LoRaWAN (Low Power Wide Area Network) is widely used in the field of smart energy meters due to its long distance, low power consumption and high penetration. Different regions use different frequency bands to adapt to local regulations and electromagnetic environments. The following introduces the mainstream frequency bands EU868, AS923 and US915 in detail, and compares their characteristics and application scenarios.
1. EU868 MHz (European frequency band)
Frequency range: 863–870 MHz, a total of 8 main channels, typical uplink frequencies are 868.1 MHz, 868.3 MHz, etc., and downlink is fixed at 869.525 MHz.
Transmit power: The maximum allowed is 14 dBm (25 mW), which can be increased to 27 dBm (500 mW) in some areas but the duty cycle needs to be reduced.
Duty cycle limit: Strictly limited to 1% (ordinary equipment) or 10% (special applications) to ensure fair use of the spectrum.
Data rate: supports SF7 to SF12 spreading factors, with a rate range of 0.3–50 kbps. Low rate (SF12) is suitable for long distances, and high rate (SF7) is suitable for dense urban areas.
Applicable regions: EU countries, Russia, and some countries in the Middle East.
Electricity meter application: suitable for multi-building environments in Europe, low power and duty cycle restrictions require optimization of data reporting frequency to ensure compliance.
2. AS923 MHz (Asian band)
Frequency range: 923–925 MHz, divided into AS923-1 (uplink 923.2–924.6 MHz) and AS923-2 (uplink 921.4–922.8 MHz) and other sub-bands, downlink frequency is 922–928 MHz.
Transmit power: maximum 16 dBm (about 40 mW), some countries allow it to be increased to 30 dBm (1 W).
Duty cycle limit: usually 1% or adjusted by country (such as Japan allows dynamic adjustment).
Data rate: similar to EU868, supports SF7–SF12, and has a rate of 0.3–50 kbps.
Applicable regions: Asian countries such as Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Energy meter application: adapted to Asian rainforests and urban environments, attention should be paid to frequency band segmentation (e.g. Japan needs to be compatible with 920–928 MHz).
3. US915 MHz (North American band)
Frequency range: 902–928 MHz, including 72 uplink channels (each 200 kHz) and 8 downlink channels (500 kHz bandwidth).
Transmit power: maximum 30 dBm (1 W), often limited to 20–23 dBm in actual use to reduce interference.
Duty cycle limit: no strict limit, but must comply with FCC frequency hopping or spread spectrum requirements.
Data rate: supports SF8–SF12, with a rate of 0.9–50 kbps. High rates (such as SF7) are less used due to regulatory restrictions.
Applicable areas: the United States, Canada, and some countries in South America.
Application of electric energy meters: Suitable for vast areas in North America, high power improves coverage, but attention should be paid to interference that may be caused by high-density channels.
Frequency band comparison and selection recommendations
Considerations for electric energy meter deployment
Regional compliance: Need to pass local certification (such as CE, FCC, MIC), AS923 needs to pay attention to the differences in sub-bands in different countries.
Environmental adaptation: EU868 is suitable for building penetration, AS923 copes with hot and humid climates, and US915 is suitable for long-distance suburbs.
Energy efficiency balance: High power (US915) may shorten battery life and needs to be combined with low-power chip optimization.
Anti-interference design: US915 multiple channels need to be dynamically selected, and AS923 needs to avoid other local wireless services.
Conclusion
EU868, AS923, and US915 are designed for different geographical and regulatory environments. Electric energy meter manufacturers need to select compatible hardware and optimize communication strategies based on the frequency band specifications, environmental characteristics, and power consumption requirements of the target market to ensure reliable and compliant remote meter reading services. As the LoRaWAN standard evolves, regional parameters may be further refined in the future to promote the intelligent deployment of electricity meters around the world.
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