# What Is LPWAN? | #IoTExplained E008

- Show: [IoT For All Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast)
- Published: 2019-02-11
- Length: 4m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-02-11-what-is-lpwan-iotexplained-e008
- Listen: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iot-for-all/episodes/What-Is-LPWAN---IoTExplained-E008-e28bp4g

## Summary

Ryan Chacone, editor-in-chief of IoT For All, explains Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN) as a connectivity solution for IoT devices requiring long range and low energy consumption. He uses a meatloaf analogy to illustrate how reducing data bandwidth allows for lower power usage over greater distances compared to shouting (high power) or moving closer (short range). Chacone highlights that while LPWAN offers extended battery life and lower costs than cellular, it suffers from lower reliability and high latency. He lists LoRa, Sigfox, Weightless, and SymphonyLink as key competing standards and provides use cases like smart agriculture, industrial IoT, and smart city infrastructure.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-02-11-what-is-lpwan-iotexplained-e008#t=0) Introduction to LPWAN and the Meatloaf Analogy
- [0:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2019-02-11-what-is-lpwan-iotexplained-e008#t=34) How LPWAN Achieves Low Power and Long Range

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- IoT For All (company)
- LoRa (other)
- Sigfox (other)
- Weightless (other)
- SymphonyLink (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep. 5 | LoRaWAN: The Things Network and LoRa Alliance Talk Open IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2020-07-10-ep-5-lorawan-the-things-network-and-lora-alliance-talk-open-iot) (Moore's Lobby)
- [An Interview with Richard Ginus](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-22-an-interview-with-richard-ginus) (The Amp Hour)
- [Building A Low-cost Satellite IoT Solution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-07-07-building-a-low-cost-satellite-iot-solution) (Over the Air)
- [MQTT Anywhere, LoRaWAN Sheep Tracking, More DOOM on everything!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-09-25-mqtt-anywhere-lorawan-sheep-tracking-more-doom-on-everything) (The Electromaker Show)
- [5G and IoT: What Will It Take for Them to Get Along?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/moores-lobby/2024-07-02-5g-and-iot-what-will-it-take-for-them-to-get-along) (Moore's Lobby)

## Citing this page

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