Laird Unveils New Multi-Interface Platform for Low-Power, Long-Range IoT Deployments

Global technology leader Laird (LRD: London) announced today the release of its new Enterprise Internet of Things (EIoT) Low-Power, Long-Range LoRa gateway, which enables enterprise customers to deploy EIoT networks in practically any geographic location, even where traditional communications infrastructure is unavailable.

"The Sentrius RG1xx has been purpose-built from the ground up to create a secure, scalable, robust LoRa network solution," said Scott Lordo, senior vice president of Laird. "The RG1xx, paired with the other elements of Laird's growing Sentrius LPWAN ecosystem, enables cost-effective and end-to-end control of public and private LoRa networks alike."

OEMs and developers have the essential elements to accelerate EIoT development for many of the most challenging industrial settings and applications, ranging from smart metering to equipment monitoring to municipal asset management and more. 

In industrial automation, for example, full-scale networks can be used to track assets that are spread across a vast facility. A LoRa network can easily span an entire campus and gather sensor data that can provide deep insights needed to maintain efficiency, productivity and be used to make the best business decisions possible. The Sentrius RG1xx gateway helps to make a proprietary network easy to build, scale, and maintain.

The Sentrius RG1xx provides an unmatched level of versatility to suit a developer's application by incorporating LoRa as part of a multi-interface platform, blending both local area and wide area technologies.

Equipped with Laird's unique enterprise grade 802.11 a/b/g/n MIMO Wi-Fi, wired Ethernet, Bluetooth and BLE connectivity within a single LoRa gateway, the gateway enables integration of key short-range, low-power wireless technologies with the most effective Low-Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology to dramatically expand the geographic range of IoT implementations.  

LoRa, which is a rapidly growing standard in the LPWAN space for IoT and machine-to-machine connectivity, provides secure, bi-directional data transfer and communications with IoT networks over long distances for years without a battery change.

It can usually send and receive signals up to 10 miles, but that distance can be extended to hundreds of miles with additional gateway deployments, as needed.  This provides more convenience and flexibility for EIoT implementations that can be integrated nearly anywhere, without the need to build telecom infrastructure up to the site or pay for on-going commercial cellular subscriptions.

Based on the Semtech SX1301 / SX1257 chipset designs enabling eight channels and powerful 27 dBm transmit power, the gateway is designed to work seamlessly with Laird's LoRa ecosystem of Sentrius RM1xx LoRa + BLE certified modules and LPWAN antennas, delivering simple out-of-the-box integration and compatibility with third party Cloud and LoRa partners and other LoRaWAN client devices.

The Sentrius RG1xx gateway also comes equipped with intuitive web-based configuration, integrated LoRa packet forwarder software, and default settings for multiple LoRa network server vendors. It is fully certified for FCC, IC, CE, along with a Bluetooth SIG listing, Lordo said.

Concurrently, Laird is also announcing the Sentrius RG1xx-M2 LoRaWAN Concentrator Card. Expanding on Semtech's drivers and reference design, the RG1xx-M2 card enables OEMs to integrate a high-performance, certified LoRaWAN gateway interface to any Linux based platform.

"With multiple wired and wireless interface options, the RG1xx gives you complete design freedom to create a private end-to-end LPWAN network, which eliminates the need for a network carrier subscription," Lordo said. "The RG1xx gateway, paired with the RM1xx series of LoRa and BLE modules and Laird's LPWAN antennas, will give developers and OEMs control of their cost-effective LoRa ecosystem."

Source: Laird media announcement