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Notes on LoRa Propogation / Radio Tests
Hacklab
31 July 2024
Testing a path to the installation on Summerhall B-Block roof to nearby in Edinburgh. RSSI of -96dB on both ends. SNR on roof -16.75, -18.75, SNR other end +2.5dB. It seems the roof is very noisy and severely limiting that location. I don't know if it is picking up more noise from other radios on the roof, it is sited well for interference from more distance ones, or it is other EMI. Maybe something in the box itself.
The roof also has a LoRaWAN TTN station and a Helium node within a few meters.
Small aerials in city
During a test with Heltec Wireless Tracker, I received on the edge of the usable range: RSSI: -123dBm, SNR:-17.3dB. This was heard from the Heltec v3 a few large flat blocks down the road.
SNR(dB) = sig(dB) - noise(dB) -noise = SNR - sig noise = sig - SNR noise = -123dBm + 17.3dB = -105.7dBm
Meshtastic was on the default LongFast setting, which uses:
TX power 27dBm (500mW) 22dBm. It was set to 27dBm but max of radio is 22dBm. SF 11.
SF 11 requires -17.5dB SNR, so SNR was just acceptable by spec.
In a later test, with VeryLongSlow, lowest RSSI seen with connection was -124dB and -6.0dB SNR, so not better.