This LoRa module features the integrated Ra-02 LoRa Module designed and produced by Ai-Thinker. The board has extra space, providing a prototyping area for adding your customized circuits to work with the LoRa Module. LoRa allows long-range transmissions (over 10 km in rural areas) with low power consumption. It consists of two parts: LoRa, the physical layer, and LoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), the upper layers. This technology enables long-range connectivity for IoT devices across various industries. Product features include the Ra-02 Lora Module, SPI series communication protocol, a universal perboard, a working frequency of 433 MHz, support for FSK, GFSK, MSK, GMSK, LoRa ™ and OOK modulation modes, a receive sensitivity as low as -141 dBm, a programmable bit rate up to 300Kbps, a built-in PCB antenna, an external antenna port, and support for programming platforms like Arduino, Mrcropython, and UIFlow(Blockly). The kit includes 1x M5Stack LoRa Module. Applications range from automatic meter reading to home building automation and remote irrigation systems. You can also access LoRa Info and find point-to-point communication examples between two LORA modules using Arduino IDE.
Using this LoRa module is easy. First, connect it to your ESP32 DIY development kit. Make sure to set the CS, reset, and IRQ pins using the LoRa.setPins() function, and initialize the ratio at 433 MHz with LoRa.begin(433E6). When sending a message, start a packet with LoRa.beginPacket(), add the destination and sender addresses, message ID, and payload length, then add the payload and end the packet. To receive a message, check if there's a packet with LoRa.parsePacket(). If there is, read the recipient, sender, message ID, and length, and then collect the incoming message. As for maintenance, keep the module in a dry and clean environment. Avoid exposing it to extreme temperatures or humidity. When not in use, store it properly to prevent damage. Also, be careful when handling the external antenna port to avoid any loose connections.
