I love LoRa for IoT devices, sensor nodes, automation, environmental monitoring, etc… And I think it is absolutely the future for outdoor electronics. As far as communication I am really not so sure.
What benefits does it have to ham radio though besides no license? There is no real time communication, no possibility of voice, mesh-based which results in delays or dropped messages, and it only works within walking/short biking distance (a couple kilometers) without line-of site tower infrastructure or in mountainous areas.
I could see a potential use of it as a broadcast system during emergency by a central tower for messages that work over text, but further than that I have only seen personal projects or youtubers use them.
Camping isn’t even a great usecase (in my opinion) because in an emergency there are 3 things needed for communication
Satellite or very long-range communications/broadcast to alert S&R
GPS location
real time communication to guide someone out of a dangerous situation or guide them to you using descriptive markers (especially not having to use fine hand motor skills like typing)
Lora only has the possibility of one of them: telling people your location who are within walking distance. Not to mention it is blocked to a degree by vegetation. Most people go camping with all of their important people within like 100m, and the number one rule of backpacking is don’t go off on your own, especially not off-trail.
@JustEnoughDucks@crazyminner LoRa #APRS on 433 MHz is actually quite useful and fun. Tracking with very low power works quite well if you have a network. Take a look at what people have done with it in much of Europe, as well as Denver, Chicago, etc.
Exactly, that is not communication like ham radio though. Hence why i said for IoT and automation. Tons of potential for sending small sensor packets! Just not communication in my opinion unless you want specifically text messages and no voice during an emergency for some reason.
I love LoRa for IoT devices, sensor nodes, automation, environmental monitoring, etc… And I think it is absolutely the future for outdoor electronics. As far as communication I am really not so sure.
What benefits does it have to ham radio though besides no license? There is no real time communication, no possibility of voice, mesh-based which results in delays or dropped messages, and it only works within walking/short biking distance (a couple kilometers) without line-of site tower infrastructure or in mountainous areas.
I could see a potential use of it as a broadcast system during emergency by a central tower for messages that work over text, but further than that I have only seen personal projects or youtubers use them.
Camping isn’t even a great usecase (in my opinion) because in an emergency there are 3 things needed for communication
Lora only has the possibility of one of them: telling people your location who are within walking distance. Not to mention it is blocked to a degree by vegetation. Most people go camping with all of their important people within like 100m, and the number one rule of backpacking is don’t go off on your own, especially not off-trail.
@JustEnoughDucks @crazyminner LoRa #APRS on 433 MHz is actually quite useful and fun. Tracking with very low power works quite well if you have a network. Take a look at what people have done with it in much of Europe, as well as Denver, Chicago, etc.
Exactly, that is not communication like ham radio though. Hence why i said for IoT and automation. Tons of potential for sending small sensor packets! Just not communication in my opinion unless you want specifically text messages and no voice during an emergency for some reason.