Reference
LoRaWAN Glossary
Quick answer
Concise definitions of LoRaWAN and IoT terms used when specifying ParticlIO hardware and operating your own network server — from OTAA and ADR to spreading factor and duty cycle.
Core LoRaWAN and IoT terms used when evaluating ParticLIO hardware and planning a deployment on your network server.
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ABP
Activation By Personalization — a join method where session keys are pre-provisioned on the device. Faster to deploy but less secure than OTAA for large fleets.
ADR
Adaptive Data Rate - A mechanism that allows the network server to optimize data rate and transmission power for each device based on signal quality.
Class A
The most common LoRaWAN device class. Devices initiate communication and can only receive downlinks in two short windows after each uplink.
Class B
Devices that can receive scheduled downlinks at predetermined times using beacons for synchronization.
Class C
Devices with continuous receive windows, allowing immediate downlinks but requiring constant power.
devEUI
Device Extended Unique Identifier — a 64-bit globally unique ID assigned to each LoRaWAN end device, used during the join procedure.
Downlink
A message sent from the network server to an end device, typically containing commands or configuration updates.
Duty cycle
Regulatory limit on how long a device may transmit within a given time window. Exceeding duty cycle can cause dropped packets or compliance issues.
End Device
A LoRaWAN sensor or actuator that communicates with the network through gateways.
Gateway
A device that receives LoRaWAN signals from end devices and forwards them to the network server via IP.
Join
Common shorthand for the LoRaWAN join procedure — how an end device authenticates and establishes session keys with the network (typically via OTAA or ABP).
Join Procedure
The process by which a device authenticates and establishes a secure session with the network.
Link budget
The accounting of transmit power, antenna gain, path loss, and receiver sensitivity that determines whether a radio link is viable at a given distance.
LoRa
Long Range - The physical layer modulation technique that enables long-range, low-power wireless communication.
LoRaWAN
Long Range Wide Area Network - The network protocol built on top of LoRa that defines the communication between devices and the network.
LPWAN
Low Power Wide Area Network - A category of wireless technologies designed for long-range, low-bandwidth, battery-powered IoT applications.
Network Server
The central component that manages the LoRaWAN network, handling device authentication, message routing, and network optimization.
OTAA
Over-The-Air Activation - A secure join procedure where devices dynamically negotiate session keys with the network.
Spreading Factor
A parameter that determines the data rate and range trade-off. Higher SF means longer range but slower data rate.
Uplink
A message sent from an end device to the network server, typically containing sensor data.