Over the past few years, there has been a growing popularity of Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technologies, such as LoRaWAN. These networks allow for long-range, low-power communication between sensors and other devices, making them ideal for a variety of applications such as smart cities, agriculture, and industrial automation. One of the key components of any LoRaWAN deployment is the sensor hardware used to collect and transmit data. Currently, there exist numerous manufacturers of LoRaWAN sensors in the market, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. In this blog post, we’ll highlight 10 of the best LoRaWAN sensor manufacturers you should know.
What are LoRaWAN Sensors
LoRaWAN sensors are wireless devices that use the LoRaWAN protocol to transmit data over long distances with low power consumption. They are typically battery-powered and designed to run for years on a single charge, making them ideal for use in remote or hard-to-reach locations. LoRaWAN sensors can measure a wide range of environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, pressure, light intensity, motion, etc., and are an essential part of the IoT ecosystem.
Typically, LoRaWAN sensors transmit data in small packets, use low power and propagate the signal to a wide frequency band, allowing for long-range communication with minimal interference. This makes LoRaWAN sensors ideal for applications such as smart agriculture, smart cities and asset tracking. In addition, the data collected by LoRaWAN sensors can help to better understand and optimize applications such as monitoring energy consumption, predicting maintenance needs, and tracking environmental conditions.
Different types of LoRa and LoRaWAN sensors
LoRaWAN sensors are used in a variety of Internet of Things applications by measuring various parameters. Various LoRaWAN sensors are available in the market, each designed for a particular application. Once you determine the sensor type that suits your industry, you can use this guide to choose the ideal LoRaWAN sensor manufacturer. In the following section, you will be introduced to the different sensor types and their specific use cases.
| Smart agriculture | Soil moisture sensor Temperature and humidity sensor Light sensor PH sensor Weather sensor |
| Environmental monitoring | Temperature sensor Humidity sensor Smoke detector CO2 monitor Air quality sensor Water quality sensor Light sensor Motion sensor |
| Smart healthcare | Panic button Asset tracker Temperature monitor Heart rate monitor Respiratory rate monitor |
| Smart industry | Wearable tracker Asset tracker Air/gas/water pressure sensor Liquid level sensor |
| Smart metering | Smart water meter Smart meter plug Leak detector Gas sensor |
| Supply chain and logistics | Asset tracker Temperature and humidity sensor |
| Smart building | PIR smart room sensor Air quality sensor Temperature and humidity sensor Light sensor Leak detector Parking sensor |
Criteria for choosing a LoRaWAN sensor manufacturer
Selecting the appropriate LoRaWAN sensor manufacturer is a critical decision that can significantly influence the effectiveness and success of your IoT application. Therefore, it’s essential to take into account several criteria before making a well-informed decision and selecting a reliable and high-quality LoRaWAN sensor supplier that caters to your requirements. Some of the essential criteria to consider include:
- Experience and reputation in the industry
One important factor is the manufacturer’s experience and reputation in the industry. A LoRaWAN sensor manufacturer with a proven track record of producing reliable and high-quality sensors is more likely to deliver a product that meets your expectations.
- Technical specification of sensors
Another key criterion to consider is the technical specification of sensors. It’s essential to evaluate the sensors’ features and capabilities, such as their range, battery life, and data transmission frequency, to ensure they are suitable for your application.
- Flexibility and customization options
Flexibility and customization options can be important if you have specific requirements that aren’t met by off-the-shelf sensors. Some LoRaWAN sensor manufacturers can offer custom sensors based on your customization options, such as different form factors, communication protocols, sensor types, etc.
- Support and customer service
The technical expertise and support of the LoRaWAN sensor providers should also be taken into consideration. This includes their ability to provide technical assistance, training, and maintenance services. Opting for a manufacturer that offers timely and reliable support to help you address any concerns with your LoRaWAN sensors is crucial.
- Price and value for money
The cost of the sensors should be evaluated. While price shouldn’t be the only factor when choosing a LoRa Sensor manufacturer, it’s crucial to ensure that the cost of the sensors is within your budget while still meeting your requirements for quality and functionality.
10 Key LoRaWAN sensor manufacturers you should know
Given the remarkable progress of LoRa technology development over the past few years, it’s no surprise that the LoRa hardware industry has made strides as well. In the previous section, we discussed how to choose the right LoRaWAN sensors for your IoT application to ensure they meet the unique needs of your project. Here, we have selected the ten best LoRaWAN sensor manufacturers from the market for your reference, all of which are members of the LoRa Alliance.
MOKOLoRa
MOKOLoRa is a Chinese manufacturer that specializes in providing cost-effective LoRaWAN sensor solutions for various IoT applications. They offer a range of sensors that cover GPS trackers, parking detector, meter plug, etc, and provide reliable data transmission over long distances. MOKOLoRa’s sensors are energy efficient and easy to install, making them ideal for use in asset tracking, environmental monitoring, and more. In addition, they also offer customization options to meet specific customer requirements.
Adeunis
Adeunis is a French company that designs and produces a variety of wireless LoRaWAN and Sigfox solutions, including LoRaWAN sensors. Their sensors are known for their ruggedness, accuracy, and low power consumption, making them suitable for harsh environments and long battery life. Adeunis sensors cover a range of applications, including temperature, humidity, air quality, energy monitoring, and more.
Multitech
Multitech is an American-based company that produces a range of IoT devices, including LoRa-based sensors and gateways. Their sensors are designed for easy deployment and integration, and they offer a range of features, including location tracking, temperature sensing, and leak detection. Multitech sensors cover a range of applications, including environmental monitoring, smart cities, industrial automation, and more.
Libelium
Libelium is a Spanish company that offers IoT hardware and software solutions, including LoRaWAN sensors, gateways, and Cloud platforms. Their sensors are designed to monitor various environmental parameters, including but not limited to air quality, water quality, and noise levels. Due to their high accuracy, reliability, and ease of integration, Lebelium sensors are a popular choice in various IoT applications, including smart cities, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
Dragino Technology
Dragino Technology is a Chinese manufacturer of LoRaWAN sensors and gateways that provides various solutions for the IoT markets. Their sensors are designed for low power consumption, long battery life, and easy deployment, making them suitable for a range of applications, including smart cities and agriculture, and environmental monitoring. Dragino Technology’s sensors are highly versatile and offer a range of features, such as air/gas/water pressure measuring, distance detection, temperature and humidity monitoring, etc.
Seeed Studio
Seeed Studio is a leading provider of IoT solutions with a range of LoRaWAN sensors for smart city, agriculture, and industrial applications. They offer a variety of sensors that can be used for monitoring everything from temperature and humidity to PH values and light sensors. Seeed Studio’s sensors are highly customizable and can be easily integrated with other devices and platforms, making them a popular choice for IoT developers and solution providers.
Digital Matter
Digital Matter is a global provider of IoT asset tracking solutions, including high-quality LoRaWAN sensors for tracking solutions. Digital Matter’s sensors are designed for easy deployment and integration with other devices and platforms, making them an excellent choice for various IoT asset tracking projects. Their sensors are designed to be rugged and reliable, making them suitable for various industrial and commercial applications.
Bosch
Bosch is a well-known supplier of sensing solutions based on MEMS, particularly LoRaWAN sensors designed for various IoT applications. These sensors can withstand harsh environments and offer features like air quality monitoring, humidity sensing, and gas monitoring. Bosch’s sensors are reliable and ideal for industrial IoT applications that need accurate and robust sensing solutions. They are also energy-efficient and suitable for a variety of applications such as smart city, environmental monitoring, and industrial processes.
Tektelic
Tektelic is a leading provider of IoT solutions, including LoRaWAN sensors and gateways for applications such as smart agriculture, asset tracking, and environmental monitoring. Their sensors are known for being reliable and offering various features like GPS, air quality monitoring, and remote device management. Tektelic has been offering quality engineering and service since 2009 and provides customized product design services, as well as a portfolio of devices, applications, and gateways.
Laird Connectivity
Laird Connectivity is a global provider of IoT solutions, including LoRaWAN sensors, that are suitable for various applications such as smart agriculture and cold chain monitoring. The company offers reliable, scalable, and customizable sensors that provide real-time data transmission over long distances. Laird Connectivity strives to simplify wireless connectivity through innovative IoT solutions and exceptional customer support.
FAQs about LoRa LoRaWAN sensors
1. What are the prices of LoRa LoRaWAN sensors?
LoRa and LoRaWAN sensor prices vary widely, ranging from $20 to $200 or more per unit depending on the type of sensor and manufacturer. However, it’s important to consider other costs beyond just the sensors when implementing a LoRaWAN solution.
2. What is the range of LoRaWAN sensors?
The range of LoRaWAN sensors can vary depending on the specific device and environment, but typically spans from a few hundred meters to multiple kilometers.
3. How does a LoRaWAN sensor work?
A LoRaWAN sensor collects data from its sensors and sends it to a LoRaWAN gateway using LoRaWAN wireless communication protocol. Subsequently, the gateway transmits the data to the network server, where it can be accessed and analyzed.
4. What are the common use cases of the LoRa LoRaWAN sensor?
LoRaWAN sensors can be used for a wide range of applications, including smart agriculture, smart cities, environmental monitoring, asset tracking, and industrial automation.
