fieldtester.io

Glossary

The terms around LoRaWAN, briefly explained.

Term Meaning
ABP Activation by personalization: joining with fixed keys
ADR Adaptive data rate: the network controls data rate and transmit power
Airtime Time a packet occupies the channel
AppKey Secret key of a device for OTAA
AppSKey Session key for the payload
Basics Station Connection protocol between gateway and network server
CSS Chirp spread spectrum, the modulation of LoRa
dBm Power relative to 1 mW: 0 dBm = 1 mW, +14 dBm ≈ 25 mW, −120 dBm = one trillionth of a milliwatt
DevEUI Globally unique identifier of a device
Downlink Message from the network to the device
DR Data rate: combination of spreading factor and bandwidth
Duty cycle Permitted share of airtime in a sub-band
EIRP / ERP Radiated power relative to an isotropic or a dipole antenna (ERP = EIRP − 2.15 dB)
EU868 LoRaWAN frequency plan for Europe, 863–870 MHz
FCnt Frame counter
fPort Port number in the packet that lets an application tell message types apart
Fresnel zone Space around the line of sight that should be clear for good reception
Gateway Receiving station that forwards radio packets to the internet
JoinEUI Identifier of the join server (formerly AppEUI)
LNS LoRaWAN network server
OTAA Over-the-air activation: joining with a join request
Packet Broker Exchange of packets between LoRaWAN networks
Payload The useful data of a packet
RSSI Received signal strength in dBm
RX1 / RX2 The two receive windows of a class A device after an uplink
SF Spreading factor, SF7 to SF12
SNR Gap between signal and noise in dB
TTN The Things Network, open community network
Uplink Message from the device to the network

Sources