Question 1

What is LoRaWAN?

Accepted Answer

LoRaWAN is a low-power radio network that lets small sensors send readings over very long distances — up to 15 kilometres. It's ideal for keeping an eye on things like trough levels, soil moisture, gate contacts or cold-store temperatures across a farm or estate, without needing WiFi or mobile signal out at every sensor.

Question 2

Do I need internet out in the fields?

Accepted Answer

No — only the gateway needs a connection. The gateway sits where you have broadband or a 4G router and pushes readings up to your dashboard. The sensors out in the paddocks and barns only talk to the gateway over the LoRa radio link, so they need no internet and no mains power.

Question 3

Is LoRaWAN free to run?

Accepted Answer

The radio band is licence-free in the UK, so there's no airtime cost for the sensor traffic itself. You pay for the gateway, the sensors and an optional cloud subscription to view and manage the data — with no per-message charges piling up as you add more sensors.

Question 4

How many sensors can one gateway cover?

Accepted Answer

A single gateway usually handles 200 or more sensors, depending on how often each one reports. Most farms run far fewer than that, so you can start with a couple of troughs or a cold store and keep adding sensors across the holding over time.

Question 5

How long do the sensor batteries last?

Accepted Answer

Most LoRaWAN sensors run for three to ten years on a single battery, depending on how often they report. That's what makes them practical for a trough in the back field or a probe in an unheated store — places you don't want to be visiting to swap batteries every few months.

Question 6

Can I mix sensors from different makers?

Accepted Answer

Yes — LoRaWAN is an open standard, so a soil probe from one supplier and a tank-level sensor from another will both work through the same gateway. You're free to choose the best sensor for each job rather than being tied to one manufacturer's catalogue.

Question 7

Does the gateway need planning permission?

Accepted Answer

No — a LoRaWAN gateway is a small, low-power unit, much like a WiFi router. It's typically fitted indoors or on an outbuilding wall, sometimes with a small roof antenna for extra reach, and doesn't need planning permission.

LoRaWAN Sensors & Trackers — Rural IoT