LoRa Range question.

[Michael Fokin]

Hello All,

I am using Multitech Dev kit for US http://www.multitech.com/brands/multiconnect-conduit-lora-starter-kits , Firmware1.3.2
Conduit Tx power is set to 26dBm
https://www.screencast.com/t/66q9anJvf
I am using mdot Box to connect to the conduit for testing purposes.
I’ve set at+txdr to SF_10 and TXP to 20 on the box (see the debug below)

Conduit and mBox have antennas supplied with the kit. Gateway is installed on top of concrete building (around 10-12m). I am getting only 300-400m range in somewhat free environment (there is only one building in sight)
I am getting rssi: -97 when I am inside the building (about 10m away from the gateway and -75 outside 15m in front of the gateway

at&v
Firmware: 2.0.0
Library : 0.0.9-14-g4845711
Device ID: 00:80:00:00:00:00:c7:e5
Frequency Band: FB_915
Frequency Sub Band: 1
Public Network: off
Network Address: 00000000
Network ID: 8e:a4:eb:37:30:fa:0b:f5
Network ID Passphrase: MTCDT-18919915
Network Key: 69.bc.85.a0.13.c2.eb.e0.ed.52.5f.09.ad.00.7e.45
Network Key Passphrase: MTCDT-18919915
Network Session Key: 00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00
Data Session Key: 00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00
Network Join Mode: OTA
Tx Data Rate: SF_10
Tx Power: 20
Log Level: 6
Maximum Size: 242
Minimum Size: 11
Maximum Power: 20
Minimum Power: 2
Data: 0

What am I doing wrong? I was expecting at least 1-2 miles above the grazing fields and railroad tracks.

• This topic was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Michael Fokin.

[Steve Kovarik]

Hi Michael

Your MTDOT-BOX and Conduit settings seem to be optimized for the longest range.

However if you feel there may be problem with the hardware
you could try this test, but would need to use a mDot in the Developer Board.

1) Place Conduit & mDot 1.5 Meters away from each other.
2) Take antennas off mDot & Conduit.
3) Set Conduit Tx power to 26.
4) Set mDot Tx power to 20 (AT+TXP=20).
5) Set the mDot Spreading Factor to 7 with command at+txdr=3.
6) With antenna’s off, set antenna gain to zero on both mDot and Conduit.
5) Have mDot join network (AT+JOIN).
6) On mDot issue, AT+PING then AT+RSSI repeat issuing AT+PING and AT+RSSI a half dozen times, and send us the output of these two commands.

-Best Regards

[Michael Fokin]

Thank you Steve,

I had to use another mDot provided with the kit because I could not put mBox into the command mode so AT+JOIN was returning error.
Please see my results with new mDot they are about 1-1.5m away without antennas:

at+rssi
-125, -125, 0, -119

OK
at+ping
-119,-4.8

OK
at+rssi
-125, -125, 0, -119

OK
at+ping
-119,-4.2

OK
at+rssi
-124, -125, 0, -119

OK
at+ping
-118,-4.8

OK
at+rssi
-124, -125, 0, -119

OK
at+ping
-120,-4.5

OK
at+rssi
-124, -125, 0, -119

OK
at+ping
-120,-5.0

OK

https://www.screencast.com/t/3KzIcGw0tj

• This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Michael Fokin.

[Michael Fokin]

Should I talk to My FAE or support?

[Steve Kovarik]

Hello Michael

I recommend that you Register then open a Support Portal case on this.
https://support.multitech.com/support/login.html

-Best Regards

[Author]

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