1070  LPWAN Comprehensive Assessment

1070.1 Introduction

This comprehensive assessment suite tests your deep understanding of LPWAN technologies through structured quizzes covering fundamentals, technology selection, regulatory compliance, and real-world deployment scenarios.

NoteLearning Objectives
  • Demonstrate mastery of LPWAN concepts through comprehensive quizzes
  • Apply LPWAN knowledge to complex real-world scenarios
  • Understand regulatory constraints and compliance requirements
  • Develop strategies for technology selection and risk mitigation

1070.2 Assessment Structure

The LPWAN comprehensive assessment is organized into three focused chapters:

1070.2.1 1. Fundamentals Assessment

LPWAN Assessment: Fundamentals

Core concepts and foundational knowledge:

  • LPWAN defining characteristics (low bandwidth, long range, low power)
  • LoRaWAN vs Sigfox capability comparison
  • Basic cost analysis and TCO concepts
  • Technology selection fundamentals

Topics Covered: - What makes LPWAN unique? - Payload size constraints - Message frequency limits - Battery life considerations

1070.2.2 2. Technology Selection Assessment

LPWAN Assessment: Technology Selection

Advanced scenarios for multi-criteria decision making:

  • Complex deployment scenarios with competing constraints
  • Enterprise-scale TCO analysis (50,000+ devices)
  • Spectrum allocation understanding (licensed vs unlicensed)
  • Agricultural and industrial deployment optimization

Topics Covered: - GPS tracker requirements analysis - Water utility smart meter deployments - Spectrum trade-offs between technologies - Private network ROI calculations

1070.2.3 3. Regulatory and Deployment Assessment

LPWAN Assessment: Regulatory Compliance

Real-world operational challenges:

  • Duty cycle compliance calculations (ETSI regulations)
  • Scaling challenges when expanding deployments
  • Operator risk mitigation strategies
  • Global logistics deployment planning

Topics Covered: - EU868 duty cycle mathematics - High-frequency update violations - Sigfox operator bankruptcy scenarios - Cellular vs LPWAN for mobile assets

1070.3 Quick Assessment

Before diving into the detailed assessments, test your readiness:

TipSelf-Check Questions

Can you answer these without looking at references?

  1. What are the three defining characteristics of LPWAN?
  2. What is Sigfox’s maximum uplink payload size?
  3. How many seconds of transmission per hour does 1% duty cycle allow?
  4. Why do recurring costs dominate cellular IoT TCO at scale?
  5. When would you choose NB-IoT over LoRaWAN despite higher cost?

1070.4 Assessment Difficulty Levels

Chapter Difficulty Recommended Prerequisites
Fundamentals Intermediate Basic IoT knowledge
Technology Selection Advanced Fundamentals assessment
Regulatory Compliance Advanced Selection assessment

1070.5 Learning Path

NoteRecommended Progression

New to LPWAN: 1. Review LPWAN Introduction 2. Complete Fundamentals Assessment 3. Study LoRaWAN Overview and Sigfox Fundamentals 4. Complete Technology Selection Assessment

Preparing for Deployment: 1. Complete all three assessments 2. Review LPWAN Architectures 3. Study regulatory requirements for your target region 4. Complete Regulatory Assessment

1070.6 Further Reading

LPWAN Comparisons: - “LPWAN Technologies for IoT and M2M Applications” by Bhaumik et al. - LoRa Alliance Technical Marketing Workgroup whitepapers - Sigfox technical documentation

Standards Bodies: - LoRa Alliance: www.lora-alliance.org - Weightless SIG: www.weightless.org - ETSI (European regulations) - FCC (US regulations)

Online Resources: - The Things Network: Community-driven LoRaWAN resources - TTN Mapper: Global LoRaWAN coverage maps - Sigfox coverage: www.sigfox.com/coverage

1070.7 Summary

This comprehensive assessment suite provides structured evaluation of LPWAN knowledge across three domains:

  • Fundamentals: Core characteristics and basic technology comparison
  • Technology Selection: Multi-criteria decision making for complex deployments
  • Regulatory Compliance: Real-world operational and legal constraints

Key Skills Demonstrated: - Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) analysis for multi-year deployments - Duty cycle compliance calculations for regulatory adherence - Multi-criteria decision making for technology selection - Understanding of trade-offs between private and public network models

1070.8 What’s Next

Begin your assessment journey:

Or continue learning: