Fragment-Level Macro-Diversity Reception in LoRaWAN Networks with LR-FHSS

Abstract

The rapid expansion of Internet of Things (IoT) deployments demands wireless protocols that combine high scalability with robust performance. Long Range-Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (LR-FHSS) extends LoRaWAN by increasing capacity and resilience through frequency hopping and redundancy. However, current deployments require packet reconstruction at a single gateway, limiting the benefits of LR-FHSS. This paper proposes a macro-diversity reception strategy where multiple gateways collectively receive and combine payload fragments. We develop a stochastic geometry-based analytical model that captures the impact of header repetition, payload fragmentation, and coding redundancy. Closed-form expressions quantify success probabilities under interference, and numerical evaluations demonstrate significant capacity gains over nearest-gateway reception. These results highlight the potential of fragment-level macro-diversity to improve scalability and reliability in future LPWAN deployments.