What are the advantages of LoRa over (G)FSK modulation

LoRa is currently a promising low-power wide-area network communication technology, which has achieved the requirements of both long-distance and low-power consumption of the Internet of Things, making LoRa technology applied in more and more fields. However, different modulation methods also confuse application companies and individuals: What are the characteristics of LoRa, FSK, and GFSK modulation methods, and which one should be selected? What are the advantages and characteristics of LoRa compared to FSK, GFSK modulation methods?

FSK ——Frequency Shift Keying Modulation, which uses different frequencies to represent different symbols. For example, 2KHz means 0 and 3KHz means 1.

FSK is an earlier modulation method used in information transmission. Its main feature is that it is easier to implement and has better anti-noise and anti-attenuation performance. It has been widely used in medium and low-speed data transmission. The most common is a dual-frequency FSK system that uses two frequencies to carry binary ones and zeros.

GFSK——Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying, passes a Gaussian low-pass filter before modulation to limit the spectral width of the signal.

GFSK Gaussian frequency-shift keying modulation is a digital modulation method in which the input data is pre-modulated and filtered by a Gaussian low-pass filter, and then FSK modulation is performed. While maintaining a constant amplitude, it can control the frequency spectrum of the modulated signal by changing the 3dB bandwidth of the Gaussian low-pass filter. It has the desired characteristics of a wireless communication system such as a constant amplitude envelope, a concentrated power spectrum, and a narrow frequency spectrum. Therefore, GFSK modulation and demodulation technology are widely used in many fields such as mobile communication, aviation, and marine communication.

LoRa is a technology dedicated to radio spread spectrum modulation and demodulation. It combines digital spread spectrum, digital signal processing, and forward error correction coding technology, with unprecedented performance. Previously, only some military communication systems would integrate these technologies. With the introduction of LoRa, the situation in the field of embedded wireless communication has undergone a radical change.

Compared with FSK and GFSK modulation methods, LoRa has the following advantages:

1. The communication distance of LoRa is about 10 times longer than that of FSK/GFSK modulation.
2. The LoRa chip is compatible with FSK and GFSK modes.
3. Low power consumption, which can extend battery life.
4. Sleep current <10uA, low receiving current: 13 mA.
5. LoRa modulation provides an improvement of 30dB over FSK's synchronization channel spacing suppression.

All in all, compared with FSK and GFSK modulation methods, LoRa has the advantages of long-distance, low power consumption, and strong anti-interference. If it is applied in a solution with a long-distance and a more complicated environment, it is recommended to choose the LoRa module.

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