle restrictions in some regions, meaning it can transmit only a certain percentage of the time. Lastly, real-time communication may not be achieved due to the inherent design of LoRaWAN class A protocol, which may cause a latency in response time.