LPWAN Range Calculator
Compare LPWAN range using link budget, path loss, fade margin, obstacles, and practical planning caps.
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lpwan
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A learner-ready LPWAN range animation with range rings, link-budget waterfall, scenario presets, technology comparison, quick reference, and technical accuracy notes.
Animation
LPWAN
Range
Link Budget
LPWAN Range Calculator
Compare LoRaWAN, Sigfox, NB-IoT, and LTE-M with the same deployment assumptions. The lab separates radio link budget from fade margin, obstacle loss, environment, and practical planning caps so the estimate stays useful instead of overconfident.
LoRaWAN
Focus technology
-- km
Planning range
-- dB
Usable path loss
--
Longest under settings
Range Rings and Link Budget
Rings show planning range for each LPWAN technology. The highlighted ring follows the selected focus technology.
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Link Budget
Radio budget before deployment safety margins.
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Path Loss
Log-distance teaching model using frequency and environment exponent.
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Planning Cap
Stops a clean formula from promising unrealistic field coverage.
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Result
Final range is the smaller of model range and planning cap.
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LPWAN Range Quick Reference
Core terms
- Link budget: TX power plus gains minus receiver sensitivity and losses.
- Fade margin: safety reserve for real-world variation.
- Path-loss exponent: how quickly signal decays in an environment.
- Planning cap: practical upper bound for a deployment assumption.
Technology pattern
- LoRaWAN: private or public unlicensed networks, flexible data rate.
- Sigfox: very small uplinks and operator network model.
- NB-IoT: deep coverage and carrier-managed cellular IoT.
- LTE-M: better mobility and data rate, usually lower range than NB-IoT.
Common mistakes
- Using receiver sensitivity without fade margin.
- Ignoring indoor or vegetation loss.
- Comparing unlicensed and carrier networks only by distance.
- Treating a one-link formula as a coverage guarantee.
Field planning
- Use drive tests or site surveys for final planning.
- Check local duty-cycle and transmit-power rules.
- Reserve more margin for battery devices in unknown orientation.
- Validate downlink needs, not only uplink reach.
Technical Accuracy Notes
Range is a planning estimate
This lab uses a log-distance model for learning. Real LPWAN range depends on terrain, antenna height, clutter, interference, gateway density, and operator configuration.
Sensitivity is data-rate dependent
LoRa spreading factor, NB-IoT repetition, bandwidth, and coding settings change sensitivity and airtime. The values here are representative teaching defaults.
Carrier coverage is not only RF
NB-IoT and LTE-M also depend on carrier deployment, roaming, SIM profile, network policy, and supported bands.
Uplink and downlink can differ
Gateways and base stations often have better antennas than devices. A link that works uplink may still have downlink duty-cycle or scheduling limits.
Practice Prompts
Make range collapse
Switch to indoor, add 25 dB obstacle loss, and raise fade margin. Explain why receiver sensitivity no longer dominates.
Compare unlicensed and cellular
Use rural settings, then decide whether a private LoRaWAN gateway or a carrier NB-IoT plan is more appropriate.
Check a mobile asset
Choose the mobile scenario and compare LTE-M to NB-IoT. Discuss why mobility and latency may matter more than maximum range.
Plan a sensor
Pick a payload pattern and record the technology, range estimate, and margin you would verify in a field survey.