Semtech expand ultra long range transceiver platform

Key end-node components, the new SX1276, SX1277, and SX1278 incorporate LoRa spread spectrum technology in addition to the traditional GFSK modulation. Spread spectrum technology has been utilized in other applications for a number of years but this is tis first use as a low-cost solution suitable for sensor networks.

Operating under US, EU, Chinese and Japanese regulatory limits, the SX127x family realises ranges of more than 15km in suburban environments and 2 km to 5 km in dense urban environments. With most deployed metering, security or industrial automation systems limited to 1-2 km in a suburban environment, the LoRa technology provides significant additional range. Elimintaing the need for repeaters, this simplifies system design and lowers the total cost of deployment.

The SX1276 covers all the major sub-GHz frequency bands; the SX1277 is a cost-optimized version targeted at applications that utilize data rates from 5 kbps to 40 kbps such as security systems; and the SX1278 is optimized for the rapidly growing smart meter market in China using the 470-510MHz band.

Marc Pegulu, Senior Director of the Wireless & Sensing Product Group, SemTech, commented: “SX127x offers the long range, low power and capacity to handle millions of node transactions per day in a simple star network architecture. This provides significant advantages for existing metering solutions as well as enables emerging IoT and public network applications.”

The SX127x family offers over 100dB of blocking immunity to out-of-band interfering signals (15dB greater than competing devices) and has a 25 dB improvement over FSK devices for rejecting in-band interfering signals. Providing immunity from sub-GHz frequency 4G/LTE signals, the devices are especially effective in ISM-band applications such as security and metering. Combined with the SX127xX’s highly linear RF front-end, this immunity makes it the most reliable and robust solution for operating in the presence of strong interfering signals.

The SX127x family supports GFSK, FSK, GMSK and OOK modulation in addition to LoRa and is designed to support WMBus, IEEE 802.15.4g (SUN), FCC 15.247, ARIB T96/108, EN 300-220 as well as other worldwide standards and regulations.

The SX1276 is available immediately in production quantities and is priced at $3.50 each in 1,000-piece lots. Semtech offers comprehensive design assistance, including field- and factory-based support.