After launch of Pico RP2040 Microcontroller there are several Pico Add-ons, HATs & Expansions arrived in the global market, But this time SB Components Launched First Ever LoRa™ Expansion for Pico. SB Components is UK Based company known for their unique electronics products like Air Monitoring HATPiFingerRound LCD HATUSB RTCRFID HATPico Breadboard KitPico Relay ExpansionPico Zero Board and many you can check here Variety of Raspberry Pi & Pico Products

What is LoRa™?

The clever, long-range wireless communication technology LoRa™ (Long Range) is facilitating the future of IoT. (Internet of Things).

Overview of Pico LoRa™ Expansion 868MHz

Pico LoRa™ Expansion is a low-power data transfer board that includes an onboard CH340 USB TO UART converterVoltage Level Translator (74HC125V), E22-900T22S SMA antenna connector that spans the 868MHz frequency band, Onboard 1.14" LCD, IPEX antenna connector, and LoRa™ Spread Spectrum Modulation technology with auto multi-level repeating. Pico LoRa™ Expansion was created to enable data transfer over a serial port up to 5 kilometres.

A consumer can conveniently transfer data in low-power usage using the latest generation LoRa™ spread spectrum modulation technology. With its longer contact gap, lower power consumption, improved protection, and ani-inference method, the E22-900T22S Pico LoRa™ Expansion sets itself apart from standard LoRa™. Pico LoRa™ USB-UART connectivity allows direct communication with a desktop/laptop without the use of a Raspberry Pi Pico.

LoRa™ stands for long-range and is based on the spread-spectrum technique, which is derived from chirp spread spectrum (CSS) technology and encodes data using wideband linear frequency modulated chirp pulses. To improve the level of your project, use the following product with Pico LoRa™ Expansion (868MHz).

Pico LoRa™ Expansion 868MHz Features

  • Onboard 1.14" LCD
  • Voltage Level Translator(74HC125V)
  • Communication range up to 5 KM
  • Supports auto repeating to transmit longer
  • Low Power Consumption
  • Highly Secured
  • For Evaluating signal quality with the RSSI or "Received Signal Strength Indicator"
  • Wireless parameter configuration support
  • fixed-point transmission support
  • SMA and IPEX Antenna Connector
  • USB to LoRa™ and Pico to LoRa™ Communication via UART
  • Comes with development resources and manual
  • LED Indicators:  RXD/TXD: UART RX/TX indicator  AUX: auxiliary indicator   PWR: power indicator
  • Serial/USB selection jumpers  A:  USB TO UART to control the LoRa™ module through USB,   B: control the LoRa™ module through Raspberry Pi Pico
  • Data/Command mode selection jumpers : short M0, short M1: transmission mode,   short M0, open M1: configuration mode,   open M0, short M1: WOR mode ,  open M0, open M1: deep sleep mode

What is a LoRa™ Gateway, and how does it work?

LoRa™ Gateway is a piece of LoRaWAN Network hardware that is set up to accept packets from LoRa Nodes and bridge them to a LoRaWAN network like The Things Network. This will normally accept data from hundreds of nodes at once and have LoRaWAN coverage for your devices as well as those within range. On a home network, this is somewhat similar to a Wi-Fi Router.

What is The Things Network, and how does it work?

The Internet of Things (IoT) Is a quickly expanding LoRaWAN provider that is continually expanding coverage in the UK and across the world. The advantage of having a public network is that devices built in one part of the UK can operate throughout every part of the UK or even the EU as long as you're within coverage! 

You will create your own portal for you and others to use (such as our IoT LoRa™ Expansion for Raspberry Pi Pico) and maximise coverage at the same time....

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