LoRaWAN Field Testing Guideline

This guide helps you test LoRaWAN coverage and decide when to install a gateway

Table of contents

1. What You Need
2. Typical range of transmission
3. How to Test Coverage
4. How to Interpret the Results
   1. Quick Rules
   2. RSSI and SNR
      1. RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)
      2. SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)
      3. What are good values?
5. When to Install (or move) a Gateway
   1. Install a new gateway if:
   2. How to Position the Gateway
   3. How to Position the sensors
   4. After Gateway Install
6. Tips for reliable testing
7. Further Resources

What You Need

• A LoRaWAN connection tester (e.g., RAK10701)
• LoRaWAN gateway(s) - public TTN gateways, or your own LTE gateways

Typical range of transmission

The typical range for LoRaWAN devices is a few hundred meters to a few kilometers in urban areas and several kilometers in rural or open environments. It is as well possible to place devices in buildings and have the next gateway somewhere outside.

However, the actual range can vary depending on several factors

• Distance to the Gateway
  The farther the sensor device is from the gateway, the weaker the signal, impacting communication reliability.
• Obstacles and Environment
  Physical obstacles like buildings, walls, windows and trees can weaken or block the signal, affecting signal strength and range.
• Gateway Density
  More gateways nearby improve coverage and increase the chances of successful communication. That has as well an effect on battery life. The better the reception, the faster the device can transmit, the shorter its airtime.
• Transmit Power of the Sensor Device
  Higher transmit power allows for longer range but consumes more energy.
• Environmental Factors
  Weather, humidity, and atmospheric conditions can influence signal strength.
• Interference
  Electronic noise or interference from other devices can impact reception and as well battery life.
• Antenna Quality
  The quality of antennas on both the sensor device and gateway affects range and reception quality.
• Sensor Device Orientation
  Each antenna has a designed orientation. Refer to the sensor device datasheets to see how you orient best the devices.

How to Test Coverage

1. Charge your tester
2. Mount the antenna on your tester
3. Switch on the tester by pressing the button on the right side for at least five seconds
4. Take your tester to the first test location (e.g., office, basement, outdoors)

   Note: If you are indoors, there will be no reception of the GPS signal. The latitude and longitude data will be empty.

5. Send a test uplink/join:
   • On most testers, this is a button press or auto-sends at intervals.
   • Watch for join success (for OTAA) and uplink send.
6. Observe and record the results:
   • RSSI (signal strength)
   • SNR (signal clarity)
   • Gateway count (number of gateways receiving your signal)
   • Spreading Factor (SF)
   • Packet loss / failed sends

   Important: Note your location and results, see example table below

7. Repeat at all locations where you need coverage: every floor, corner, room, or outdoor spot.

8. If done, power off the device by pressing the button on the right side for at least five seconds.

How to Interpret the Results

Quick Rules

• GOOD coverage: RSSI > -115 dBm, SNR > -7 dB, GW ≥2, SF ≤9
• FAIR coverage: RSSI > -126 dBm, SNR > -15 dB, GW 0–1, SF ≥11
• BAD coverage: No join or uplink; nothing in console

RSSI and SNR

In the LoRaWAN network, the Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) and the Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) are important metrics for evaluating the communication quality between LoRa devices and gateways.

RSSI (Received Signal Strength Indicator)

RSSI measures the strength of the received signal in decibels relative to 1 milliwatt (dBm). The values for RSSI in the LoRaWAN can typically range from around -120 dBm to -40 dBm. A value of -120 dBm indicates a very weak signal that is close to the reception limit, while a value of -40 dBm indicates a very strong signal.

SNR (Signal-to-Noise Ratio)

SNR is a measure of how much stronger the signal is than the background noise. It is measured in decibels (dB). The SNR values in the LoRaWAN can range from around -20 dB to +10 dB.

• A negative SNR means that the noise is stronger than the signal, which typically occurs at very long distances or in poor environmental conditions.
• A positive SNR indicates that the signal is stronger than the noise, which is necessary for effective communication.

What are good values?

To assess the quality, the two values must be considered together!

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• The radio link can be described as GOOD if RSSI > -115dB and SNR > -7dB
• The radio link is FAIR (range limit) if RSSI <= -115 dB or SNR <= -7dB
• The radio link is BAD (range limit) if RSSI <= -126 dB or SNR <= -15dB

If RSSI is GOOD (> -115dB), but SNR is BAD (<= -15dB), this means that the environment is very noisy

Note: The SNR must be checked theoretically over several days to be sure that the radio link is stable enough to receive all messages.

If RSSI is BAD (<=-126dB) but SNR is GOOD (> -7dB), this means that the device is probably far away from the gateway.

When to Install (or move) a Gateway

Install a new gateway if:

• Many locations show weak or no coverage: (RSSI < -115 dBm, SNR < -7 dB, SF12, join failures)
• Important areas (e.g., basement, far office) get 0 packets received.
• Only one gateway receives your tester in key spots: (GW count = 1 or 0)
• You have high packet loss or messages don’t reach the network.
• You want reliable indoor coverage across large or dense buildings.

How to Position the Gateway

• Place the gateway as high and central as possible. That means, place it in a high floor and centralized in the location.
• Avoid metal enclosures or dense walls.
• Use an external antenna if possible for more range.
• In case of a LTE Gateway, make shure that you have a good LTE reception of the used network provider.

How to Position the sensors

• Sensor at least 1 meter of the gateway antenna
• Sensor antenna vertical aligned and in the open air, not on a wall or metal construction
• Mount the sensor/device anteanna vertically, imagine, its antenna should create a donut-shape. See device manual for detailed mounting instructions.

After Gateway Install

• Repeat tests in previous weak spots to verify coverage improved.
• Adjust antenna or gateway placement if needed.

Tips for reliable testing

• Test at different times of day (buildings can affect signal depending on occupancy).
• Walk slowly and wait for test results in each location.
• Note obstacles (concrete, metal) that may block the signal.

Further Resources

• The Things Network Mapper – for outdoor mapping coverage
• LoRaWAN Knowledge Base
• LoRaWAN Tester Quick Start Guides