LoRaWAN vs Meshtastic
Both technologies use LoRa radio, but they work very differently. Understanding the distinction helps you pick the right tool.
| Feature | LoRaWAN | Meshtastic |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Star-of-stars (gateway → server) | Mesh (peer-to-peer) |
| Internet required | For server access | No |
| Best for | Sensors, IoT devices | Human messaging, comms |
| Battery life | Years on small battery | Days to weeks |
| Uplink data rate | 0.3–50 kbps | 0.3–9.4 kbps |
| Needs gateway | Yes | No |
| Licence | None (ISM) | None (ISM) |
LoRaWAN is the right choice when you need to collect data from many sensors — weather stations, soil monitors, water level sensors, asset trackers. Your device sends data uplink to a gateway, which forwards it to The Things Network servers, where you can read it via API.
Meshtastic is better for person-to-person communication and off-grid scenarios where there's no fixed infrastructure.
Quick specs — AU915
| Frequency plan | AU915 (916–928 MHz) |
| Sub-band | Sub-band 2 (TTN default) |
| Channels | 64 uplink + 8 downlink |
| Max payload | 51–242 bytes |
| Typical range | 2–15 km urban/rural |
| Licence needed | None (ISM band) |
| Activation | OTAA or ABP |
AU915 sub-band: The Things Network Australia uses sub-band 2 (channels 8–15 + 65). Configure your device accordingly — using sub-band 1 (default in some firmware) will not work with TTN AU gateways.
The Things Network
TTN gateway coverage in Australia
The Things Network is a global, community-operated LoRaWAN infrastructure. Australian cities have reasonable indoor gateway coverage, with rural areas improving as more community gateways come online.
| City / Region | Gateway density | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sydney | Good (50+ gateways) | Strong CBD and inner suburbs coverage |
| Melbourne | Good (40+ gateways) | City core and university campuses well covered |
| Brisbane | Moderate | CBD coverage, outer suburbs patchy |
| Perth | Moderate | City centre good; rural WA sparse |
| Adelaide | Moderate | Growing community with university involvement |
| Canberra | Fair | ANU and government deployments |
| Hobart | Limited | A few community gateways; expanding |
| Regional / rural | Sparse | Large gaps — deploying a gateway here has high impact |
Check live coverage: The TTN coverage map at thethingsnetwork.org/map shows registered gateways. Note that many private gateways aren't listed.
Getting started
Connect your first device to TTN
-
Create a TTN account
Register at thethingsnetwork.org and create an application in the au1 cluster (Australia/Asia-Pacific).
-
Register your end device
In your TTN application, add a device. Use OTAA activation (recommended). TTN will give you your AppEUI, DevEUI, and AppKey.
-
Configure your device firmware
Flash your LoRaWAN device with the keys from step 2. Set frequency plan to
AU_915_928_FSB_2(sub-band 2). Popular firmware: Arduino LMIC, Zephyr, CircuitPython. -
Receive data
Once the device joins, you'll see uplinks in the TTN console. From there, forward data to your stack via webhooks, MQTT, or the TTN Storage Integration.
Use cases
What people build with LoRaWAN
Environmental monitoring
Temperature, humidity, air quality, and weather data from battery-powered sensors running for years without maintenance.
Agriculture & water
Soil moisture, tank levels, trough monitors, and livestock tracking across large properties where mobile coverage is absent.
Asset tracking
Track containers, vehicles, or equipment across a city using a single cheap GPS tracker and no ongoing SIM costs.
Smart city / campus
Parking sensors, bin fill levels, street lighting control. Universities and councils are active TTN gateway contributors.
Flood & fire monitoring
River height gauges, smoke detectors, and weather stations in remote areas transmit via LoRaWAN to emergency dashboards.
Construction & industry
Equipment utilisation, vibration monitoring, and concrete pour temperature tracking on job sites.
Running a community gateway
Adding a gateway to TTN extends coverage for everyone in your area at no cost to end devices. A single outdoor gateway can cover 5–10 km in urban areas and much further in flat terrain.
Recommended gateway hardware
- RAK Wireless RAK7268: Affordable 8-channel indoor gateway. ~$150 AUD. Good for apartments and offices.
- RAK Wireless RAK7289: Outdoor IP67 rated. ~$300 AUD. Mount on a roof or mast for maximum range.
- Dragino LPS8N: Budget 8-channel indoor. ~$120 AUD. Runs fine on a $10 TP-Link Archer router for backhaul.
- Mikrotik wAP LoRa8: Outdoor 8-channel. Rugged and widely used in Australian deployments.
Placement tips
- Height is the single biggest factor — every doubling of height roughly doubles range
- A rooftop, water tower, or hilltop is worth more than better hardware at ground level
- Point the antenna vertically (omnidirectional) unless you have a specific coverage target
- Ensure reliable broadband backhaul — the gateway sends packets to TTN servers, not to end devices
Register your gateway: Add it to the TTN console and enable "Public gateway" so your coverage shows on the map and helps others plan deployments.
Alternative networks
TTN is free but community-operated. If you need SLAs or guaranteed uptime:
- Helium Network: Blockchain-incentivised LoRaWAN. Growing AU coverage. Hotspot operators earn HNT tokens.
- Thinxtra: Commercial Australian LoRaWAN operator with national coverage SLAs. thinxtra.com
- Everynet: Wholesale LoRaWAN network available in major AU cities via resellers.