Exploring LR-FHSS Modulation for Enhanced IoT Connectivity: A Measurement Campaign

TL;DR

This study conducts a real-world measurement campaign in urban environments to compare LR-FHSS and LoRa modulations, showing LR-FHSS's superior performance in packet reception and signal robustness.

Contribution

It provides the first comprehensive real-world comparison of LR-FHSS and LoRa in urban settings, highlighting LR-FHSS's improved reliability and potential for enhanced IoT connectivity.

Findings

LR-FHSS achieves up to 20% higher Packet Reception Rate than LoRa.

LR-FHSS maintains a minimum RSSI of -138 dBm, better than LoRa's -120 dBm.

LR-FHSS enhances communication robustness in dense urban environments.

Abstract

This paper presents the first comprehensive real-world measurement campaign comparing LR-FHSS and LoRa modulations within LoRaWAN networks in urban environments. Conducted in Halifax, Canada, the campaign used a LoRaWAN platform capable of operating both modulations in the FCC-regulated US915 band. Real-world measurements are crucial for capturing the effects of urban topology and signal propagation challenges, which are difficult to fully replicate in simulations. Results show that LR-FHSS can achieve up to a 20% improvement in Packet Reception Rate (PRR) over traditional LoRa in dense urban areas. Additionally, the study investigated path loss and Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), finding that LR-FHSS achieved a minimum RSSI of -138 dBm compared to LoRa's -120 dBm. The findings demonstrate that the introduction of LR-FHSS enhances communication robustness and reliability under regulatory limitations and suggest promising applications in LoRaWAN networks.