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Frequently Asked Questions

How are device EUI assigned?
With all international networks, total uniqueness in the identity of the devices connected is a key requirement. Device EUI should be assigned from the IEEE unique database.
What does Semtech do with the usage data? How is it protected and how long is the data kept?
Semtech will provide details to the licensee about how data is protected and anonymised. All legal and local requirements will be taken into account in the detailed procedure defined. Semtech and the licensee will define this to be compliant with all legal and local requirements
What is the competitive positioning of LoRa versus NB IoT?
LoRa and NB IoT are both LPWAN technologies whereas 3GPP drives the NB IoT for carrier deployments in licensed band and LoRaWAN is an open standard driven by the LoRa Alliance.As there are material differences between the technologies the addressable markets and use cases are not the same. Overall the vision of the LoRa Alliance is that both technologies are complementary and based on the specific needs of a customer one is better off with either of the options.You can download the public whitepaper: "https://semtech.my.salesforce.com/sfc/p/E0000000JelG/a/E000000056Bf/JeMjZwyUqibxkZMhnf.GLiQmuM1uJnowBfso0MKTfD0" target="_blank">here.
Does the Semtech solution have to be integrated or can it be compiled as a stand-alone entity, can it be run as a service on a virtual machine?
The solution is provided as source code with full documentation. The system can be broken up into a number of different types of solution. It is easy to create virtual machine instances as well as fully integrating the core of the solution.
What are the compiler requirements?
The files are provided in ‘C’ and ‘C++’ and are expected to be highly portable. The Semtech software support team is on-hand to enable smooth integration of the source code by any licensee.
How is the Semtech software solution delivered to the licensee?
The solution is provided as a complete end to end solution from gateway firmware to network service and controller through to website. The solution is provided to licensees in plain source code including all elements required to provide an end to end solution.
How is the usage log information communicated to Semtech?
Semtech and the licensee will come to an agreement about how exactly this information is provided. A secure and electronic process will be defined.
What is the cost of the gateway reference design license?
The license is free of charge for the 2nd generation"location enabled" gateway, as are the 1st generation gateway reference designs. 
What are the deployment criteria for getting close to NLOS in rural cases?
In order to get as close to NLOS as possible it is important to observe the rules of propagation and try to get enough height in the gateway antenna to avoid the first Fresnel zone as much as possible. The mathematics defining the Fresnel zone are beyond the scope of this FAQ, however, as guidance, for an ISD of 4km, the antenna height should be 16m above the ground (and trees). With enough antenna height and an open landscape performance in the region of 10-30m have been observed. 
What is the recommended Urban ISD
With the early trial data, Semtech is recommending a 1.5km ISD in most urban cases as a guideline. There is, however, no substitute for detailed network planning and the coverage target should be four gateways. Targeting a configuration giving a four gateway redundancy means that in most cases, the sensor will be in coverage of all four, and in almost all cases will have the required minimum of three. 
How Accurate is the Ranging of SX1280?

When we talk about the accuracy of the ranging it is important to draw a distinction between the different kinds of measurements of accuracy and to distinguish between accuracy and precision which are separate technical terms in the context of ranging.

Precision is a measure of the spread of our ranging results, accuracy is a measure of how far the measured distance is from the actual distance, the real distance is referred to as Ground Truth. A full description of these terms is given in our application note on the SX1280 ranging functionality.

With the latest version of the SX1280 development kit ranging firmware (available from the "https://developer.mbed.org/components/SX1280RF1ZHP/" target="_blank">Tools and SW area) we attain +/- 3 m of overall accuracy in line of sight conditions using the standard development kits mounted at 1.8 m and following the ranging guidance outlined in the ranging explanation document. Note that the accuracy seen is not a function of range, but rather the environment and obstructions between the radios. As we can see below, the accuracy is not significantly different at 50 m and at 2005 m.

                             SX1280 Developement kit

                                Ranging accuracy at 50m

                                               Ranging accuracy at 50m

Where can I find more details about the Geolocation Services and Device and Application Services?

LoRaCloud.com has all the details about the Device Join service, the GLS and DAS

Do I have flexibility to run a proprietary stack on LoRa Edge LR1110?

Unfortunately, no. The LoRa Basics™ Modem-E is a modem based on the LoRaWAN® protocol and is certified to run on LR1110.

How can I find more details about how to integrate the LoRa Edge™ Tracker Reference Design?

There are dedicated landing pages for the LoRa Edge Tracker Reference Design for Europe and North America. From there, you can navigate to the LoRa Developer portal where you can find more technical collateral, including the LoRa Edge Tracker Evaluation Kit Quick Start Guide, the LoRa Edge Tracker Reference Design User Guide, and much more.

Which NS platforms are integrated with the Semtech Join server?

Actility and a lot more via the ThingExchange Peering Hub

What should network operators do in order to integrate with the Semtech Join Server?

They will have to make sure they are using a NS that has passed interop testing with the Semtech JS. Subsequently,  they should go through interconnection setup (an IT procedure). Semtech JS is already connected to Actiliy's peering hub platform, ThingPark Exchange. Any network that is connected to ThingPark Exchange can be readily interconnected with the Semtech JS. Others will have to go through individual interconnection setup.

When will "FUOTA for application” be released?

We are waiting for LoRa Alliance to ratify the spec for the FUOTA spec. You can rest assured that Semtech will make this feature commercially available as soon as the Alliance is ready to certify our product with it.

Where can I find the details of the API between the application provider and Semtech’s Device Join service?

API details can be found in the LoRa Edge Tracker Reference Design User Guide

What does the LoRa Edge™ Tracker Evaluation Kit include?

The LoRa Edge Tracker Evaluation Kit sold via Actility’s ThingPark Market includes two tracking devices and an indoor gateway that leverages the LoRaWAN networking protocol. The gateway comes pre-staged for the ThingPark Community Platform, from Actility, which allows you to add the gateways and the trackers on its network server. You can also create an account on TagoIO’s application platform to monitor and manage the trackers.

What are the advantages of using the LoRa Cloud™ Services?

The Cloud solver is an integral part of the LoRa Edge platform for computing a position fix using GNSS and for acquiring a Wi-Fi based location fix using triangulation of static MAC addresses. Key advantages of using Semtech’s end-to-end LoRa Cloud solution include:

  • Simplified means of joining a device to the network with the LoRa Cloud Device Join service
  • Easy device management with the LoRa Cloud Device & Application Services
  • Firmware Updates Over the Air (FUOTA)
  • On-premise support

However, if you want to source, test and assemble these pieces independently, we will support that as well.

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