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Internet of Things Software Defined

Radio Technology for LoRaWAN Wireless
2021 12th International Symposium on Advanced Topics in Electrical Engineering (ATEE) | 978-1-6654-1878-2/20/$31.00 ©2021 IEEE | DOI: 10.1109/ATEE52255.2021.9425135

Communication: A survey
Alexandra Lavric1, Adrian I. Petrariu1. Liliana Anchidin1
Computers, Electronics and Automation Department, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Romania
2Student, Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Romania
3Stefan cel Mare University of Suceava, Romania
lavric@usm.ro

Abstract The past few years we have witnessed an increase in The main contribution of this paper is the design and the
the development of IoT concept. This concept entails the development of a LoRa traffic generator, that can generate a
connection of objects that surround us in our everyday life to
Internet. This paradigm where the human users are replaced by high level of traffic.
objects determines the appearance of different problems that are The paper is organized as follows: Section II presents the
related to: scalability of the systems and sensors, power supply IoT concept in the context of LoRaWAN communication
management techniques that must allow the sensor to operate for protocol and architecture. In Sections III the LoRa traffic
years and even decades and longer communication range suitable generator development is presented in detail. Section IV
for urban non-LoS. LoRa modulation among the LoRaWAN
communication protocol is regarded as a problem solver. In this presents the performance evaluation of the traffic generator
paper, we present the development and the design of a LoRa proposed architecture. The final section of the paper is
traffic generator that has the ability of generating a high volume represented by the conclusions. This paper comes as a
of traffic. This approach allows for the emulation of large scale continuation of our previous published work [4]-[8].
LoRaWAN networks without the need of additional costs. Thus,
the scalability and the reliability of LoRa networks can be II. Io T Co n c e p t An d L o r a Te c h n o l o gy
researched and studied in detail. From the obtained results the
LoRa traffic generator ensures a high level of performance and The major challenges of using the IoT concept are related to
can be used for future improvements of LoRa communication. ensuring a high autonomy, obtaining the lowest possible
energy consumption, the possibility of integrating as many
Keywords: Internet of Things, LoRaWAN, LoRa, sensors, wireless
communication sensors as possible, scalability and ensuring the highest
possible communication range.
I. In t r o d u c t io n Figure 1 depicts the communication stack, which includes
the radio frequency level, and the frequency bandwidths used
In recent years one we have witnessed about an ever- such as SRD (Short Range Devices), the physical level, which
increasing introduction of Internet of Things (IoT) includes modulation, LoRa as well as a spread spectrum
technologies in our daily life [1]. technique which is based on a chirp sequence, the MAC level
This IoT concept entails the connection of objects that and lastly the application level defined by the end user.
surround us in our everyday life to Internet. This paradigm
where the human users are replaced by objects determines the
appearance of different problems that are related to: scalability
of the sensors, power supply management techniques that must
allow the sensor to operate for years and even decades and long
communication range [2]. Long Range (LoRa) modulation
among the LoRaWAN communication protocol is regarded as
a problem solver. The LoRaWAN communication range is in
the order of tens of kilometres even in an urban environment
with specific non-LoS (Line of Sight) conditions. In this paper
we present the development and the design of a LoRa traffic
generator that has the ability of generating a high volume of
LoRa traffic [3]. Fig. 1. LoRaWAN communication protocol.

ISBN: 978-1-6654-1878-2/21/$31.00 ©2021 IEEE

Authorized licensed use limited to: Carleton University. Downloaded on May 30,2021 at 23:02:58 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
 The LoRaWAN protocol integrates at the physical layer the 09 125 *
10 125 *
LoRa modulation with a DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread 11 125 *
Spectrum) scheme inspired from Doppler radar systems, the 12 125 *
MAC (Medium Access Control) layer is defined by the 07 250 *
LoRaWAN Alliance [9]. The RF (Radio Frequency) layer
regulates the use of ISM (Industrial Scientific and Medical) Thus, one can see that not all combinations of all SF and BW
frequency band, so there is no need for licenses fees. can be considered orthogonal. One communication with a
The LoRa modulation uses different spreading factors (SF) specific (SF, BW) combination can overlap with another
SF7 to SF12 that allow for an increase of the communication communication that uses the same combination generating a
range in the detriment of the time-on-air and the data rate. The decrease in the performance level.
bandwidth of the communication channel for the ISM EU III. Lo r a Tr a f f ic Ge n e r a t o r De v e l o pm e n t
(Industrial Scientific and Medical) zone is 125kHz or 250kHz.
The symbol rate (SR) can be calculated with equation (1), This section presents the design of a LoRa traffic generator
meanwhile the chirp rate (CR) can be evaluated with equation that integrates Software Defined Radio (SDR) technologies.
(2). If by doing this calculation we obtain a different chirp rate, The analysis is realized by using technologies of an SDR type
then we can assume that the transmission is orthogonal. and measurements realized within a semi-anechoic chamber.
LimeSDR [10] platform was integrated in the traffic
BW generator.
SR = (1)
2 sf Most SDR systems have applications in the radio frequency
area while the Lime SDR module can be programmed and
BW 2 configured so that it can be capable of transmitting and
CR = (2)
2 SF receiving packets that are compatible with the following
technologies: UMTS, LTE, GSM, LoRa, Bluetooth, Zigbee
The SF separation mechanism allows for the separation of [7], RFID with a further possibility of configuration to serve
the communication, mechanism that allows for a high number the development and prototyping of new communication
of concurrent transmissions by using orthogonality thus protocols. The module makes use of an Altera Cyclone IV, a
increasing the performance level. Lime LMS7002M MIMO Microsystems transceiver capable
Table 2 presents the non-orthogonal (SF, BW) combinations of communication on the 100 kHz - 3.8 GHz bandwidth [10].
for EU SRD860 (Short Range Devices) frequency band. The In designing, testing, and implementing the LoRa traffic
special character used within the table indicates the fulfilment generator two approaches have been used. The implementation
of the non-orthogonality condition for the specified (SF, BW) of the traffic generator involves the use of the GNU Radio [11]
combination [4]. development environment. Due to the fact that the
TABLEI
No n -o r t h o g o n a l (SF, BW) c o m b in a t io n s f o r EU SDR860 f r e q u e n c y
environment doesn’t integrate a library that can allow the
BAND . implementation of the LoRa protocol, the re-transmission of
SF 07 08 09 10 11 12 07 some LoRa packets that have been captured by the Semtech
BW 125 125 125 125 125 125 250 SX1278 [12] has been attempted. Thus, the LoRa packet with
a SF that varied from 7 to 12 has been used with a bandwidth
07 125 * of 125 kHz. Figure 2 presents us with the schematic of the
08 125 * traffic generator in which the LoRa packet is sent at a 3 second

Options QT GUI Range

LimeSuite Sink (TX)
ID: top_bkx:k ID: tx_gain_dB
Device serial: 0009...74F2910
Variable Generate Options: Q T GUI Default Value: 0
Device type: UmeSDR-USB
ID: samp_rate Start: 0
Chip mode: SISO
Value: 1M Stop: 100
CHO: A
Step: 1
Load settings: NO
RF frequency: 868M
File Source
Sample rate: 1M
File: ...N_PLEN20B_cshort.raw IShort To Complex Multiply Const
Oversam ple: Default
Repeat: Yes Vector Input: No Constant: 4£8.281u
CH O :N CO frequency: 0
Add begin tag: ()
CH O :C M IX mode: UPCONVERT
CHO:Calibration: OFF
C H O :P A path: Bandl
CHOrAnalog f ilt e r O FF
CHO:Digital f ilt e r ON
CHO:Digital filte r bandw.: 12...5k
CHO:Gain,dB: 60

Fig. 2. GNU Radio LoRa traffic generator implementation - single packet.

Authorized licensed use limited to: Carleton University. Downloaded on May 30,2021 at 23:02:58 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
interval, a value that has been randomly chosen. The packets
are transmitted by using the aforementioned mechanism.
Within this implementation of the LoRa traffic generator when
the user wishes to shift SF or the channel BW he needs to select
another packet to be transmitted by the SDR from the variable
captured ones.
In Figure 3 is presented the spectrogram specific to a LoRa
network packet by using the architecture described in Figure 2.
The central frequency of the communication channel has been
of 868.3 MHz (LoRa channel number 2).
Frequency (MHz)
Fig. 3. LoRa GNU Radio Generator - single packet.
From the gathered results it can be seen that the packet
generated by means of SDR platform has the features of a LoRa
packet.
The role of the LoRa traffic generator is to become an
instrument used for scalability and performance evaluation of
WSN (Wireless Sensor Networks) from an IoT concept
perspective. As presented in Figure 4, to increase the generated
traffic, additional multiplexers were added.
Another method of increasing the performance level is to
integrate two SDR platforms. Figure 4 depicts the architecture
Fig. 4. GNU Radio LoRa traffic generator implementation - multi packet.
Authorized licensed use limited to: Carleton University. Downloaded on May 30,2021 at 23:02:58 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
that allows for the transmission of the modulated packets with
different SFs so that the generated traffic volume is very large.
In order to increase efficiency, two Lime SDR modules are used,
each of those modules featuring an integration of two
transceivers. Figure 5 presents the spectrogram of a LoRa
network packets achieved by using the architecture depicted in
Figure 4.
The central frequency of the communication channel has been
of 868.3 MHz. From the obtained results the packet that has been
generated by the use of the two transceivers integrated within the
SDR platform can be observed this time. The user cannot modify
the packets structure. At the same time of worthwhile mention
is flexible structure that ensures a high level of performance.
Fig. 5. LoRa GNU Radio Generator - multi packet
IV. L o r a Tr a f f ic Ge n e r a t o r Pe r for ma nce
Ev a l u a t i o n
In this section the evaluation of the performance level of the
LoRa traffic generators is presented. To evaluate the capture
effect, a test scenario created by means of using a TDK RF
Solution [13] manufactured semi-anechoic chamber has been
implemented due to the fact that an isolated environment is
required with no outside influences.
The used Gateway is a RAK7249 [14] LoRaWAN Gateway
developed by RakWireless. The device has the ability to
communicate simultaneous with a very high number of sensors
due to its dual transceiver configuration that has the ability to
monitor 16 communication channels concomitant.
Due to the fact that the distance between the LoRa sensor
and the GW module within the semi-anechoic chamber is short
(of approximately 1.5 m) the simulation of a large distance
between the sensor and GW has been attempted by means of
using 40 dB attenuators at the level of its antenna. This
attenuation is typically associated with a far communication
link. The test setup includes beside the LoRa traffic generator
also a typical LoRaWAN architecture that includes a Gateway
and some LoRa end nodes of HopeRF type [15].
The GNU Radio LoRa traffic generator is next tested. Thus,
within this functioning scenario the performance evaluation of
the proposed architecture is tested. In Figure 6 the LoRa
communication spectrum is depicted, as taken from within the
semi-anechoic chamber. It can be observed how the spectral
analyzer takes over the modulated signal coming from both the
LoRa sensor as well as the LoRa traffic generator. In this
situation, it can be seen that the traffic generator and one of the
HopeRF sensors communicate on adjacent channels as to be
more visible in the spectrogram.
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Fig. 6. LoRa Spectrum for the GNU LoRa Traffic Generator.
In this scenario, the spreading factor has been varied from
SF7 to SF12, with the bandwidth also undergoing a shift from
125kHz to 250kHz for SF7 only. This component is best
explained by the way of constructing the LoRa traffic generator
which makes use of captured packets that are sporadically sent
at different intervals of time. It is precisely this mechanism that
does allow for the creation of packets that may interfere with the
LoRa communication.
From the obtained results the LoRaWAN traffic generator
ensures a high level of performance, opening new research
directions in IoT scalability evaluations. The SDR configuration
is a flexible approach that can be easily extended and modified
according to specific setups. The user can select the LoRaWAN
packet configuration, communication channel bandwidth, and
the spreading factor, respectively. One disadvantage of the
Authorized licensed use limited to: Carleton University. Downloaded on May 30,2021 at 23:02:58 UTC from IEEE Xplore. Restrictions apply.
presented approach is the impossibility of selecting the packet
payload and the data structure embedded in the packet.
V. Co n c l u s i o n s
The GNU LoRa traffic generator can easily generate a high
volume of date. The implementation is configurable, flexible,
nd scalable becoming a powerful tool in LoRa communication
evaluation. The role of the LoRa traffic generator is to become
an instrument used for scalability and performance evaluation
of WSN (Wireless Sensor Networks) from an IoT concept
perspective. From the obtained results we can observe that
LoRaWAN traffic generator ensures a high level of
performance, opening new research directions in IoT
scalability evaluations. The SDR configuration is a flexible
approach that can be easily extended and modified according
to specific setups. The user can select the LoRaWAN packet
configuration, communication channel bandwidth, and
spreading factor.
Ac k n o w l edg ment
This work was supported by a grant of the Romanian
Ministry of Education and Research, CCCDI - UEFISCDI,
project number PN-III-P2-2.1-PTE-2019-0642, within PNCDI
III.
Re f e r en ces
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The New Era of IoT?,” 2019, doi: 10.1109/ISSI47P .2019.9043727.
[2] A. Lavric, “LoRa (long-range) high-density sensors for internet of things,”
J. Sensors, 2019, doi: 10.1155/2019/3502987.
Implementation and Testing in Real Environment,” 2019, doi:
10.1109/SIITME47687.2019.8990791.
[4] A. Lavric, A. I. Petrariu, E. Coca, and V. Popa, “Lora traffic generator
based on sofware defined radio technology for lora modulation
orthogonality analysis: Empirical and experimental evaluation,” Sensors
[5] A. Lavric and V. Popa, “Performance Evaluation of LoRaWAN
Communication Scalability in Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks,”
[6] A. LAVRIC, “Performance Evaluation of routing algorithms used in
largescale WSN: A Step Towards A Smart City,” PRZEGL4D
S to p 875 M H z ELEKTROTECHNICZNY, 2015, doi: 10.15199/48.2015.08.24.
[7] A. Lavric, V. Popa, C. Males, and I. Finis, “A performance study of
ZigBee wireless sensors network topologies for street lighting control
systems,” 2012, doi: 10.1109/iCOST.2012.6271280.
[8] A. Lavric, V. Popa, I. Finis, A. M. Gaitan, and A. I. Petrariu, “Packet error
rate analysis of IEEE 802.15.4 under 802.11g and bluetooth
interferences,” 2012, doi: 10.1109/ICComm.2012.6262616.
[9] A. Lavric and A. Loan Petrariu, “High-Density Low Power Wide Area
Networks,” 2019, doi: 10.1109/ECAI.2018.8678997.
[10] “LimeSDR.” https://limemicro.com/products/boards/limesdr/.
[11] B. Bloessl, L. Baumgärtner, and M. Hollick, “Hardware-Accelerated
Real-Time Stream Data Processing on Android with GNU Radio,” 2020,
doi: 10.1145/3411276.3412184.
[12] “Semtech sx1278.” https://www.semtech.com/products/wireless-rf/lora-
transceivers/sx1278.
[13] “TDK RF Solution.” https://www.tdkrfsolutions.tdk.com/.
[14] “RAK7249 LoRaWAN Gateway,” [Online]. Available:
https://store.rakwireless.com/products/rak7249-diy-outdoor-
gateway?variant=36526905622686.
[15] “LoRa Hope RF Sensor.”
http s://www.hop erf. com/module s/lora/index. html.