Danish wireless mesh networking firm NeoCortec, working with module maker Embit and Semtech, showed how to combine mesh networking with LoRa at last week’s Embedded World in Nuremberg.

It launched a dual-band – sub-GHz and 2.4GHz – embedded LoRa-enabled NeoMesh wireless network module and LoRaWan stack.

After the first demonstration of the ability to form a NeoMesh wireless network using LoRa modulation on a 2.4GHz wireless network module at Electronica in Munich last year, this dual-band module enables the use of the technology in more applications and offers extra flexibility.

The combination of NeoMesh’s simple and massive scalability and low power with Semtech’s LoRa modulation’s ability to perform well with a very long range in noisy environments enhances the proposition of combining the two wireless technologies.

This is especially suitable in buildings where there is lots of additional radio noise such as wifi and Bluetooth.

“This is a collaboration between Semtech, Embit and ourselves,” said Thomas Steen Halkier, CEO of NeoCortec. “We are licensing our protocol stack to Embit for one of its LoRa modules. This combines the NeoMesh protocol stack with LoRa modulation to enable longer range and better performance.’

Embit is using a Semtech chipset.”

“The rapidly evolving IoT landscape demands adaptable and versatile wireless connectivity to address diverse, critical use cases across industries,” said Shahar Feldman, senior director at Semtech (www.semtech.com). “This collaboration between NeoCortec and Embit delivers exactly that – combining LoRaWan and LoRa-enabled NeoMesh into a single, innovative and cost-effective device. By enhancing versatility while reducing costs, this represents a game changing step forward in IoT connectivity, enabling broader market expansion across multiple sectors.”

Fully compliant with worldwide sub-GHz and 2.4GHz frequency band regulations and able to be used anywhere in the world, the EMB-LR1121-e module is based on Semtech’s LR1121 long range transceiver paired with an STM32 MCU.

“We think this is good for smart buildings,” said Halkier, “including retrofitting smart building technology into existing buildings It can also be using for detecting fires in forests. There will be applications that we haven’t thought of because we are enabling a long-range mesh network, which hasn’t been really done before.”

Fabio Bonizzi, CEO at Embit (www.embit.eu), added: “We are delighted to be able to unveil the first commercially available dual-band and dual-mode wireless network module to feature both LoRaWan and NeoMesh technologies at Embedded World.”

In contrast to other mesh network technologies, NeoMesh is dynamic and scalable, supporting thousands of nodes which all operate on battery for many years. It is easy to install, requiring no repeaters or other mains powered devices. NeoMesh can also reroute signals automatically, self-healing the network, in the event of a node failure.

“The various wireless connectivity technologies all exist because they all address different challenges,” said Halkier. “Now, designers can benefit from a combination. We expect this development to unlock many more wireless networking opportunities in smart buildings and other applications.”

NeoCortec (neocortec.com) was founded in 2007 with the aim of developing and patenting several innovations related to wireless sensor networks. The main product is NeoMesh (neocortec.com/technology), a wireless communication protocol for embedding in smart devices to enable communication between the devices and to the cloud.