Avaliação de estações retransmissoras em redes LoRaWan no ambiente urbano de Toledo-PR

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a widely explored and rapidly growing market, driven by the high demand for process automation, improved quality of life, and enhanced convenience. However, deploying an effective IoT network presents several challenges, including installation and maintenance costs, electrical and data infrastructure requirements, and signal quality, which becomes particularly complex in urban environments when using conventional methods. To address these issues, Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWANs) have emerged as a solution, designed to connect IoT devices over long distances with minimal energy consumption. Among the various LPWAN technologies, LoRaWAN networks stand out due to their low cost, ease of deployment, and open-source nature. Nevertheless, factors such as terrain, physical obstacles, and natural wireless signal attenuation can leave certain areas without adequate coverage. In this context, the use of repeaters presents a promising strategy, eliminating the need for additional gateways to serve these regions. This study evaluates the effectiveness of relay stations, examining the technical challenges of their implementation and their impact on expanding network coverage. Tests were conducted on the LoRaWAN network deployed in Toledo, Paraná, to assess the efficiency of repeaters in improving coverage. For performance evaluation, metrics such as Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of received packets, data rate, airtime, and others were used as parameters to analyze signal quality. The results demonstrate that relay stations are a viable tool for enhancing coverage, enabling data reception in areas where installed gateways are insufficient. However, several parameters can influence the effectiveness of this solution.