On Extending the Wireless Communications Range of Weather Stations using LoRaWAN

Abstract

Consumer grade weather stations typically involve transmitting sensor information to a digital console that provides readouts of the data being collected. The wireless range of such system is confined to about 100 m, making their use limited to urban environments. We present a device that decodes the data being sent by the weather station and forwards them using the emerging LoRaWAN technology. We designed the device keeping in mind the peculiar conditions of Developing Countries, in particular the low cost and low power requirements. This allows interesting applications in the realm of disaster prevention and mitigation using a network of numerous weather stations.