LoRaWAN Communication
Presentation
LoRaWAN (Long-Range Wide-Area Network) is a network protocol designed to connect devices within the IoT-enabled architecture.
The following diagram illustrates
the usage perimeter of LoRa network regarding bandwidth and range
compared to Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks.
The LoRaWAN communication provides the following features:
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Long range coverage (about 10 km Line of Sight (LoS))
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Low energy consumption
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Good penetration in buildings
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Independence from local IT infrastructure
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No SIM card needed
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No additional fees to pay (included in EcoStruxure Facility Expert App)
Disabling/Enabling LoRaWAN Communication
By default, LoRaWAN Communication is enabled.
It is possible to disable and re-enable LoRaWAN Communication as per end-user preference by using EcoStruxure Power Commission App.
When LoRaWAN Communication is disabled, the associated LED patterns are disabled. For more information, see EcoStruxure Power Commission App.
When a reset to factory settings is executed, the LoRaWAN Communication configuration is restored to Enabled. A change of LoRaWAN Communication configuration will be logged in security events.
LoRa Signal Quality
The Wireless Panel Server antenna delivered with the switchboard must be installed where the LoRa signal quality is sufficient.
A correct to excellent LoRa signal level is required to have proper operation of the Wireless Panel Server through LoRa communication.
For information about the LoRa antenna installation, see DOCA0203EN PrismaSeT Active - Installation and Maintenance Guide . This guide contains detailed information about:
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Testing LoRa signal quality
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Setting antenna location
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Antenna installation
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Antenna connection
LoRa/4G router (SMT10014) can be installed to take advantage of the LoRa signal via a 4G link in the following cases:
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When there is no LoRa network from local telecom service provider (in France, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland).
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When there is insufficient reception of LoRa signal within a radius of 10 meters of your switchboard. Insufficient reception can be identified as Low signal either on EcoStruxure Facility Expert App or on LoRa tester (SMT10013).
For information on the LoRa/4G router, consult the instruction sheet available on the Schneider Electric website: NNZ78333 it contains detailed information about:
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Description of the router and dimensions
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Installation and troubleshooting guidelines
Network Connection
The connection to LoRa network is made with EcoStruxure Facility Expert App.
Security Device Characteristics
Security characteristics on the LoRaWAN interface are as follows:
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The Wireless Panel Server does not support incoming communication from the cloud.
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Remote control from the cloud to the Wireless Panel Server is not possible.
Security Feature
The Wireless Panel Server connects to the Schneider Electric cloud through a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) based on LoRaWAN protocol.
LoRaWAN communications are encrypted using AES (Advanced Encryption Standard)-CCM (Counter with CBC-MAC) 128-bit encryption that helps ensure authentication, integrity, and confidentiality of communication.
The Wireless Panel Server encrypts messages that are transferred to the Schneider Electric cloud through the LPWAN network.
A mutual authentication is established between the Wireless Panel Server and LoRaWAN. This helps ensure that only a genuine and authorized Wireless Panel Server can join a genuine and authentic LoRaWAN network.
The LoRa connection is active only if the Wireless Panel Server has been activated by using the EcoStruxure Facility Expert App. For more information about the service activation, see Commissioning.