A Local LoRa Based Network Protocol with Low Power Redundant Base Stations Enabling Remote Environmental Monitoring

Wireless sensor networks provide a technological opportunity for environmental monitoring at unprecedented spatiotemporal resolutions. Unfortunately, existing network solutions fail to fulfill power, cost, and reliability requirements for remote offline field sites. Therefore, we propose a novel LoRa-based network protocol for local, ultra-low-power, low-cost, long-range communications. The system relies on Time Division Duplex Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum transmissions and implements collision avoidance. Each networked device is equipped with a single channel radio, local data storage, and a real time clock. This paper provides a description of the network topology and the techniques that are used. The result is a network protocol with 100% network capacity and ultra-low-power base stations that can run on batteries for years.