LoRaWAN network specific devices are the norm for New Zealand and Australia

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International Telecommunication Union regions with dividing lines by author Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa).

International Telecommunication Union regions with dividing lines by author Maximilian Dörrbecker (Chumwa).

For LoRaWAN public and private networks in Australia and New Zealand, IoT device wireless requirements will vary based on the Gateway and Network server used. Since most LoRaWAN gateways support only 8 channels out of the 72 available uplink channels/frequencies, it is wise to disable all the unsupported channels on the end-node-device. Otherwise, the end-node will be transmitting 7 out of 8 times on channels unmonitored by the gateway which will reduce the chances of a successful join and reduce data uplink reliability.

Australia (and New Zealand)

Customers need to inform IoT sensor manufacturers, like the MeteoHelix IoT Pro weather station manufacturer BARANI DESIGN Technologies, on which LoRa network they plan on operating their devices and weather stations. Australia uses the 915 MHz to 928 MHz wireless network frequency band and thus manufacturers of devices using the Microchip LoRaWAN module RN-2903A must load the correct firmware from Microchip to make the devices function properly.   AS923 or AU915 Australian firmware.

New Zealand (additional option)

Customers in New Zealand have an additional option to consider when deciding on a LoRaWAN IoT device or weather station in addition to the Australian LoRaWAN frequency choices. New Zealand regulations also permit the 868 MHz frequency band and the RN-2483A Microchip module with Indian firmware.

Indian firmware differs from the European firmware by limiting the LoRaWAN module to the first seven frequency bands, since the 8th frequency band at 868 MHz sits outside the allowed free frequency spectrum in India, as described in detail in the EnsembleTech article LoRa Frequency Bands in India.

Available LoRaWAN public network in New Zealand

Spark is providing IoT wireless networks based on CAT-M1 and LoRaWAN™ and continues to monitor NB-IoT technology. Current Spark LoRaWAN™ coverage includes: Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Rotorua, Palmerston North, Shannon, Wellington, Nelson, Blenheim, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hastings and Invercargill. Spark network will require the use of AS923 Australian firmware for Microchip RN-2903A based IoT sensors. More information can be found here: https://www.sparknz.co.nz/news/spark-switches-on-iot-network/

General information on how worldwide wireless frequencies are devided

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) divides the world into three regions as explained in detail in this Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITU_Region :

  • Region 1 comprises Europe, Africa, the former Soviet Union, Mongolia, and the Middle East west of the Persian Gulf, including Iraq.

  • Region 2 covers the Americas including Greenland, and some of the eastern Pacific Islands.

  • Region 3 contains most of non-FSU Asia east of and including Iran, and most of Oceania.

 
BARANI DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES IS A MANUFACTURER OF PROFESSIONAL WEATHER STATIONS AND METEOHELIX PERSONAL WEATHER STATIONS.

BARANI DESIGN TECHNOLOGIES IS A MANUFACTURER OF PROFESSIONAL WEATHER STATIONS AND METEOHELIX PERSONAL WEATHER STATIONS.