Ask HN: Use Cases for LoRa

Seems LoRa is coming up a lot the last few months. I almost picked up a project to do a number of sample implementations/documentation for LoRa-based IoT solutions but I'm not with the company any longer[0].

Permits aren't necessary for operation[1], it works in unlicensed spectrum. The use cases are limited to low-bandwidth/power needs and it uses an AP<->Client communication.

I am in the very initial stages of investigating whether or not it can be used in a peer-to-peer fashion[2] as a way to network the devices worn for playing Laser Tag[3] so that the game could be played on several acres of land and keep the scores/hits in sync.

The backstory is we play an "made-up game of tag" throughout our large neighborhood that involves the person who's "it" riding a OneWheel while being chased on bikes. It's "no contact" for obvious reasons, but it makes it tricky to define what being "tagged" is ... so, being an engineer, I'm trying to find the most complicated and interesting way to solve the problem.

[0] I don't know that they ever got the contract, either, but it looked like a dream project as far as I'm concerned.

[1] I'd imagine that comes with the disclaimer of "provided the devices are operated unmodified" and I'd expect the usual FCC-related things to be required for a product being brought to market.

[2] The thing I want to build would be easier to do -- software-wise -- with a "gateway"/"client" model, but it'd be way more interesting in a mesh-setup.

[3] I have two children who are breaking the bank at the local arena while embarrassing every other casual player. :)

I thought the big advantage of LoRa was no legal permit necessary. It operates on unlicensed scientific/industrial radio bands.

There are requirements --- it is intended for short burst type communication. But if you stay within the guidelines, no license is needed --- as far as I know.

We use it at work, our industrial area is quite large (kilometers) and unpractical to use 2/3/4/5g or cables. Sensors are all sorts and goes into mqtt and later into our timeseries database, with 10+ years of history.