The arrival of the Internet of Things (IoT) era has brought new development opportunities to various industries. In IoT applications, stable data transmission is the key. At present, 4G and LoRa as two major wireless transmission technologies for IoT have their own advantages and disadvantages. In this paper, we will analyze these two technologies in depth to help readers fully understand their characteristics and provide reference for choosing suitable transmission solutions.
4G technology overview
4G is the fourth generation of mobile communication technology, compared with 3G has a higher transmission rate and wider coverage. 4G network is based on IP protocols, using OFDMA and SC-FDMA and other multicarrier technology, can provide higher bandwidth and lower latency. 4G network’s typical applications include high-definition video, online games, and industrial management (IOTRouter’s ET3420 built-in 4G). IOTRouter’s ET3420 has a built-in 4G communication module, which enables monitoring and management of remote equipment to improve maintenance efficiency).
LoRa Technology Overview
LoRa is a low-power wide area network (LPWAN) technology developed by Semtech, France. LoRa adopts linear FM spread spectrum modulation technology, featuring long-distance transmission, low power consumption, etc. LoRa network adopts a star topology, and the terminal equipment communicates with one or more gateways through a single hop. LoRa is mainly applied in the field of Internet of Things (IoT), such as smart meters, environmental monitoring and water level detection. As shown in the figure, IOTRouter’s ET2100 adopts the new LoRa spread spectrum technology, which provides longer distance, faster speed and stronger anti-interference ability. The working frequency band is 410~493MHz, the maximum transmit power is up to 30dBm, and the communication distance is up to 8Km.
Comparison of advantages and disadvantages of 4G and LoRa
1. Transmission distance
4G network has a wide coverage area, generally up to several kilometers. LoRa, on the other hand, can realize long-distance transmission over tens of kilometers, and performs better in remote areas or underground environments.
2. Transmission rate
The transmission rate of 4G network can reach more than 100Mbps, which is much higher than LoRa’s 0.3-50Kbps. 4G is therefore more suitable for high-bandwidth applications such as video and audio.
3. Power consumption
The power consumption of LoRa terminal devices is extremely low, with a battery life of more than 10 years. 4G devices consume more power and need to be recharged frequently. This makes LoRa more suitable for battery-powered IoT terminals.
4. Network deployment
A 4G network depends on the infrastructure of the operator, and the deployment and maintenance costs are high. On the other hand, LoRa network can be deployed and managed by users themselves, which is more flexible and less costly.
5. Security
4G network adopts standardized security mechanism and has strong security, while LoRa also has certain encryption measures, but relatively speaking, the security is slightly lower.
6. Application Scenario
4G network is suitable for high-bandwidth, real-time applications, such as video surveillance, online games, etc. LoRa is more suitable for low-power, low-bandwidth IoT applications, such as smart meters, environmental monitoring.
4G and LoRa technologies have their own advantages and disadvantages, and are suitable for different application scenarios. 4G network is suitable for high-bandwidth, real-time demanding applications, while LoRa is more suitable for low-power, low-bandwidth Internet of Things applications. When choosing the transmission technology, it is necessary to weigh the specific application requirements.