LoRaWAN and Sigfox

There are a few radio modem breakout boards around for both LoRaWAN and Sigfox that are ideal and also a few more dev boards with processors and flash included too. I think I'v probably tried 5 or 6 of them to date.

LoRaWAN is great for getting going quickly, especially if you don't have any signal coverage in your areaas you can purchase or build your own gateway and give your self and your community coverage very quickly. It does rely on the The Things Network and their open sharing of gateways to get you on to the internet easily. The part I don't like about LoRaWAN is that there are actually a number of LoRaWAN networks across our region that people like us can't access as they are setup as a private network. The open nature of LoRaWAN is negated by people building private networks and NOT increasing the coverage for everyone.

Sigfox on the other hand is not open and you have to pay a yearly subscription to get your devices on the network and if you don't have coverage then you need to get in touch with the local provider and ask them if they can make it happen. I didn't have coverage at my home or work and after contacting WND (provider in the UK) they came and installed a Base Station at our farm and we also got one later at my work premises and at a local golf club - top marks to WND for making it happen.

Manufacture

For manufacture I opted to use both radio networks with the Wisol SFM10R1 for Sigfox and the RHF76-052AM for LoRaWAN and we are using a Kickstarter Campaign to make it all happen.

I'm also now looking at the Murata CMWX1ZZABZ module as it can support both Sigfox and LoRaWAN from the same package. So far I've only got it working for LoRaWAN but very keen to get the Sigfox side working too.